[pianotech] promo pens

[Tom Sivak]

I've given out pens for ten years.  I leave the pen on the piano when I leave.  Over the ten years, I've had about two dozen people say, "I'm glad you left that pen.  We lost your number, but then, remembered the pen."   
Two dozen in ten years is not a lot, but there are doubtless others who also used the pen to retrieve my number who said nothing.  And I would hope there are others who appreciated the gift of a pen but said nothing.
I don't know if it really helps my repeat business, but it costs 39 cents per pen.  So, if it helps one out of every 270 customers remember my name/number and call me back, I'm even.  
On the negative side, I've had people run after me as I get in my car, yelling, "You forgot your pen on the piano!"  And I say, "It's YOUR pen!"  To which they reply, "No, it's not!  It's got your name on it!"   
If only my name was Steinway!  
Tom SivakChicago
--- On Tue, 7/21/09, wimblees at aol.com <wimblees at aol.com> wrote:

From: wimblees at aol.com <wimblees at aol.com>
Subject: [pianotech] promo pens
To: Pianotech at PTG.org
Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 3:37 AM

At the convention, Jerry Groot gave me a pen with his name, etc. on it. (Thanks Jerry, nice looking pen). Randy Potter gives them out, too. 



I, as I am sure others, have been approached many times by pen salesmen who want you to buy them for customers. I've always resisted. (One guy told me he "accidentally" printed 1000 pens with my name on it, and he would have to throw them out if I didn't buy them. When I told him he misspelled my name, he didn't hesitate one second and said he could change it, at no extra charge). 



For those of you who give them out, what is your return of investment? Do you actually get calls from people who saw your name on the pen? Or do you just do it for good will, like buying an add in the high school chorus concert program. 





Wim

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