Possibly dumb questions about pens and pencils

Is it really worth buying the more expensive pens that are in the $20+dollar range? I usually buy the cheap pens every year at Staples, RCSS, or Office Depot. I often lose my pens and pencils which is why the cheap ones. This year I'm thinking of maybe doing something different. Is there a compelling reason why I should buy "expensive" pens and pencils other than the fact that it'll look nicer?

No there is no reason at all. I used to buy expensive pens in highschool. But when I started to have to pay for my own stationary i stopped buying them lol. I don't even buy pens to be honest. I just go to job fares and other festivities (such as Yorkfest at Yorku) and get all the free stationary they give out lol. When I run out I buy a box of cheapo pens. Sometimes pens that are too cheap have crappy ink and for random reasons they may stop functioning, but thats the REALLY cheap ones. Carry a couple and if it fails toss it and use a new one. I've never really had BIC or Papermate ones freak on me. But the crappy storebrand ones kinda suck. Don't waste your moeny buying pens.

Well it depends.Before i lost my parker pen and pencil,i used them like for 4 years plus.I paid like 25 bucks each but i did not spend any on my black parker pen and my pencil.If you find them very comfortable and you know how to keep things,then it might be good.

i got all my stationaries from work :P

In engineering I pretty much only use pencil.. I have 3 or 4 really nice japanese mechanical pencils which I've been using for a long long time.. and other than that, I use the Papermate cheap pens, (around $2 for 20 or something like that)

I use the expensive Sanford line of pens/pencils, Parker, Cross, and Sheaffer at school and home (they were all gifts). I never lose my stuff, so it's worth it for me.

Along with being comfortable, they're durable and don't break every 2 years like the cheaper ones.

Mainly, I just like them, and feel confident relying on them for life-altering final exams

Originally Posted by M@rk

I use the expensive Sanford line of pens/pencils, Parker, Cross, and Sheaffer at school and home (they were all gifts). I never lose my stuff, so it's worth it for me.

Along with being comfortable, they're durable and don't break every 2 years like the cheaper ones.

Mainly, I just like them, and feel confident relying on them for life-altering final exams

Lucky that you're one of those people then. Back to school sales start soon so I guess I'll see what my mood is like.

get what fits you hands and budget.

i have a thing for zebra pens, theyre cheap and feel good in my hands. i occasionally lose my pens or have them stolen from me at work by my dirty co-worker-bast@rds but they are only like $2 pens so its nothing really to get mad over

i also like bic round stic pens (or anything in the round stic family). theyre even cheaper and write smooth

get whatevers in your comfort level

go to job/university fairs...free pens/pencils/highlighters/flashlights/paper...basically free stuff

Originally Posted by M@rk

I use the expensive Sanford line of pens/pencils, Parker, Cross, and Sheaffer at school and home (they were all gifts). I never lose my stuff, so it's worth it for me.

Along with being comfortable, they're durable and don't break every 2 years like the cheaper ones.

Mainly, I just like them, and feel confident relying on them for life-altering final exams

At UofT for the math and CS courses, if you don't write in pen then you cannot detest the midterms or term exams results. So, if the marker made an error (adding mistake or deducted marks incorrectly), you have no recourse action to take if you wrote your exam in pencil.

Final exams are always different. They photocopy them if you request to see them.

Originally Posted by hello1214

go to job/university fairs...free pens/pencils/highlighters/flashlights/paper...basically free stuff

amen to that
true RFD style

Originally Posted by Sgt_Strider

Is it really worth buying the more expensive pens that are in the $20+dollar range? I usually buy the cheap pens every year at Staples, RCSS, or Office Depot. I often lose my pens and pencils which is why the cheap ones. This year I'm thinking of maybe doing something different. Is there a compelling reason why I should buy "expensive" pens and pencils other than the fact that it'll look nicer?

I just hit frosh week and get pens and hilighters from all the stands. That way, I don't care if I lose them. $20+ is kinda steep for a pen. I consider gel rollers at 2 or 3 bucks a pop a luxury already.

Originally Posted by Siefer999

get what fits you hands and budget.

i have a thing for zebra pens, theyre cheap and feel good in my hands. i occasionally lose my pens or have them stolen from me at work by my dirty co-worker-bast@rds but they are only like $2 pens so its nothing really to get mad over

i also like bic round stic pens (or anything in the round stic family). theyre even cheaper and write smooth

get whatevers in your comfort level

I use those too Zebra pens are the best !!!!

I have a lot of pens that stopped working, majority have 3/4 of ink left. I think there is wax build up or ball point mechanism is broken.

I tried heating up the ends with a lighter but it doesn't help most of the time, any suggestions?

Paint thinner has worked for me in the past.. dip the end of the pen into paint thinner, and leave it for a bit.. it usually works for me.

I use a semi expensive cross ion pen at home, but that's only for writing really important stuff like home essays and the such. At school, just the regular mix of pens and pencils - nothing expensive, whatever gets the job done for me works.