An Ink Pen

[Convert91]

Interesting question, I would say the key word is conscience : If I was able to contact the person by e-mail or phone, that’s what I would do. Most likely they would be amazed at your honesty, I would admire that in someone, thank them for calling and tell them to keep the pen.

A few years ago I was in a secondary office that sales people had access to. I walked away for 5 minutes and left my Mont Blanc of 10 years on the desk, when I returned it was gone. My goal was to keep it my whole career. I never have expensive pens anymore and if someone keeps a pen, I never think it is intentional and if it was then maybe they needed a pen. Their problem not mine.

Like I said key word conscience…

 

[Incomplete]

I think this is a pretty good rule of thumb. There’s a big difference between a pen that says “Compliments of Frank’s Towing” vs. “Cross” or “Parker” in terms of what to do when. For that matter, a phone call to the pen owner might result in a “You keep it” reply if it was a cheap giveaway.

First, I want to say that I do understand what you’re saying. I’m pretty sure that if it was me, if I remembered to I would return it at the next opportunity, but I wouldn’t necessarily make a big point of it.

But though I do understand what you’re saying, it begs the question: what is the dividing line? A pen that looks like it cost $3? Or $5? or $15?

And what about non-pen items? Is it expense that matters? Or is it something else?

I’m just questioning, trying to get people’s thoughts, with no real answers of my own…because I know that in practicality, my attempt to return a cheap pen would be different than an expensive pen. But I don’t have answers for what would be the limits, either. (And I’ve had cheap pens that wrote so well that I hated it when they were lost.)

 

[wendy_w]

I work in a place that uses pens for advertisement, we hope people will take them.
That being said the next time you see this person just give them the pen. That way you don’t have to worry about.

 

[Cbus]

I think this is a “do unto others” situation. If it is an expensive or personalized pen, get it back to them as soon as you can. But if it is a simple run of the mill pen, don’t worry about it.

Seriously, if someone went way out of their way to return a bic pen to you, would think they are good person or would you think they are a stalker?

As far as giving it back to someone the next time I see them, I am not going to carry that darn bic pen around with me just in case I might run into them. I wouldn’t expect them to do it either.