Are you particular about your office supplies?

[Waffle]

There is one woman in our office who is always complaining about some office supply or equipment.  Examples include: her desk is too slippery, the highlighters aren't retractable, the correction tape is no good.  These are just absolutely ridiculously umimportant items to me.   Yes, I need a desk and occasionally a highlighter and correction tape - but I'm not that particular about any of them.  I even had to order her a new adding machine - I don't even remember what was wrong with the (new) one that she had. 

So which side of the spectrum do you fall on?

[thyme4change]

I love a great pen and mechanical pencil.  But other than that - whatever.

[973beachbum]

As far as basics like paper, pencils and highlighters I could care less.  The desk too slipery sounds more like a personal problem to me.

I will say that when I used adding machines i did have a particular style I liked.  I didn't have a brand preference but I really wanted the keys to be the way I liked.  I couldn't stand the ones with a calculator keyboard.  Does that make me picky?

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

...And I said, I don't care if they lay me off either, because I told, I told Bill that if they move my desk one more time, then, then I'm, I'm quitting, I'm going to quit. And, and I told Don too, because they've moved my desk four times already this year, and I used to be over by the window, and I could see the squirrels, and they were married, but then, they switched from the Swingline to the Boston stapler, but I kept my Swingline stapler because it didn't bind up as much, and I kept the staples for the Swingline stapler and it's not okay because if they take my stapler then I'll set the building on fire...

[Wisconsin Beth]

I did call Admin and request "any pens but X brand."  Other than that, I work with what I'm given. 

[chiver78]

Apr 9, 2013 14:18:34 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I love a great pen and mechanical pencil.  But other than that - whatever.

I buy my own pens because I don't like the ones in the supply cabinet. I can spare the $3 for a box of 12, it's fine.

everything else, whatever.

[chiver78]

stupid double post.

[justme]

I'm the one that does the supplies for our office so everything is what I want.

When I worked at a larger company though I just took whatever was in the supply closet, never thought much of it.

[The Captain]

I have my own red swingline stapler that goes with me when ever I change jobs.  I also have an older black swingline stapler that is as solid as a brick wall, back from when they were still made in the USA.

[Cookies Galore]

I love the pens at work so much that some of them have fallen into my purse.

[kittensaver]

Apr 9, 2013 16:16:18 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

I love the pens at work so much that some of them have fallen into my purse.

LOL Meghan! That might just have happened to me a time or two also . There's one particular pen I really like for signing agency checks - it flows really well (especially when you have a whole stack of checks presented to you for signature 20 minutes before the office closes for the day). My AP manager special orders the pens for me to keep me happy because I sign so many checks for him. As for all the other stuff? Eh, whatever is around is fine . . .  

[movingforward]

I honestly could care less (except I agree about pens).  The person who orders the supplies kept asking me what color folders I wanted her to use for board packets.  Honestly I could give a rat's ass.  It was a crazy conversation that went something like "oh, how about purple, no that's not good for spring... I could do lavender or off white, oh we did off white at the winter board meeting"  I finally said I don't give a crap. Order whatever!!

[Deleted]

I am picky about my pens and I do prefer a mechanical pencil.

And while it drives DH nuts, I make sure I have coordinating colors for, file labels, plastic receipt envelopes, check book covers, high lighters and key fobs so that I keep the 5 properties stuff straight. I'm not really that A/R but I WILL make a mess of things when I'm on my trips and at tax time if I don't keep things separate at a glance.

[tcu2003]

Apr 9, 2013 16:28:09 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

I hate cheap pens. I can deal with everything else.

Ditto.

[wvugurl26]

I like a certain pen but the rest of the stuff whatever. Our admin took a buyout and someone was deemed to be taking too many supplies so the cabinet is locked now. I have visions of Oliver Twist when asking for stuff.

Anyway I have plenty of Post Its and stuff from my couponing days to get me through.

[Works4me]

Apr 9, 2013 18:52:20 GMT -5 @bonnap said:

I am picky about my pens and I do prefer a mechanical pencil.

And while it drives DH nuts, I make sure I have coordinating colors for, file labels, plastic receipt envelopes, check book covers, high lighters and key fobs so that I keep the 5 properties stuff straight. I'm not really that A/R but I WILL make a mess of things when I'm on my trips and at tax time if I don't keep things separate at a glance.

Same way here - never saw a problem with it. In fact, it is one of the reasons I was successful professionally.  

[CarolinaKat]

Apr 9, 2013 15:42:00 GMT -5 The Captain said:

I have my own red swingline stapler that goes with me when ever I change jobs.  I also have an older black swingline stapler that is as solid as a brick wall, back from when they were still made in the USA.

I have a mini red swingline stapler, and I've been friends with it since college.

[Peace Of Mind]

Apr 9, 2013 16:42:24 GMT -5 movingforward said:

I honestly could care less (except I agree about pens).  The person who orders the supplies kept asking me what color folders I wanted her to use for board packets.  Honestly I could give a rat's ass.  It was a crazy conversation that went something like "oh, how about purple, no that's not good for spring... I could do lavender or off white, oh we did off white at the winter board meeting"  I finally said I don't give a crap. Order whatever!!

  If the colors represented a dept. or project that would make sense.   But touch my black Swingline and I will cut you! 

[Sharon]

I like blue pens and a regular #2 pencil.  I tried to get some of those erasers that fit on the end of the pencil but someone decided that a separate eraser that is about the size of a pencil and fits inside a little black tube would be better.  As long as the stapler works and doesn't jam all the time I'm good.

[tcu2003]

I also prefer Scotch tape to all other brands. The branch office I'm in now buys an off brand and it's just not as good. Which reminds me - I need to swipe some Scotch tape from our HQ office for my desk next time I'm up there.

[thyme4change]

I will say that we got a new purchasing exec and he put all our "supplies" on a national contract.  I am all for it, and it was the right thing to do.  BUT, the quality of towels in the bathroom is very low.  And now instead of me using one, maybe two towels after my tinkle, I need to use at least 4 if not 6.  Half the time they rip coming out of the dispenser and I just have a little pile of shreds.  I wonder how much cheaper these towels are, and if we are saving any money by buying the cheaper ones, but using twice as many.

I also happened to notice that the corporate office still uses the higher quality towels.  I heard that there were some cheaper ones in there for a month or so, and then mysteriously and quietly the good towels came back.

What a bunch of assholes.

[Deleted]

I also prefer scotch tape. I like good pens. I will also pay for the better 3 ring binders at staples for portfolios. I don't like the cheap ones...

[amishgal]

I'm super picky about my pens, that's about it. I do use a 3 hole punch quite a bit, so I ordered a top of the line one since our crappy one would hurt my wrist. We have a small office of 5 people so we can pretty much have whatever we want. I do most of the ordering anyway and only big purchases like chairs need approval.

[alabamagal]

Yesterday I got some small binder clips (bigger than paper clip, but not super big). That made my day! I requested 3 boxes but got 12. I think I will share with some of my coworkers.

[Deleted]

I need my swingline stapler

[Deleted]

oh and I also like scotch tape

minus the tape

[thyme4change]

Apr 10, 2013 11:01:27 GMT -5 @robbase2012 said:

oh and I also like scotch tape

minus the tape

[Deleted]

Apr 10, 2013 11:02:29 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Apr 10, 2013 11:01:27 GMT -5 @robbase2012 said:

oh and I also like scotch tape

minus the tape

You sound like you would love to go to a restaurant with me......I always tell the waitress that I'll have the chicken breast..hold the chicken

[thyme4change]

And I'll order the waiter's sausage.  It will be disgusting.

[Deleted]

Apr 10, 2013 11:07:03 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

And I'll order the waiter's sausage.  It will be disgusting.

BTW- you do know that you are paying, correct?