Swag

A firm brought by some replacement disks for a disk array yesterday, and wanted to meet with our new filesystem manager. It turned out to be a sales pitch. I didn't attend.

At conventions sales teams hand out swag at their booths; something to remember them by. They don't always get the memo that folks working for the University or gov't have some rules about accepting gifts. They sort of get it--the stuff they hand out when they come by isn't such expensive gear that anybody would benefit financially: pens, coffee holders, t-shirts and whatnot with their name on it. But we have had offers to go to Super-bowl parties, or to have them pay for lunch. Nobody takes them up on it, but I assume it must happen in the business world.

This group left behind a t-shirt and a little ring-notebook, both emblazoned with the company name (it's only a year old). I'm a troglodyte who uses paper and pen sometimes, so I looked at the notebook after the meeting broke up. It featured trendy "green" recycled paper, but I think the recycling must have been somewhat deeper than just the pages. The calendar in the back was for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013.