Be Wary of Your Promotional Pen's "Ink"

What color ink will your pen write in and how will your imprint hold? Question these particulars please because the various medium point inks your pen could come in can be less of a surprise if distributors and purchasers both would question, "Does the pen write in black?" You'd be surprised how many receive blue ink pens because they assumed black ink is universal somehow. Also, question the writing thickness of pens. Ballpoint or not, heed the reviews. We all like a thick, bold writing implement.

Now, I am going to say two scary words: Bamboo and Paper. Yes, some promotional pen wannabes consist of bamboo or paper barrels. There's nothing wrong with recyclable merchandise. I personally appreciate the concept of green product use and the ideal of environmental conservation however, this conservation must extend to your imprint on these types of pens. Why? More than 1-color imprinted on bamboo or paper barrel pens is more dangerous than the sword, not mightier.

No material is infallible but there is material reserved for 2+ color imprints and material that can handle 1-color only. After being advised by both their distributor and the distributor's manufacturer not to imprint in more than 1-color on a bamboo barrel pen, a client of a distributor I know persisted that they wanted their 3-color imprint on a paper barrel pen. They actually had to sign a manufacturer provided disclaimer that in so many words stated, "If your imprint turns out lousy, you're up a creek with no refund." Well, sorry to say (truly), this client's imprint turned out lousy.

The same client a year later wanted to imprint on a bamboo barrel pen (same story). There's just something about wood, bamboo and paper barrel pens that cause multiple color imprints to mix or appear not in color (paper) or fade (wood/bamboo). It's rough seeing wood through any one of the colors.

This is what the client was gearing toward who was politely warned and politely educated: the cheapest pen known to man with as many colors slapped on it as humanly possible. Please, my friends, choose plastic or metal (choose anodized imprint methods on metal) for full color logos or typeset. Instead of spending $.01 (exaggeration) for a high minimum of bamboo, wood or paper barrel pens, please go the extra mile for the sake of your imprint (spend $.02 (another exaggeration). Cheaper isn't always better and you're not saving money when you lose money on going cheap (result: an event to attend with nothing to give out to the attendees as originally planned and a wasted budget). Please share your similar experience(s) as either a distributor, client or manufacturer.

Another tip: have wood or bamboo burnished rather than pad printed or silk screened.