Gel Pens and a New Hire

[Reed]

Let me preface this first. I am an Independent Copier company. I have mostly worked for or as an Indy most of my career. (nearing 30 yrs). I recently hired a new tech who supposedly has been in the industry for about the same amount of time and has worked for Ricoh, Kyocera and Sharp Dealers. Today when we are completing a service call I noticed he used a Gel Pen and I causally said "oh we don't want this, this is a Gel Pen" and I left it the counter. The new Hire said it was HIS PEN and Picked it up. I told him to throw it away and then I had to explain to him that the GEL Pen Ink doesn't dry and when using the ADF it will leave an INK residue on the glass, which will cause a black line on on the pages when they are scanned. He said it was the first time ANYONE HAD TOLD HIM THAT.

Tell me I am not the only one that preaches to techs that we don't use GEL PENS and when necessary we need to inform the End User about this problem so we don't return a few days later to warranty the call !!

[slimslob]

If you want your your employees to use a particular type of pen, provide the pens to them. You can buy stick pens in bulk and keep them in your supply drawer/cabinet/closet.

[Reed]

Let me preface this first. I am an Independent Copier company. I have mostly worked for or as an Indy most of my career. (nearing 30 yrs). I recently hired a new tech who supposedly has been in the industry for about the same amount of time and has worked for Ricoh, Kyocera and Sharp Dealers. Today when we are completing a service call I noticed he used a Gel Pen and I causally said "oh we don't want this, this is a Gel Pen" and I left it the counter. The new Hire said it was HIS PEN and Picked it up. I told him to throw it away and then I had to explain to him that the GEL Pen Ink doesn't dry and when using the ADF it will leave an INK residue on the glass, which will cause a black line on on the pages when they are scanned. He said it was the first time ANYONE HAD TOLD HIM THAT.

Tell me I am not the only one that preaches to techs that we don't use GEL PENS and when necessary we need to inform the End User about this problem so we don't return a few days later to warranty the call !!

I think you missed the whole point of my rant. I was surprised that he didn't know that Gel Pens cause problems. Especially when using the ADF. I have a lot of pens he can use. He Lost his pend and picked up another while we were out

[ihatefinishers13]

Did he also use whiteout?

[Reed]

haha.. for this one particular place, Yes.. He carries some with him

[mojorolla]

Well, that's a new one, been in the industry 20 years. I use gel pens all day long and have never seen this scenario, but I pay the extra $ for good pens (Sharpie or Pilot)
Do you tell your customers this as well?

[Hart]

Enter the GOAT :

[copyman]

I have way to much other stuff to worry about than to tell my techs or customers what pens to use. What type of Pens used are the least of my worries. Been in the business 40+ years and never heard not to use gel pens. I do educate my customers how to clean ADF slit glass if they get lines. They know to make a copy off the glass and if no lines then they need to clean the slit glass.

[ihatefinishers13]

I have way to much other stuff to worry about than to tell my techs or customers what pens to use. What type of Pens used are the least of my worries. Been in the business 40+ years and never heard not to use gel pens. I do educate my customers how to clean ADF slit glass if they get lines. They know to make a copy off the glass and if no lines then they need to clean the slit glass.

If you want repeat service calls, then sure, don't bother mentioning that gel ink need to dry before running the paper through the ADF... but yeah, go on with your 40+ years of experience, you do you.

[slimslob]

If you want repeat service calls, then sure, don't bother mentioning that gel ink need to dry before running the paper through the ADF... but yeah, go on with your 40+ years of experience, you do you.

I always showed the owner, in house IT, or office manager the ink marks on the glass, how to clean them and that future calls for the same thing would be considered misuse which would result in a service charge. Never got a complaint or lost a customer.

[copyman]

If you want repeat service calls, then sure, don't bother mentioning that gel ink need to dry before running the paper through the ADF... but yeah, go on with your 40+ years of experience, you do you.

Seems like others agree with me.

FYI, I don't have repeat calls so there is no need to tell customers not to use gel pens. Perhaps you are focusing to much on gel pens and neglecting the real things you should be focused on. Maybe this is why you have repeat service calls and has nothing to do with gel pens, just saying......