Gift pens not being used??

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teamtexas

Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2013
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147
Location
Gatesville, Texas
So I decided to make some pens for the folks I work with as a gift for the holiday season. Seven in all and a good varity of pens to match their life styles (like bolt actions for those who hunt). Everyone seemed to be very happy with them when I gave them out. But the thing I don't get is NOBODY is using them. We all write in the office every day and most of the guys carry a cheap pen. So am I missing something?

One of the guys took his home and showed his wife, she made him put in under glass in a display case!

:confused: Dan
 
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I used to hear that all the time Dan. Reason being..."I don't want to lose it at work". I work in medicine and most medical folk fall into two categories...love identifying stuff like pens, or have the attention span of a 14 year old and will lose it in 15 minutes. I've seen plenty of both in medicine. I know who to sell to and who not to!
 
I had the same problem at work. No one wanted to lose them or have them disapear. I told them the pens were to use and I would repair or replace if needed. They now use them.

Dave
 
WOW now that's a warranty. Is that why they call you Super Dave? I also have seen both and understand both sides. I myself have pens I use and don't use. I've made a friend a pen out of wood she gave me that was her husbands after he passed away and she wouldn't use it in fear of loosing it. I told her it was made for her to use and she replied if I wanted her to use it I needed to make her another one. I gave her another and she is never without it.
 
I had the same problem at work. No one wanted to lose them or have them disapear. I told them the pens were to use and I would repair or replace if needed. They now use them.

Dave

What he said...

By the way, I've only had to do one repair (boss dropped his) and one replacement (that was my sister, who lost hers on vacation...)

That said, I agree that if the pen is made from significant material, keep and use it at a safe place. I made a large set for a co-worker's family members out of the wood blocks they played with as kids. Made them nice rollerballs they keep at home and use (or so they tell me, I can't say for sure...) and carry around sierras I popped out quickly as extras... probably have enough scrap from the 4 blocks I cut up to make 7 or 8 more replacement sierras if need be...
 
I work in an office where they are always focused on the task or project at hand, and they pick up and drop pens like nothing I've ever seen since the company purchases them. They all love what I make, but with the lack of ownership for their pens at work no one is particularly interested in paying for one, knowing they probably will leave it somewhere like the company pens. A couple have purchased some, but for taking home or giving as gifts.
 
I've given several pens as gifts and sold many more that were given as gifts.

People often say that they are too nice to use. That's a compliment to me not a dissapaojent.

Even though I'd rather have people use them, I don't really mind them being so highly valued that they don't want to.

Also. I sometimes still use cheap pens. I tell people that I can't afford my pens. ;-)
 
I take it as a compliment, they've obviously placed a higher value on the item whether it's sentimental or $ and treat it as such. Look at it this way you don't see a lots of sports car enthusiasts using a 1954 Corvette as an everyday driver, it comes out on the weekends to be enjoyed lol.
 
Sadly, that's a very common fate for gifted pens. People just don't want to chance them being lost, stolen, or damaged. In a way, it's a good thing, as it means they really appreciate the pen, and want to hold on to it. I do prefer those that appreciate the pen, and also want to show it off, though.
 
They grow legs...

Gentlemen,

Made a beautiful deer antler pen for a work associate, got a nice bit of raw antler showing on upper barrel of a gold Euro. In a year or so it was stolen. I warned him not to carry it at work.

His brothers pen purchased at the same time was left in his truck while at work. It cracked from high temperatures in the summer.

I made a second pen for my friend, this time I insisted he have his name laser engraved on it, he reluctantly agreed. That pen lasted only a few months. I can guarantee you there was no one with the unique first name of "Metz" in the entire business. Just goes to show you some people will steal anything. I did not carry any of my personal carry pens to work. Photos on the cell phone were used to sell pens.

Probably learned lesson from having tools stolen the brief time I worked in production. As maintenance supervisor I had far more variety of tools than production people. My box was kept locked unless I was using it.
It was kept locked in my shop behind locked doors. Lessons learned from experience. If someone will steal a $1.98 utility knife they'll steal anything. I cite this particular tool, because one of my responsibilities was tool procurement, assignment etc. Had to stock 8-10 at all times. This tool was our most "lost tool", along with measuring tapes.

My cure for tools that were critical, such as bolt cutters at the loading dock, I simply painted them bright pink. Very effective. I heard a trucker grumbling one day, "who ... .... would want to be seen with a pair of these."

Charlie
 
I gave pens with boxes to my coworkers this christmas.It didn't go over too good right away.I brought them in right before clock in time,put them in the break room at there corisponding places told everyone merry christmas and went to work.Some time during the day a couple of the fellas were cleaning the break room when they starting talking about them."Hey,did you see what Dale brought? He brought us bracelets." "HA,ha,ha,ha what a derogatory word"

They never even looked in side till I told them what it was at the end of the day.After which they both felt like a couple of dumasses.They never seen a pen box before and just assumed it was jewelery because of the shape of the box.

They liked them afterwords, but at first not so much.
 
I made pens a few years ago for my boss and co-workers. Everyone said they liked them but I never saw them use on at any time. Sort of bummed me out. I was upset enough that I wouldn't ask why. They were Sierra and Cigar styles with very nice blanks and would have sold for at least $45 each so they were not junk. Needless to say I did not repeat this gift giving experiment for co-workers again.
 
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