| It has happened to all of us at one time or another. | | | | vitamin D. Try leaving your pen in a warm place for a |
| You grab your favourite new promotional pen out of | | | | while (such as a sunny windowsill). Alternatively, |
| the drawer and begin to write, only to discover that | | | | holding the tip under hot, running water may also do |
| your printed pen won't print. You unscrew the plastic | | | | the trick. |
| barrel and inspect the contents. Although your pen | | | | 4. You're fired! |
| appears to have plenty of ink left, nothing comes | | | | For the daring among you, try holding the tip of your |
| out. You scribble frantically in circles on the paper in | | | | promotional pen over an open flame, such as a |
| front of you to no avail. Frustrated, you toss the | | | | candle or a lighter. Avoid toasting your pen for longer |
| promotional pens in the bin and scrounge for another. | | | | than a few seconds at a time as this will damage the |
| Don't let your dried up printed pens give you writer's | | | | pen (and may create a mess!). |
| block! Before you throw away another pen, try a | | | | 5. Desperate times call for desperate measures |
| couple helpful tricks. Here are some of the tried and | | | | If your promotional pen is proving to be one tough |
| true - and a few weirdly experimental - ways to get | | | | cookie, it may be time to take some drastic steps. |
| the ink, and your ideas, flowing again. | | | | Toss the culprit in a plastic storage bag (the kind that |
| 1. Where the rubber meets the road | | | | zips closed) and lay it flat in a saucepan of boiling |
| For some unknown reason, many promotional pens | | | | water. Boil the pen for no more than 5 minutes and |
| respond well to being used on surfaces other than | | | | then remove the bag to let it cool. Once cooled, |
| paper. Try making a few marks on the rubber sole | | | | remove the printed pen from the bag and firmly |
| of your shoe or, if you prefer, on a rubber | | | | press the tip repeatedly on a piece of paper to get |
| promotional eraser. | | | | the ink rolling again. (Have pen problems aplenty? Use |
| 2. Sticky situation | | | | this trick to fix several promotional pens at once.) |
| If the ball of your ballpoint is jammed by gooey ink, | | | | If all else fails and you still can't seem to part with |
| press the tip gently but firmly on a piece of paper to | | | | your favourite printed pen, why not pick up an ink |
| dislodge the sticky ball. | | | | refill at your local office supply store? For a little |
| 3. Go sunbathing | | | | pocket change - and a lot less headache - you can |
| Sometimes all a promotional pen needs is a little | | | | still enjoy your preferred promotional pen. |