When I was working in an office, people would always walk off with my pens. I ended up switching the blue/black ink cartridges with my red pens. I left the “blue/black” pens in my desk drawer and left the “red” pens on my desk. Never had another one walk away. People won’t normally borrow a red pen. I still do this today. My husband tends to borrow my pens, but never the red one.
I operated a retail store and found that people, when offered a retractable ballpoint pen to sign the receipt, would often absentmindedly put the pen in their pocket when done. I solved that problem by keeping Bic stick pens on hand and throwing away the caps. No one is going to put an uncapped stick pen in their pocket unless they’re spaced out or wearing a plastic pocket protector.
If you have customers accidentally (or on purpose) running off with your pens, try buying stick pens (like Bic) and throwing away the cap. People are very unlikely to put an uncapped stick pen in their pocket or purse by accident.
I use mostly fountain pens, which are not hard to use, but can be very quickly damaged by people who aren’t familiar with them. Since there are occasions when one does want to lend someone a pen, I also carry a little Fisher Space Pen (ballpoint). But I make sure I get it back.
I’m an instructor at a power plant and the classroom pens always disappear. So we started using cheap stick pens without the caps and far fewer get taken.
Julie478 Premium Member over 5 years ago
When I was working in an office, people would always walk off with my pens. I ended up switching the blue/black ink cartridges with my red pens. I left the “blue/black” pens in my desk drawer and left the “red” pens on my desk. Never had another one walk away. People won’t normally borrow a red pen. I still do this today. My husband tends to borrow my pens, but never the red one.
edreajr over 5 years ago
I operated a retail store and found that people, when offered a retractable ballpoint pen to sign the receipt, would often absentmindedly put the pen in their pocket when done. I solved that problem by keeping Bic stick pens on hand and throwing away the caps. No one is going to put an uncapped stick pen in their pocket unless they’re spaced out or wearing a plastic pocket protector.
chillax over 5 years ago
great ideas, both of you!!!!!
kunddog over 5 years ago
we use to have employees check their cars monthly for pens, some had 25 pens (one for everyday worked)
edreajr over 5 years ago
If you have customers accidentally (or on purpose) running off with your pens, try buying stick pens (like Bic) and throwing away the cap. People are very unlikely to put an uncapped stick pen in their pocket or purse by accident.
Kaputnik over 5 years ago
I use mostly fountain pens, which are not hard to use, but can be very quickly damaged by people who aren’t familiar with them. Since there are occasions when one does want to lend someone a pen, I also carry a little Fisher Space Pen (ballpoint). But I make sure I get it back.
Buck B over 5 years ago
I believe Mom is having some kind of regression. Next it’ll be “Me-Me-Do”.
Bill The Nuke over 5 years ago
I’m an instructor at a power plant and the classroom pens always disappear. So we started using cheap stick pens without the caps and far fewer get taken.