Posted by Joan Bergstrom on 5/29/10 12:13am
Msg #338942

I ordered a new briefcase from overstock.com

My last briefcase I got from Stapes approx 1-1/2 years ago and paid $75, the bottom of the back broke apart and paper clips/etc are escaping. The briefcase now looks like h...

I ordered an aluminum briefcase from www.overstock.com for $63 and a $2.95 shipping charge with no sales tax. Got it today and it looks like it will last for several years instead of a year or so. In 8 years I think I have gone through 4 briefcases.

My son is a notary in Anaheim and he picked up an aluminum briefcase 5 years ago at a thrift shop and it just now starting to have some problems with the latches.

My briefcase looks as sturdy as all get out.

I think the aluminum briefcase is a much choice. Anyone have any choices or prices they would like to discuss?

Reply by LisaWI on 5/29/10 6:09am
Msg #338953

I dont use a "briefcase", but a carry all bag and love it. Mine is a Buxton from Staples also. Buxton is well known for lasting and it has. Ive had mine for five years and its still in one piece. A little worn in spots, but still very functional.

I want a new one and probably will go with Buxton again because of the durability. They run about 50 some dollars and up.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 5/29/10 6:19am
Msg #338954

I bought a leather briefcase from overstock.com and love it. It opens from the top and holds my droid and everything else. I love it.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 5/29/10 7:30am
Msg #338958

I got mine about 12 yrs ago when I had to haul around a laptop. It's a soft sided leather and doesn't have latches or hinges Just big zippers . It is nicely broken in at this point. It has dividers on one side for files and the other side is a huge single compartment. I paid $95 for it at office max and well worth it.
My old hard sided one I store my late brothers harmonica collection in. I gave it to him to carry them to gigs. Works great. Someday, I can easily hand it over to his daughters.
Last month I cleaned out my Dad's storage and found his briefcase. I gave it to him for christmas 1970. I paid $20 for it at Sears. That was a fortune for a student back then. He used it all these years. The lining was starting to go and it smelled horrible from mice. Had to toss it.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 5/29/10 8:16am
Msg #338959

The advantage of the metal briefcase...

...of course, is that in winter you can use it to sled down hills. Unless you're in California, in which case you use it to store snapshots of your friends from elsewhere sledding down hills in places that actually have seasons.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 5/29/10 9:11am
Msg #338963

Re: The advantage of the metal briefcase...

Now Now there's snow in California you just have to look at the mountain tops.

Reply by Notarysigner on 5/29/10 10:10am
Msg #338973

Re: The advantage of the metal briefcase...

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/mtwhitney.sht

Reply by jba/fl on 5/29/10 11:40am
Msg #338977

link no good James n/m

Reply by Notarysigner on 5/29/10 1:01pm
Msg #338994

Re: link no good James


http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/mtwhitney.shtml

Reply by jba/fl on 5/29/10 4:25pm
Msg #339011

Re: link no good James

I'm glad I went there to read up on bears and food storage. One of my adventure leaders was hiking the Appalachian Trial and lost her food a few weeks ago in the middle of the night. Those canisters look great so forwarded the article to her.

BTW: FL doesn't get snow that sticks, so count us out of the states that get snow.

Reply by PAW on 5/30/10 7:22pm
Msg #339127

Snow in Florida

On the ground - Jan 10, 2010. Pictures at http://blogs.tampabay.com/talk/2010/01/if-you-see-snow-in-florida-share-your-photos.html

Reply by LKT/CA on 5/29/10 12:27pm
Msg #338988

California is like every other state - it snows here too.

Reply by Grammyzoom on 5/29/10 10:47am
Msg #338974

We use a box

We bought a black box which has metal framing about 5 years ago from Staples. It is 6 1/2 inches wide, 16 inches long and 11 1/2 inches tall and . We paid about $35.00 for it. It has been perfect for us and still looks great. It has dual combination locks on the front. We carry all of the pens, stamps, eye glasses and other small stuff in a matching little black box, our documents in legal sized manilla envelopes, notary books, scanner, etc. etc. all of which fit into this box.

We get a lot of comments on what we carry and it works for us.

Reply by CF on 5/29/10 11:43am
Msg #338978

Re: We use a box

All I use is a legal file folder with docs in it....I have a small black pouch with pens and stamp and I carry in my phone...I have never needed anything else in the closing other than the docs, pens, stamp, and phone.

I had to lug around a briefcase in my past life....and I am so glad to have simplified running my own show!!!!

I am not trying to be rude....but I would be scared if someone hauled in a bunch of stuff to sign loan papers???? It seems strange to me to bring in a lot of extra stuff.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 5/29/10 12:21pm
Msg #338987

Minimalist

CF: Your post reminded me of the first signing I went to years ago. I accompanied my notary class teacher as an observer. I was stunned when she pulled out from her car one of those rolling-type suitcases, like you'd take on an airplane trip. The borrowers were, too. They kinda laughed and made some comment about how they had no idea getting a loan signed required so much paraphernalia. I'm like you - I carry in the least I can get away with - but I have to add a journal, of course, and those ink wipe thingies, too.

Reply by Dorothy_MI on 5/29/10 12:52pm
Msg #338991

I'm with you.

I have my purse (cell phone inside), 2 legal size folders and a pencil holder that student put in a 3 ring binder. Started out with my husbands old HUGE briefcase, then went to a smaller brief case. Then one day I was looking at my grand daughter's pencil case and a light bulb went off! Holds my stamp, a small stapler (that uses standard size staples), a couple of binder clips, a couple of paper clips, a couple of rubber bands, a very small box of staples (came with the stapler) and about 4 - 5 blue and 4 -5 black pens. Everything I need in one little pouch and costs under $5.00 and lasts about 2 - 3 years. Sometimes borrowers are amazed and what I pull out of there (think clowns in VW beetle).

Reply by LKT/CA on 5/29/10 12:15pm
Msg #338986

Re: We use a box

I use a Vaultz legal size locking file tote. I have everything I need in it and get lots of compliments that it looks professional and "official". It's tall and sits upright on the floor, which is more convenient than a briefcase on a dirty floor.

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/924392/Vaultz-Locking-File-Tote-Legal-12/?cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Google-_-Filing_and_Storage-_-924392&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=plusbox-beta&mr:trackingCode=EF186F1B-EC81-DE11-B7F3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

Reply by Grammyzoom on 5/29/10 5:42pm
Msg #339028

Whatever floats your boat

The box we use is the same as LKT. It sits on the floor, out of the way, holds everything we need nice and neat and we get compliments on it all of the time about how professional it looks. It is truly an office in a box and has come in handy so many times I cannot count.

Each to his own though and I think that is what this post is all about. Whatever floats your boat.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 5/29/10 10:36pm
Msg #339066

Lisa, I use that same box now, too. Love it! n/m

Reply by BossLadyMD on 5/29/10 2:42pm
Msg #339004

sporting a classy Dooney & Burke, pricey & will last 1 yr ;) n/m

Reply by cadmonkey/CA on 5/29/10 3:02pm
Msg #339005

Tumi Alpha Large Expandable Organizer Computer Brief

is what I've been lugging for years, bulletproof and looks very professional....I used to travel all over the country in my previous profession and so it carried over quite nicely as a notary bag.

Reply by Robert/FL on 5/29/10 5:15pm
Msg #339024

I use a cheap attache case

that I got from my bonding company - http://www.notarybonding.com/shoppingcart/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=52. It's cheap (about $30) and it has a brass plate custom engraved with your name and state. It comes with 3-rings inside which has been perfect for housing all of my wedding records. It has held up pretty well and looks nice IMO.

If I did significantly more mobile notary work, I think a thin silver aluminum case looks very sharp and professional. They used to sell one at Notary.net which I really liked, but I am not seeing it now.

Reply by C. Rivera Chicago Notary Services on 5/29/10 6:45pm
Msg #339043

is it bright and shiny? futuristic looking? i like black.. n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 5/29/10 6:56pm
Msg #339046

I bought a really thick cowhide leather briefcase about 30 years ago that I am still using. It is just starting to look worn around the handles but has a nice patina. Paid about $75 +/- back then. If, IF I decide to replace it, will consider aluminum, but would have to be matte black, certainly not silver (eech!)

Reply by Robert/FL on 5/29/10 7:52pm
Msg #339048

I rather like the silver aluminum look

But I am sure there are many who would rather use a canvas bag on rollers. It's all personal preference.

Reply by Jayhawk/KS on 5/29/10 8:43pm
Msg #339053

being a former teacher, I use a canvas zip up bag

I got this from the Weekly Reader book club. I have a stash of about 15 of these, all colors. I figured out I could get the Weekly Reader book club logo off with duct tape, so, I'm good to go! It's legal plus size in length. I use a plastic pencil case that slides open from one end, to keep my pens, paper clips, binder clips, a few sticky notes and my mini stapler in. I'm so organized, it's scary!!!!!!

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 5/29/10 9:47pm
Msg #339062

I actually had a compliment on this briefcase today

I always thought the aluminum briefcases looked pretty ugly, but at this point with the others not lasting very long I was way past the point of caring.

The 3 people I did a signing for this morning all commented on how great my briefcase looked! Today was the 1st day I used it. No one in 8 years has ever made a comment either pro or con on my briefcase.

After reading everyone comments it seems there are a bunch of ways to haul our notary stuff around and some of them are really inexpensive.