PENS, PENCILS & ERASERS

These light-up pens are one of the coolest things we’ve come across in a long time, but then again, look who’s saying that—a copywriter. But really, they’re hard not to love. Pull off the metal cap, put it on the other end and bam, the ballpoint is suddenly illuminated by tiny LEDs for all the midnight scribbling you can do! Pen measures 5” tip to tip, is all metallic, and feels nice in the hand. Body is silver and cap, with a silver pocket clip, is either silver, black, white or red. Back end of the pen has a stylus, too. “It was a dark and stormy night…but really it wasn’t that dark because of this pen….”

What would you use to fill in those little circles? You’d use this extra-wide Scantek™ test-taking mechanical pencil? You passed! The lead in this beauty is the famous #2, and is .9 mm wide, like an italic pen nib. Comes with refill leads, a pocket clip and a large eraser. If our Tech Whiz Billy had had this pencil when he was younger, he'd have made double 800s on the SAT and wouldn't be working here today. Also great for doing calligraphy in pencil, which makes teachers swoon.

Gel pens and mascara—the two causes of smear fear. Cure the first one with this pack of (20) gel highlighter markers. They’re not felt-tip highlighters, but a waxy, crayon-ish filler that lays down a day-glo translucent stripe. You advance it by twisting the top. Manufacturer says it won't dry out, smear or bleed through. You’ll get (10) neon yellow-chartreuse plus (2) each in pink, purple, blue, green and orange.

InkJoy is the Paper Mate® name for a particularly smooth ink, but it’s the medium 1mm points that make these so pleasant to write with. Measure 6” long with black ink and pocket-clip caps. Our each is a pack of (8) pens.

Or maybe more losses than profits? Either way, you'll need red pens. Our each is a dozen Paper Mate® medium-point (0.1mm) ballpoint pens. Each measures 6” long with a cap and pocket clip. Red ink never goes out of style.

You sweet erasable, you. Dry-erase markers are the best invention since chalk, and these premium beauties from Monaggio™ are designed for professional artists but suitable for home, school or office. Wherever you are, go ahead and pick: the 12-pack of classic black; the 12-pack of colors, (3) each of red, blue, green and black; or the 13-pack of colors, including red, light green, purple, blue, light blue, pink, dark pink, orange, aqua, yellow, black and brown. All are fine-point, 4-1/2” long with a cap. Get the ones that work for you and go write something you can later erase dryly.

These nice, chisel-tip black permanent markers are the standard style and size at 5-1/4” long, and they also give off the standard smell. We just love that new marker smell. Standard is fine, but surplus is divine! Disregard the “IDS” logo and phone numbers on the barrel—that’s why you’ll be getting a dozen of them for less than 8 bucks!

We love multipurpose stuff and so do you, which is why you'll love this combination pen, stylus and phone stand. Rotate it to expose the pen point, and then slip your phone edge into the squiggle below the stylus tip. The pen shaft will become a leg for your phone to stand on, prompting some to ask, “Is that a pen in your pocket or do you just want your smart phone to sit up?”

Go ahead—try to keep these BIC® Round Stic® pens long enough that they run out of ink on you. We think you’ll lose them before that happens—that’s how long they last. Luckily, you’ll get a box of (12) if you’re prone to losing them. With black ink, and “Xtra-Life,” these are the thin, 6” long everyday pens that seem to always work. With removable, pocket-clip caps. You need these—or eventually you will.

…with a highlighter, you’d have one of these mega-handy and ultra-cute Mini Brightwriters®. Measure approx 2” long x 5/8” oval, with chisel tips, molded grips and pocket clips. Our each is (4)-pack in green, pink, yellow, and orange, with which nothing rhymes with.

Where else can you find (lightly) scented erasers shaped like giant rings with 1” square jewels? And packed inside clear plastic spheres? We’ll pick (1) in white, yellow, blue, green or another lovely color, but if you simply must have pink we’ve got that, too, and we’ll send it to you.

Is that a pencil in your pocket, and wouldn't you like a little stubby highlighter that didn't take up so much room? Our each is (2) neon-yellow markers with 1/8" tips in soft-grip housings just 2-5/8" long x 1" oval, with a little slot on the cap for a chain if you want to wear them on a string or attach them to a key ring. And why wouldn't you?

Or are you just under heavy pressure to start writing right now! We know, we know. That’s why our copywriters always buy these pre-sharpened #2 pencils, to get those terrible jokes down on paper ASAP. And yes, they have erasers because sometimes we’re not funny, and we all make mistakes. In packs of (10) at 7-3/8” long.

Actually, it's a Round Stic®, without the “k,” which is the name BIC® gives to its #1 selling ballpoint pen. They're black, and round, with black ink and medium points. Also have separate caps with pocket clips. Hard to go wrong at (10) for two bucks. “Writes First Time, Every Time®,” they say.

Yes, sports fans and people with small hands, now you can own those very special short pencils favored by professional golfers and primary grade teachers the world over. You get (250) pencils, at less than (7) cents each. Not much less, but less. They come in assorted colors, all our samples were red, blue and black, but they could be any color or even mixed (we'll let the Surplus gods decide what we send your way). They are blanks, so feel free to have your name imprinted on them for your next company golf outing. Definitely not available from your local pro shop.

Who among us doesn’t? Even a just man falls seven times. Just get this little eraser wheel, 1-7/8" dia x 3/8" thick in latex-fee rubber. The plastic housing rotates to keep it closed and schmutz-free in your drawer, just waiting for you to err.