3 ms·

I would tolerate swag more if it were actually quality. Like you mention, so much of it is junk. But I also hate logos on things I use, so it's only half the pr

I would tolerate swag more if it were actually quality. Like you mention, so much of it is junk. But I also hate logos on things I use, so it's only half the problem.

monkeybutton 5y ago
It's all so repetitive. I have a cupboard full of mugs, travel mugs and water bottles. A bunch are even the same product with just a different color and logo! How many liquids does one man need to keep hot/cold for 24 hours?!
- sushid 5y ago
  Why do you continue to take them? I refuse swag from my own employer if I don't see myself using those things.
  - eropple 5y ago
    My current employer ships us swag and sometimes doesn't tell us up front. Fortunately, our swag tends to be useful and decent stuff.
II2II 5y ago
There are only two pieces of swag that I've ever bothered using, both were from the same event, and I only ever used them as evidence that I was around during the early days of Linux. My main reason is a dislike of logos, but utility is another big factor. I understand this stuff is shelled out to promote companies, but it's not very useful if it goes straight into the trash. I will keep a business card since it is small and they're easy to organize. A decent quality pen may be kept, but I've only ever seen them offered by local businesses. I only see a use for the first two mugs: one for coffee/tea and one for quality pens that are never given out. The bags are not durable enough, I would never use them outside of work, and I don't have a use for them at work. Anything else will be very dependent upon the person. As for the people who do like that sort of thing, just leave the stuff on the table. Don't force it in a person's hand and don't make them feel obligated to take it.
that_guy_iain 5y ago
I got some branded swag for my startup for new customers. I literally made sure that the swag wasn't just usable but something people might actually use. For example, moleskine notebook [0], a metal parker pen[1], and a metal parker pencil. And even with it being good quality stuff, I am still worried when I give it out that it's just going to end up being tat that thrown in the bin. 0 - https://www.allbranded.co.uk/Office/Storage-Organisation/Notebooks/Classic-XL-hard-cover-notebook-ruled.html https://www.allbranded.co.uk/Office/Storage-Organisation/Not... 1 - https://www.allbranded.co.uk/Classics/Pens-Pencils/Parker-Pens/Jotter-ballpoint-pen-allbranded.html https://www.allbranded.co.uk/Classics/Pens-Pencils/Parker-Pe...
- igetspam 5y ago
  Great choices! I got a really nice notebook from incident.io. I use a lot of notebooks and this one is pretty high quality. Please people, more notebooks and more pens. Preferably erasable gel pens. Those are fantastic.
- triyambakam 5y ago
  Those are wonderful, I'd definitely use a nice pen and Moleskine
shoo 5y ago
> What people take for relentless minimalism is a side effect of too much exposure to the reactor-cores of fashion. This has resulted in a remorseless paring-down of what she can and will wear. She is, literally, allergic to fashion. She can only tolerate things that could have been worn, to a general lack of comment, during any year between 1945 and 2000. She’s a design-free zone, a one-woman school of anti whose very austerity periodically threatens to spawn its own cult. http://cyborganthropology.com/Cayce_Pollard_Unit http://cyborganthropology.com/Cayce_Pollard_Unit

I would tolerate swag more if it were actually quality. Like you mention, so much of it is junk. But I also hate logos on things I use, so it's only half the problem.

monkeybutton 5y ago

It's all so repetitive. I have a cupboard full of mugs, travel mugs and water bottles. A bunch are even the same product with just a different color and logo! How many liquids does one man need to keep hot/cold for 24 hours?!

sushid 5y ago
Why do you continue to take them? I refuse swag from my own employer if I don't see myself using those things.
- eropple 5y ago
  My current employer ships us swag and sometimes doesn't tell us up front. Fortunately, our swag tends to be useful and decent stuff.

II2II 5y ago

There are only two pieces of swag that I've ever bothered using, both were from the same event, and I only ever used them as evidence that I was around during the early days of Linux. My main reason is a dislike of logos, but utility is another big factor. I understand this stuff is shelled out to promote companies, but it's not very useful if it goes straight into the trash. I will keep a business card since it is small and they're easy to organize. A decent quality pen may be kept, but I've only ever seen them offered by local businesses. I only see a use for the first two mugs: one for coffee/tea and one for quality pens that are never given out. The bags are not durable enough, I would never use them outside of work, and I don't have a use for them at work. Anything else will be very dependent upon the person. As for the people who do like that sort of thing, just leave the stuff on the table. Don't force it in a person's hand and don't make them feel obligated to take it.

that_guy_iain 5y ago

I got some branded swag for my startup for new customers. I literally made sure that the swag wasn't just usable but something people might actually use. For example, moleskine notebook [0], a metal parker pen[1], and a metal parker pencil. And even with it being good quality stuff, I am still worried when I give it out that it's just going to end up being tat that thrown in the bin. 0 - https://www.allbranded.co.uk/Office/Storage-Organisation/Notebooks/Classic-XL-hard-cover-notebook-ruled.html https://www.allbranded.co.uk/Office/Storage-Organisation/Not... 1 - https://www.allbranded.co.uk/Classics/Pens-Pencils/Parker-Pens/Jotter-ballpoint-pen-allbranded.html https://www.allbranded.co.uk/Classics/Pens-Pencils/Parker-Pe...

igetspam 5y ago
Great choices! I got a really nice notebook from incident.io. I use a lot of notebooks and this one is pretty high quality. Please people, more notebooks and more pens. Preferably erasable gel pens. Those are fantastic.
triyambakam 5y ago
Those are wonderful, I'd definitely use a nice pen and Moleskine

shoo 5y ago

> What people take for relentless minimalism is a side effect of too much exposure to the reactor-cores of fashion. This has resulted in a remorseless paring-down of what she can and will wear. She is, literally, allergic to fashion. She can only tolerate things that could have been worn, to a general lack of comment, during any year between 1945 and 2000. She’s a design-free zone, a one-woman school of anti whose very austerity periodically threatens to spawn its own cult. http://cyborganthropology.com/Cayce_Pollard_Unit http://cyborganthropology.com/Cayce_Pollard_Unit