# Are modern pens basically useless junk?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-modern-pens-basically-useless-junk/1011178>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 5, 2024, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-modern-pens-basically-useless-junk/1011178 "2024-12-05T05:28:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 1

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-modern-pens-basically-useless-junk/1011178/1 "2024-12-05T05:28:20Z")

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I just tried three Bic pens from a package. The first two wouldn’t write. I tried scribbling on paper to prime it. 🖊

My luck with pens is terrible. When find one that works. It won’t work for long. Sometimes it fails after laying on my desk for a week or two.

I don’t write pages of text anymore. My biggest use is jotting down notes while I’m on the phone, signing checks, or addressing a couple envelopes.

Remember when everyone had a old coffee cup as a pen holder? There would be a handful of pens in it. Most of the time they worked when I randomly pulled one out.

It’s been over 20 years since I ran a pen dry. You could see how much ink was left. Today it’s rare to use even a half-inch of ink before the pen fails.

What has been your experience with todays pens?

_Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-modern-pens-basically-useless-junk/1011178/1))_

**I buy a smaller box with a dozen pens.**

[![](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/aaff3dec-bf8d-43b0-a66d-4f73605b1a85.bd01569388d2996baa20ff73a20f5e67.jpeg) ](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/aaff3dec-bf8d-43b0-a66d-4f73605b1a85.bd01569388d2996baa20ff73a20f5e67.jpeg)

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