Posted by CaliNotary on 10/13/08 11:51am
Msg #267156

Cheap pens at Office Depot

I was at Office Depot the other day and they had 10 packs of Paper Mate ballpoint stick pens on sale for 24 cents each. The sale goes into December.

Reply by PAW on 10/13/08 12:13pm
Msg #267160

Is that 1 ten pack for 24¢ or is that 1 pen for 24¢ which would then be $2.40 for a ten pack?

Reply by PAW on 10/13/08 12:18pm
Msg #267161

Either way, not a good price

Normal price for Paper Mate® Ballpoint Stick Pens, 1.0 mm, Medium Point, Black (or Blue) Barrel, Black (or Blue) Ink, Pack Of 12, Item # 181594 (181578 for blue), is $1.29 or 10.75¢ each.

Reply by BrendaTx on 10/13/08 12:22pm
Msg #267162

2.4 cents per pen is a pretty good price in my book.

That's the sale I caught at Office Depot last year.

24 Cents for one pack of ten pens = 2.4 cents each.

Reply by CaliNotary on 10/13/08 1:18pm
Msg #267172

Why would I give the price per pen?

C'mon Paul, give me more credit than that.

Reply by LynnNC on 10/13/08 1:19pm
Msg #267173

I have veen using Pilot V7 pens since I started in this business 3 1/2 years ago. I have had a few closings lately where the signatures were required to be with a ballpoint pen. I guess that I will change.

Reply by CaliNotary on 10/13/08 1:21pm
Msg #267174

I have nice pens for me to use

But for the borrowers it's cheapie ballpoints.

Reply by LynnNC on 10/13/08 1:30pm
Msg #267176

Re: I have nice pens for me to use

At least with borrowers using cheap ballpoint pens, they won't ask to keep a nice Pilot V7, which happens occasionally.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/13/08 1:47pm
Msg #267180

The V5/V7 line is great. Pricey, but great. n/m

Reply by Claudine Osborne on 10/13/08 2:34pm
Msg #267188

Re: The V5/V7 line is great. Pricey, but great.

I always give the borrowers a nice pen printed with my info. It is a good marketing tool! Tax deductible and you never know where the pen may end up! People are always very pleased with this little touch! I tell them it's my gift to you for inviting me into your home! It is good customer service and a little added extra touch that does not cost a lot!

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 10/13/08 10:37pm
Msg #267218

I don't think promotional pens are a good idea

I bought a ton of cheap stick pens to give to borrowers and I finally realized a business card was a much better advertising method than a pen that will run out of ink.

I supply the pens I have because I haven't run out of them yet.

The ink color seems to have changed with the FHA loans (2008 CA) to wanting "blue ink" pens.
Anyone else seeing this trend?

I think the price calinotary posted seems to be a very good deal.

Reply by CF on 10/14/08 9:08am
Msg #267227

Re: I don't think promotional pens are a good idea

Find someone that is a Parma rep- they will give you an unlimited supply of free pens that write the best. ( those reps will give you staplers, correction tape, clip boards....and any office supply that you can think of) I have never bought 1 pen to be a SA and have singed over 4000+ loans. I don’t spend money on office supplies- big waste in my opinion. I have also been bashed for not using binder clips too! I am not spending my money on those kinds of things. Borrowers ask me from time to time- if I have a folder- I simply say NO your lender does not supply me with that. Although- I would buy pens for that price if I had to.

Reply by jojo_MN on 10/14/08 9:17am
Msg #267228

Re: I don't think promotional pens are a good idea

You are charging at least $25 for printing, aren't you? I can understand not giving pens, but in my opinion, binder clips are part of a business expense. It is too easy for someone to drop all of the papers when taking them out of the package and having them fall out on the floor.

JMHO

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 10/14/08 1:19pm
Msg #267264

Re: I don't think promotional pens are a good idea

Agreed. The cost of a binder clip or folder should be part of the printing costs.

I know a notary who has custom stickers that she puts on folders and gives the borrower their copies in that folder with a copy of her business card and disclosure form. That's all part of what she calls her printing and presentation fee. It's all a matter of buying the folders in bulk. She says it costs her less than a dollar a signing, but it adds to the professionalism of her job and turns into more work.

She's not hurting either. She does 1-3 signings a day and still commands no less than $125 a pop. I suppose she's lucky because she's one of only a few in her area...but I think she does it well and she markets herself well without being pushy .