Sharpie
You probably already know about Sharpie. They are those useful -
write on most anything, readily available, sold everywhere marker. True.
They come in a wide variety of colors (with new ones hitting the market
frequently- almost seasonally). They have a few tip sizes (fine, and
ultra-fine are the 2 most popular). What you maybe didn't know - these
are NOT ACID FREE. I was at my Sam's Club one day and they had a
big pack of the ultra-fine markers for a great price, and on the
description of the product, along with the price, were the details of the
pens, and it read "Acid-Free". Okay..... nowhere on the packaging
does it read 'acid-free', so where did Sam's get their information from?
I called Sharpie. Someone answered right away, and we had a nice
chat. Turns out these Sharpies are NOT acid-free. So I asked this
kind, knowledgeable customer service rep "You already have all of the
manufacturing tools, the pen shells, the distribution, and the name - why
not make an acid-free pen?" And he told me that they did make one,
and test marketed it, and it failed. Seems that a lot (most, certainly) of
the people who buy Sharpies don't need their pens to be acid-free,
making it not worth the cost of the new ink or new pen line distribution,
advertising, or marketing.
They do, however, make a Sharpie Poster Paint in metallic gold and
silver - these are acid-free.
As a footnote - I did talk with several Sam's Club store managers, and I
called Sam's Club Headquarters - no one seemed concerned that they
had misrepresented their products, nor did they change the signs.
write on most anything, readily available, sold everywhere marker. True.
They come in a wide variety of colors (with new ones hitting the market
frequently- almost seasonally). They have a few tip sizes (fine, and
ultra-fine are the 2 most popular). What you maybe didn't know - these
are NOT ACID FREE. I was at my Sam's Club one day and they had a
big pack of the ultra-fine markers for a great price, and on the
description of the product, along with the price, were the details of the
pens, and it read "Acid-Free". Okay..... nowhere on the packaging
does it read 'acid-free', so where did Sam's get their information from?
I called Sharpie. Someone answered right away, and we had a nice
chat. Turns out these Sharpies are NOT acid-free. So I asked this
kind, knowledgeable customer service rep "You already have all of the
manufacturing tools, the pen shells, the distribution, and the name - why
not make an acid-free pen?" And he told me that they did make one,
and test marketed it, and it failed. Seems that a lot (most, certainly) of
the people who buy Sharpies don't need their pens to be acid-free,
making it not worth the cost of the new ink or new pen line distribution,
advertising, or marketing.
They do, however, make a Sharpie Poster Paint in metallic gold and
silver - these are acid-free.
As a footnote - I did talk with several Sam's Club store managers, and I
called Sam's Club Headquarters - no one seemed concerned that they
had misrepresented their products, nor did they change the signs.
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