The Bic Paradigm

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LL Woodworks

LL Woodworks

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May 4, 2011
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Pick up a pen, yank the top off and start writing:rolleyes: No twisting, no turning just yank it off and start writing. I did a show this weekend and was amazed at how many people, predominately teenagers - but not always, would pick up a pen and pull. It didn't matter if it was a one piece twist type (sierra style), two piece twist style or a barrel and cap style, pick it up and yank.

I lost one roller ball to what I have labeled the "BIC Paradigm" where the threads were stripped. What do you think causes this? Is the package store pens like BIC and Pilot? Are they creating a paradigm in the young concerning pen use?

On a brighter note; I have a large sign (60" x 24") that features a fountain pen nib as the main graphic. On countless occasions I heard young ones say to mom or dad " Hey dad - what is that" (referring to the nib). When I heard this I made a special effort to walk around and ask the person if they had ever written with a fountain pen, and of course almost all said no.

So I took the time, using a demo with a Bock #6, to show them what one was, how they worked and how to write with one. Without exception it brought a smile on their face. They thought it was "so cool". Several chased down their parents, brought them back to the booth to show them; a few resulted in a sale. That's the fun part of doing shows!:smile:
 
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I've been doing the same thing lately. I never used to ink up fountain pens but have started having one as a test pen. Kids (and adults alike) get a kick out of trying one out! I have sold more fountain pens since I started doing this as well.
 
What about the Click Paradigm? Years ago (80s) when I first got a Schaffer twist pen, whenever I handed it to someone to use they would try to click it. I'd have to tell them to twist it. In the end I started twisting it before I handed it to them, still do today.:smile:

I guess that with all the common pull off capped pens and textas around, people assume that all capped pens are pull off. Especially if they've never seen a screw capped pen. Like everything in life it's a matter of learning and experience.
 
Actually for me it's the adults that try to pull, usually with all their might to the tune of 2 pens in the last few shows being ruined.

The kids seem to twist by default and usually I trust them over the parents with the exception of the fountain pens. When it comes to those, I'll take time to show them how to use them.
 
Carl Fisher said:
Actually for me it's the adults that try to pull, usually with all their might to the tune of 2 pens in the last few shows being ruined.

The kids seem to twist by default and usually I trust them over the parents with the exception of the fountain pens. When it comes to those, I'll take time to show them how to use them.
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I agree ... It's the adults you have to watch. I too have had the threads stripped out on more than one occasion recently! :frown:
 
Just as the devil's advocate here, EXACTLY WHY SHOULD someone wanting to jot a quick note HAVE TO unscrew a top and then either STOP the process to place the cap on a desk OR post it on the rear of a pen?

My feeling is that WE penmakers must adapt or become extinct. Today, pens are reaching the stage of being as "useful and necessary" as whale bone once was in corset making.

I have spent the last 18 months in the quest of making a fine writing instrument that doesn't require all the "fuss" AND makes a "fashion or lifestyle" statement.

My fountain customers (and I have MANY) could CARE LESS about "traditional or collectible" fountains....In FACT, I usually show a few "pristine" collectible fountains and my customers say "I want anything OTHER THAN THAT!"

My fountain (and to some extent ) roller customers want the good looks of fountain INK, WITHOUT THE HASSLE of carrying (as one customer put it), a "diaper bag" for his pen".

This customer (who bought an $1,100 pen THIS weekend), wants his pen to write beautifully, be self contained, uncumbersome (his words for meaning not having to screw on or off a cap) AND have a "backup" cartridge.

EXCEPT for ruining hotel door keys and credit cards, the Zen Fountain is as close as I can find, componentwise, without GOING BACKWARDS 50 years to the old Parker "clutch ring" and friction post.

I bang my head over this one daily.

Respectfully submitted.
 
Sorry for the rant.... BUT, think about it. I've STUDIED it! About 7 in 10 of the people who admire our work enough to stop for a second look, want to pull the top off and push it onto the other end.

Is THAT REALLY their problem? OR should we be trying to make try to make products that are operate the way that is comfortable to them?

Again, respectfully submitted.
 
PenMan1 said:
Sorry for the rant.... BUT, think about it. I've STUDIED it! About 7 in 10 of the people who admire our work enough to stop for a second look, want to pull the top off and push it onto the other end.

Is THAT REALLY their problem? OR should we be trying to make try to make products that are operate the way that is comfortable to them?

Again, respectfully submitted.
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I suspect that most of us make and sell pens in a variety of styles, including twist pens that require no cap removal. Therefore, I'm not seeing your issue.

As to the OP's point, I see the problem being that some people (not necessarily young people) never learned that if something that shouldn't be difficult is being difficult, then you should stop and verify that you are doing it right. If more people incorporated that simple lesson, then no threads would ever get stripped and no fittings would ever be pushed in or yanked out.

Alas, people are inherently idiots so we will continue to try to stop the neanderthals before they destroy our work. Most of the time, we will succeed. Sometimes, we will fail.
 
maxwell_smart007 said:
When you're in the business of making writing instruments in a society that no longer writes, you're going to end up with a lot of people who can't figure out how to use them correctly.
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Amen to that brother. You can't hardly go anywhere without seeing some young person with their cellphone/tablet out. Its not just the young people its older adults as well.
 
i don't think this problem is going away any time soon. i've been noticing the same thing with people trying to yank off a lid. i think it turns them off sometime, now i too unscrew it for them, as for the future, now i have people trying to click a stylus . can't win
 
As part of selling pens it is our responsibility to educate people, particularly the young, on how to write with a fountain pen. We try to engage the kids whenever they come to our table. After all, they are our future customers and maybe current customers also. The vast majority of people who try the fountain pen have a favorable response.
 
paintspill said:
... now i have people trying to click a stylus...
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Funny you say that, I recently made a slimline style stylus pen as a gift for a co-worker who has finally gotten his first smart phone. I (knowing the answer) asked him "Is that new phone of your's touch screen?". When he said yes I told him I thought so and that I had made him something to go with it. I handed him the pen and the first thing he did was try to push the stylus tip to make the pen "click". We all had a good laugh at him!
 
Honestly though, the younger generations have been the ones to get the most excited when passing our booth. Their eyes typically light up and they are excited to try them out. Unfortunately they are not the ones with the wallets.
 
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