Do Business pens really matter anymore?

[jespero]

Often I have to say no - only the odd colleague seems to notice...

 

when it comes to the boss though - it was a different situation - I was close to seriously tell her off...

 

during a meeting, she needed to scribble something - found no pen so she streched for my Pelikan FP. She started to tear the poor cap with some fury, getting increasingly annoyed that she could not un-cap it...

In the midst of my deepest panic I told her loud and clear - interruupting the entire meeting "when you are done abusing my precious foutain pen I would happy to hand you this cheap ball-point pen instead which will prove less of a challenge for you"...

 

Imagine the look I got back from her... :roflmho:

 

[PaulK]

I have seen one Lamy rollerball. That's it. Otherwise, whatever that is picked-up from supply or out of some nearby pen cup. In my time in the workforce, I can probably think of less than ten times I've seen nice pens in use -- a couple MB 149s at the top end. I guess "we" must be the only ones buying them ;-)

 

Agree with high-end gadgets: more likely to see Apple phones or super-duper PDAs in use.

 

-P

[Ghost Plane]

US corporate types seem to use far less fountain pens than their non US counterparts. I've taken some teasing on "writing with antiques" but other than that, no one cares.

[Siv]

Also over here the officers also tend to use FP espicaly the more senior levels. Wonder if it is a military 'thing' or tradition ??

I'm sure it's a British class thing. Kids in public school are still made to use fountain pens today.

[matt385]

I've always carried a pen/pencil set with me, even if it geeky! When I have given my pen to a client to sign an order older clients will know how to write with a fountain pen and younger clients do not. Then again half of the time the clients could not figure out how to twist or pull the cap on a nicer ball point. For a short period of time I had a nice ball point with the push button on top and everyone tried to twist to top off.

 

Be prepared to lose it by having it borrowed.

 

The best advice I've seen is be consistent. If you're just starting out don't wear $400 shoes, $2000 watches or $500 fountain pens. You look like a show off and lose credibilty, clients will think theres nothing behind the show.

 

[Garageboy]

My dad and my uncle worked together

My dad loves vintage watches and was wearing an Omega Constellation from the 60s

My uncle was wearing a Seiko Kinetic

 

All the guys started to kiss up to my dad like he was the boss, until he said, umh, it's him that you wanna talk to.

[FLZapped]

At the meetings I attended, everyone had a laptop with a wifi card.....pens? Whatsa pen?

 

-Bruce

[Ernst Bitterman]

I frequently have to go to the office of my company's VP (Finance) to get things signed. He uses slightly better-looking disposable pens (the ones that might cost as much half a bottle of ink) and one day the thing he had to sign for me ended up with not signature. In a move that reeked of frequent practice, he threw the pen cross-body into the wastebasket just behind him to the left and on the recovery put his hand over his pen caddy... empty!

 

I handed him my 1945 Sheaffer Valiant (a good sturdy point, no fears), keeping the cap in hand. There as a moment of appreciation, the signature, another moment, and the pen was returned. "You really have nice pens," he said, but alas has not come through to the smart side of the world. He's been handed my desk-model 51 Special several times, too, but without any lasting effect.

 

The best advice I've seen is be consistent.

 

Smart advice. I'm lucky enough to work somewhere where I can dress my age-- the '40s. People comment on the hat more often than the pens.

[EventHorizon]

Not much of a concern here either. I've been in many meetings at many levels and when you whip out the nice Esterbrook or Wearever or LAMY or what ever, there are no real reactions. As for "do they matter", they do to me and that's enough..

 

P.S. - nice avatar there murderface!!!! That's some good old school stuff.

[robeck]

I'm a commissioned officer in the Royal Air Force and always use an FP but that's just me. I don't think it is an "officer" thing - most other officers just use whatever is to hand including the ubiquitous, service-supplied BIC biros. Now that I'm retired from the service and working in civvie street, I still always use FPs. Not one other person in the company uses one except an engineer who sits right next to me. We never talk about it but I'm sure he only started to use one when he saw mine. Funny really.

[barny]

Some really don't care about writing instruments but for sure they know the worth of what your writing with. What they really do care is the tie (for men) and the business attire your wearing.

 

In most top executive meetings, the most common sight that peeps out there shirts pockets or organisers are the white design on cap tops better known as MONTBLANC.

Edited June 27, 2008 by barny

[daveg]

"when you are done abusing my precious foutain pen I would happy to hand you this cheap ball-point pen instead which will prove less of a challenge for you"...

 

Imagine the look I got back from her... :roflmho:

 

Yeah, for about 99% of the world "precious" is not an adjective that can precede "pen". Unless it's a Montblanc, of course, but then "precious" modifies plastic which makes more sense. :roflmho:

[london]

I used to work close to Burlington Arcade (upmarket olde worlde covered shopping street) in London. And, for those who know it, they will also know that there is one of the two Penfriend stores - a highly expensive modern and vintage pen shop. Stood outside there one day, two city types were about to enter. It seemed almost like an intiation as I overheard "just don't buy a Parker". Fountain pens and brand certainly mattered to those gents.

 

- Mark

[JDFlood]

I have been in business for about thirty years typically corporate manager / executive, and for five years Chief Information Officer. The success of an individual in the corporate environment is dependent on MANY factors. EQ, IQ, how hard you work, etc... and down the list a way is how you dress. It generally is not a maker/breaker but is part of the package. If you are a manager, the pen you use makes a difference, just like your shirt, tie, and shoes. In being successful, every facet matters, so you want to get as many right as possible. Some are easy, like dress, so you would be an idiot not to get it right. A tasteful elegant fountain pen in a younger executive shows a desire to reach a higher levels, so is a statement of intent. You need more than that to get there, but it can be helpful. If you are in sales, and ostintatous pen (like a watch) may stick out but would be more acceptable (because, you know, "their ALL like that". So there field makes a difference, if you are an engineer... you can probably get by with an Esterbrook in a pocket protector, but if you want to be the CTO or VP of Engineering, you need to move up to an OMAS Arco, if you want to show intent. If you are going for CFO then you are going the Monte Blanc --> Montegrappa route. I think in most situations, a BIC shows someone that is comfortable being an individual contributor and is not going anywhere. Overall, if you are presented with the choice of getting your Masters Degree or getting that Limited Edition Montegrappa or Monte Blanc... sorry, go for the degree. JD

[CraigR]

My use of certain writing instruments reflects my personality, attitude and feelings. Sometimes I use a MB Limited Edition or Writers Series because it makes me feel especially good that day. Just something about writing a letter to a friend with the MB Virginia Woolf or William Faulkner. I also love writing in my journal with the Parker 51 fine point. If I am going to a meeting with extensive note taking I sometimes will use my Taccia Staccato because the the size feels good for extended times. My attitude about business is to dress for the specific occasion and my fountain pen is part of my attire. It is also about attitude. I feel good about myself when I dress well. I also feel good about myself when I use pens like a Parker Duofold True Blue LE. I honestly don't think it matters a hoot to others what pen I use so I just try to please myself in this area. /Craig

[barny]

"Overall, if you are presented with the choice of getting your Masters Degree or getting that Limited Edition Montegrappa or Monte Blanc... sorry, go for the degree"

 

Well said JDFlood!

 

"I think in most situations, a BIC shows someone that is comfortable being an individual contributor and is not going anywhere." - :ltcapd:

 

But I still bring a BIC red ballpoint for emergency situations.

Edited June 27, 2008 by barny

[georges zaslavsky]

It is the same with watches, a man showing that he has a great quality timepiece and a great pen is a man of trust. When people see my MAN 100 Patrician, I am often said to have extremely good tastes for quality items. Appearance makes the difference.

[Ray]

On the other hand, a man wearing a £20 quartz watch shows he has a sense of economy. A £100 FP writes better generally than a £10 one. But a £20 watch is as accurate as anything 10, 100 or 1000 times the price. An expensive watch is just jewellery.

 

Ray

[Waterman]

Okay I'm getting multiple suggestions here. If I use a very nice pen I may come off as someone who just buys expensive stuff to compensate for my questionable academic abilities or if I use a very nice pen I come off as someone with an intent to someday work at a higher level so that may get me that promotion cause of the vibe I give off followed by hard work as opposed to someone who uses a BIC and works hard?

 

Brad

[beezaur]

Okay I'm getting multiple suggestions here. If I use a very nice pen I may come off as someone who just buys expensive stuff to compensate for my questionable academic abilities or if I use a very nice pen I come off as someone with an intent to someday work at a higher level so that may get me that promotion cause of the vibe I give off followed by hard work as opposed to someone who uses a BIC and works hard?

 

Brad

 

I think you should dress well, to make a good impression. In this situation, the pen is an accessory, like jewelry. So the way to pick a pen that it appropriate for work is to learn to dress.

 

If you dress the part, you had better deliver on your performance though. Otherwise you get labelled a wannabe or an eccentric who has an abnormal fascination with certain objects. One thing that is almost universally well received is understatement with very high quality.

 

Learn to dress well, then concentrate more on dealing with people and knowing your job. Sparkly baubles are just a facade that will always reveal what is underneath. You need a good facade too (ugly facts of life there), but what is behind it is what really matters in the long run.

 

Scott