Any good ideas on how to stop my pens from walking away from my desk?!
I work at a Lasik surgeon office, we see a good amount of patients a week. Seems like we are ALWAYS out of pens. My boss buys them, then before you know it they are gone again! We have tried labeling them.. we think the "flower" thing may be the next option.. any other idea's?
Yep, but a BIG flower thing on it... or another kind of trinket.
Or attach it to a string... a tether to the desk.
SH had a good idea with the flower thing. most of the offices we go to either have the big goofy flowers, or a can just full of a hundred pens or so. your boss could look at it as advertising costs.
We have just given up. We purchase them in bulk (cases of 5000) and have them imprinted. We figure if they are that popular, they will go around and spread our name.
Good luck!
Oh, how I'm sure you miss the days of pharmaceutical/medical device company pens.
I used to be a pharmaceutical rep. I could be minding my own business, and random strangers would constantly come-up and ask for freebies without even saying hi. Drove me nuts.
Offices used to put 1-2 pens max out for patients to sign-in and would strap them to the clip boards with strings if possible when people needed to fill-out paperwork.
I don't know if people accidentally do it or if they're just trying to get something for free. I'd do the flowers, tongue depressors, anything that makes them awkward to take.
The public doesn't realize that pharmaceutical companies have been banned from bringing pens, etc. since last January. So, if you have any, hold onto them dearly - they may be worth something one day.
I like the big flower! My pedi has different items for different occasions! Little clovers and hats for St. Patricks, flowers for summer, eggs for easter...etc. Cute.
This one takes me aback a little, while I don’t hold with stealing, Lasik surgery costs so much and pens can be good advertising if they have the clinic/doctor’s name, address, phone number and logo on them.
I can’t see why your boss doesn’t buy them by the bulk and eliminate your stress. The flower thing….tacky…cheap. I use to own a catering business and purchased 100's of pens with our info..it was very inexpensive.
Blessings…..
I absentmindedly put a pen in my purse after using it, particularly if it looks like my pen. Or I just as absentmindedly leave my pen on someone's desk. It may not be intentional, especially when someone is distracted by bigger issues, so I hope you don't assume the worst about your patients.
Dear missing pens! Heres what u do put your pens where no one can find them and when you have to give out one make sure you tell them to bring it back please! if they dont then ask for it. Out of sight out of mind. If they can see it then they cant have it. and if you lend it out dont be afraid to ask for it back. You have that right. blessings
Thats funny, I was going to say the flower too. Good luck with that...as 'tacky' as the flower may seem, it works, because it catches your eye.
The flower works, that's why people use them. My local college uses plastic spoons. The first time I saw that...I was very confused, but it keeps the pens were they belong.
Wow, it's FLOWER time for your pens, bigger they are less they will disappear.
I used to teach school...flowers, ugly ones. I even do the flowers at home, so my husband doesn't run off with my pens.
The flower pens do work good, not as easy to put in your purse after you pay for your copay. I also like the bulk pen w/the business imprinted on there. Yes they get taken but it's free advertising. Maybe a combination of both. That way you will always have a few flower pens on hand and free advertising.
