Posted by NCLisa on 4/26/06 7:56pm
Msg #116179

What kind of travel/Notary bag do you use?

I have one of those NNA shoulder bags that is literally falling apart. I'm trying to decide what to get next. What do you use that you really like and why? What have you tried that didn't work, and why didn't it work?

Reply by Beth/MD on 4/26/06 8:04pm
Msg #116181

I use a leather brief case. I like it because it's roomy enough for several folders worth of legal-sized docs and it looks professional. I got mine at Office Depot last year. I chose it because it also has lots of roomy compartments. And it's a soft-sided case.

Reply by LkArrowhd/CA on 4/26/06 8:10pm
Msg #116182

Re: What kind of travel/Notary bag do you use? I use a

crumpled brown paper bag, throw the damn docs in the bag hoping they stay in order, and yes the brown bags are always falling apart and more so after I complete the signing and toss the bag in the back of the car also hoping nothing flies out the open windows, love my hair to blow with the wind. Why do I like it, it's cheap- the ss pay so poorly I can't afford much else....My next choice I'm going to try the plastic bags( you know at the market Paper? or plastic????
Ok before I get slammed, the question just struck me as funny, just kidding......

Reply by Signing_Doc on 4/26/06 8:15pm
Msg #116184

I use a darling blue suede with a matching pair of pnk pumps

ok...so I'm weird...this IS Vegas after all ...anyway, I use a rolling catalog case from OfficeMax. It is easier for me since I'm not allowed to carry anything over 5 lbs (disability) and it looks professional as well. It hold quite a few folders, my seal(s) pens books and miscellaneous candy bars I want to hide from the misses.

TTFN (Ta Ta For Now)

"Doc"

Reply by Stamper_WI on 4/27/06 11:23am
Msg #116306

Brown soft leather

I use a soft sided leather computer brief case. The boxes of pens and seals fit nicely in the compartment where the computer used to go. I used this case when I was a realtor. It has 2 sides with the other side havingin file dividers. Theres even zipered pockets for the cell phone. I paid around $100 for it at Office max about 6 yrs ago.

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 4/27/06 1:06pm
Msg #116322

Doc I'm on my way running out the door

in "crafty" mode. I've got my hot glue gun in it's holster on my side and a pink boa. Your bag is just begging for feathery trim. Afterwards we can go party at Ra.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/27/06 1:26pm
Msg #116329

Re: I use a darling blue suede with a matching pair of pnk pumps

I love TTFN - Ta ta for now... you wild and crazy guy. If you show me your miscellaneous stash of candy bars .... welllllllll, never mind.

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 4/27/06 1:45pm
Msg #116338

Brenda, ya wanna come

and help me dress up Doc for partying at Ra. I'm thinking silver sequinz bra top and hooker skirt with pink fishnets and ballet shoes. He could wear the leftover boa from triming his bag. And we will need to find some of those 3 inch long fake eyelashes. Top that off with a silver skull cap with a pink antena that has silver tinsel on the end and he's sure to get in.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/26/06 9:04pm
Msg #116190

good one LOL...you had me going. I could just see you

throw that greasy brown son of a bag in the back seat, pop your gum, adjust the arm bracelet thing on your upper arm and take a seat in a baby blue 1979 Caddy Con-vert-I-ble.

I think with that visual of you, Susan, along with what I know about cream puff Cadillacs and the resurfacing of a faded memory you may have just spawned the beginnings of a trashy novel. You'll be a star -- your character will be a lusty head cashier in the A&P.

My ex-husband had a roommate in college who ran a shady used car place in Baptist-lovin' Waco, Texas. Bob had red hair and he always pranced around in a pair of red leather cowboy boots that reached his knees...he could crush a roach in the corner with the toe of them and they made him stand 'bout four and a half inches taller. I feel sure the boots and the half pint of whiskey he kept in them made him bulletproof.

He wore mirrored aviator sun glasses to hide his glazed eyes which were always red enough to match the hair and the boots.

I knew that car lot of his was no place for good girls when I watched from the office while Bob paid a man cash for a truck load of "get 'em while they're hot" big and tall men's pajamas. Hundreds of sets. God only knows what they did with them.

I swear it happened.

Reply by Lee/AR on 4/26/06 9:13pm
Msg #116195

Re: good one LOL...you had me going. I could just see you

Brenda... keep on notarying on the side. Your real calling is writing novels. Just do it.

Reply by TitleGalCA on 4/26/06 9:22pm
Msg #116199

Lee, I always love your posts

'cos they say it like it is.

***Brenda, your real calling is writing novels. Just do it*** You and my other friend (I'm so fickle) need to put your heads/pens/keyboards together. Between the two of you, John Grisham is scared.

No, make that Stephen King. Not because of his wierdo scary stories but because of his in-your-face descriptions and the way he makes the reader just FEEL it. You two got it all goin' on.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/27/06 8:10am
Msg #116253

Re: good one LOL...you had me going. Lee & Joan...

**Brenda... keep on notarying on the side. Your real calling is writing novels. Just do it.**

Thanks guys!

But what do you and Joan think that they did with those big and tall men's pajamas? It looked like a scene from a Soprano's episode.

Now I will think of this for days thanks to Lk Arrowhead.

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 4/27/06 10:58am
Msg #116290

Re: big and tall men's pajamas

I think my daddy bought some of those at the Dollar Store last week. . .

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 4/27/06 2:27am
Msg #116229

Re: good one LOL...you had me going. I could just see you

You are the best person who posts since Sylvia & PAW!!

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/27/06 1:15pm
Msg #116325

Re: good one LOL...you had me going. I could just see you



Joan was kind enough to say:
**You are the best person who posts since Sylvia & PAW!! **

Oh, Joan - I might be the in the running for the 3rd best poster, but no way I am in the running for 3rd best person...you see...I must confess know more about that used car place in Waco than I want to let on. (j/k!!!!)

(BTW - Waco is the place the Branch Davidians were when the guys in navy blue jackets with gold letters were there.)

Reply by Korey Humphreys on 4/26/06 9:10pm
Msg #116193

LOL... Once I read the ? I thought paper bag myself :-) n/m

Reply by NCLisa on 4/26/06 9:20pm
Msg #116198

I like to make purchases I won't regret, so asking what works for others, may give me an idea of what to buy next.

I wanted to try one of those bags, like a suitcase, but I do so many rural area closings with no sidewalks etc, that it would be useless.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/27/06 8:07am
Msg #116252

It was a good question. I find this thread to be very interesting.

Reply by Regal/NC on 4/26/06 8:37pm
Msg #116185

Check out Staples. "USL Vinyl Attache $19.98 I purchased it Nov. 05.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 4/26/06 8:56pm
Msg #116186

I know you're going to laugh

but I use a pencil case that is designed to fit in a 3 ring binder. I started out with a large leather briefcase (from my former husband), but it was so big and heavy and ackward that I went to a smaller soft sided case, then one day I saw my grandaughter's pencil case and thought "I think I can get everything in this". I tried it and it works. It has 2 zip pouches. In the bigger one I have 2 notary stamps (self inking) (why two you ask, In MI we have to put the county that we are acting in. One stamp says "Acting in the County of ______________" and you fill in the blank, but because over 90% of my work is done in my home county, I have a stamp that says "Acting in the County of Oakland" -- I like to save myself any work I can); a mini stapler, some small and large paperclips, several binder clips and a couple of rubber bands. The smaller zip pouch has both blue and black pens (several of each color). I carry the docs in in the O/N evelope or if I have to print them out, I put them in two legal size manilla folders. Sounds crazy, but it works. In fact tonight I had a closing with a closer with one of the local title companies (she was late because she was coming from a off premises closing), when she saw my bag, she looked from my little bag to her large soft side case and I could see the wheels turning. It was a very good closing, didn't even have to identify the docs. It was literally a point and sign signing!

Reply by TitleGalCA on 4/26/06 9:43pm
Msg #116203

The best one I've seen

(I see alot of notaries) was a leather tote bag, about 16-17 inches wide (for loan docs) and about 12 inches tall. It fit one set of loan docs just great with enough room for pens/stamp/inkpad/journal. And it looked ultra professional.

I've been searching for that leather tote now for six months. Please if someone finds it, email me.

Reply by DellaCa on 4/26/06 9:56pm
Msg #116205

Re: Sounds like the one I just bought at Target

I started with a large one but the new one is sooooo much lighter and I still carry everything I need.

Reply by janCA on 4/26/06 9:56pm
Msg #116206

Re: The best one I've seen

I've had my mine for four years and it's still going strong. Leather on one side and some type of slick material on the other, with leather straps. A pocket on the leather side with two pockets on the inside, plus a pen pocket, and a small pocket for business cards. Everything goes in this tote and I purchased it at "Ross", a discount store, which anyone from CA might be familiar with. It's a Nine West and probably 13 x 10. Just the right size, not too bulky or heavy. I believe I paid around $25 for it.

Reply by hcampersFL on 4/26/06 10:05pm
Msg #116212

I was just thinking about this topic earlier tonight

I have a pleather laptop computer bag. It holds all the legal files and everything else that I need.
Extra legal size paper in case we have to print from BR computer, stapler, jurat's and ack's, 1 box pens blue and black, my stamp, place for car keys, place for sun glasses, place for business cards, Notary primer, Fl. notary book, ruler, rubber bands, paper clips and a energy bar in case I can't stop for lunch or dinner.

Bought it at Walmart for $26 and change. Has a nice soft shoulder strap and handles also.
Love it.
b.

Reply by christiSocal on 4/27/06 3:16am
Msg #116230

I got mine at Ross also

leather look, plenty of room, (ex girl scout- always prepared!) and only about 20 bucks. Its a couple of years old now and still looks great.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/27/06 8:16am
Msg #116254

Re: The best one I've seen

I have been thinking about the perfect bag for awhile...not a Perfect Notary Bag Song...just the bag actually. At Walmart they sell 2nds and clearance bolts of upholstery fabric for $2.00 a yard. I'd like something about 16 inches length, 3 inch width, 14 inches tall and a hole cut out at the top for carrying with a zipped in pocket about 13"L x 8"W for pens and the seal.

I have one almost like that, but not quite in those dimensions and I love it.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/27/06 8:54am
Msg #116263

Re: The best one I've seen - short clarification...

Anyhow, I am thinking about making one.

Reply by patricia on 4/27/06 9:47am
Msg #116276

Re: The best one I've seen

I got my notary bag at the local Goodwill (san francisco) It is a black leather Kenneth Cole
bag with 3 compartments and 4 zipper compartments, really a beautiful bag with top quality leather and it was brand new when I found it.. Price was $26.00. I love it!

Reply by BP/WV on 4/27/06 5:19am
Msg #116231

I use this blue bag from the NNNA:

http://www.nationalnotary.org/supplies/index.cfm?product=05888

I love this bag and the best part is that I purchased it from Ebay for $15.00.

Reply by LilyMD on 4/27/06 6:12am
Msg #116240

I actually have 2. I have one leather brief case that stays in the car. It's filled with extra "supplies." And I carry a leather attache with shoulder straps for a particular appointment. It's easier and lighter on the days when appointments are bunched together.

Reply by Becca_FL on 4/27/06 8:45am
Msg #116260

I found a Kenneth Cole Reaction laptop case/briefecase on ebay and just love. It's so roomy! I can carry all of my supplies, my laptop and up to 3-4 files, depending on their size.

I was called by an atty. from Chicago to do some general Notarizations yesterday, imagine my surprise when he pulled out his briefecase and it was the same as mine. He loved his too, but he paid way more than the 89.99 that I paid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/KENNETH-COLE-SOFT-BLACK-LEATHER-BRIEFCASE-LAPTOP-BAG_W0QQitemZ8280198139QQcategoryZ52364QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Reply by Marlene/USNA on 4/27/06 11:02am
Msg #116292

Wow, beautiful! What do they cost retail?? n/m

Reply by Anonymous on 4/27/06 10:10am
Msg #116279

Did the hard leather briefcase, did the soft leather briefcase, did the computer case, did the staples clipboard thing, did the aluminum clipboard case, did the both pockets full of stuff (whats that in your pocket stranger?) and could never seem to get it right. One afternoon while in Fry's computer mart I emptied my bulging pockets into a small (but manly) black digital camera case just the right size for my notary stamp, thumb inker, jurat stamp, pens and mini stapler. This I now carry along with my journal and a few loose acknowledgments. If the assignment requires me to bring documents to the signer I do so in the same overnight envelope they were delivered to me in. This has been working well for several years. In my auto I have a legal size plastic filer with a handle on top to keep certificates in order and prevent the overnight packages from sliding around in traffic. This filer is my entire mobile notary business and It goes in and out of my car but never in the clients house.

Reply by thnotary_NY on 4/27/06 12:13pm
Msg #116310

I carry an Olympia-Casual Gear bag. Black vynal with a flap that has two latches, sort of like the old canvas bag carried long ago. In fact now that I think, I have a leather attache case with that flap type closing. This Olympia is great, plenty of pockets (even the flap) for small stuff and large. Wide enough for legal (17in), about 10in high and about 6 in deep, with this canvas like material on top forming the strap and some soft mesh underneth the handle. Found it on sale in a Van Heusen shirt shop.

Reply by Winston_Tn on 4/27/06 10:58am
Msg #116289

Re: Notary Bag / Dress

The long black trenchcoat in the styling of Neo, popularized by the film Matrix, works best for me. This also covers the 'Dress' issue from the post below. Although I have had mine meticulously crafted to exacting standards, there is ample room for novice tailoring to customize pockets for staplers, seals, pens ( blue and black), a well as the custom hidden side seam pockets which have been tested with four sets of CountryWide docs. Very versatile for side-business of knock-off rings, necklaces, and watches. Personally, I have mine fitted with a purple kasha lining which is always a hit in the 'less than affluent' side of town. Another advantage is the lining can easily be removed and worn as a seperate if I happen across a roller disco.

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/27/06 1:23pm
Msg #116328

Re: Notary Bag / Dress - Winston

Slow down Winston - that kind of mania will have me writing a seedy short story about you.

Loved it!!!!!

Reply by JaxNotary on 4/27/06 8:37pm
Msg #116443

I use this nice leather one (just $20.39)

http://www.fscstore.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?UserName=michael1213094&idProduct=494&CD=

Reply by MelissaCT on 9/1/06 11:22am
Msg #142863

Late reply, but I'm also shopping for a new one. This is what I have now & I love it -- from Overstock.com (about $60) -- ordered it 2 years ago, today & it's just now getting a bit worn on the bottom corners.

McKlein Leather Double Expandable Case