...do you have/carry a business card

[ChallengerGary]

luv the plastic cards! we're to cheap to do it like that over here!

 

See, I am the exact oposite. I prefer paper cards. I also prefer them to be only printed on one side.  My reasoning is, I like to write notes on the backs of cards when I meet someone.

BTW - To the original question.  I have cards for both my regular job and my hobby/night job.  In my day job, I deal with a very limited number of people because the business I work at caters exclusively to the tele-communications industry. We do not really solicite new business outside of that area so I think I hand out about 10 a year.  In my hobby/night job, I have cards and I always have a few on me.  I hand them out to any people I meet that express either an interest in old cars plus, I make sure whenever someone order stripes/parts I include a few in the box.

[ChallengerHK]

What I don't like about plastic is that I'd like to be able to write my screen name somewhere on the card, probably on the back.

[plumcrazy704406]

Paper,plastic or whatever has arguments for and against. At the end of the day the general public won't put out much $$$ for a product that for most part will be handed out by the hand full and probably thrown out at the end of the year. There is a market for the better cards etc., but it is just my opinion that we as a whole will not invest in our looks up front. Most of our us are no different, we want our cake and we want to eat it to, but as cheaply as possible.   

Btw-Once printed a b/c for a client that was gloss (laminated) black card stock with black raised (thermography) printing. Yes, the card worked! It forced you to read it, by tilting it for the letter shading. It was? well kind of neat!
 

[Carlwalski]

I can see where you are coming from Gary. But, business cards are your companies calling card. I don't hand mine out to doodle on. The card has everything they need to know. If they need to know more, the site name has all my contact details or, just remember it. Plus, as they are mini billboards, 2 sides are better than one. Why not make full use of the card as, again, that is it's soul purpose - advertisement and reference.

When they see them the first think how cool and secondly pocket and hold on to them. They don't break, won't bend, tear or blow away in the wind and are clear and easy to read. It shows what my business/registry is about within seconds of them holding it and viewing the card. Cardboard is fine too, not saying it isn't but for me anyhow, I like to have the best and spare no expense in getting it.

[ChallengerGary]

Carl,

What I meant was I will usually write notes on the back of a card someone gives me such as what they were interesed in purchasing etc. and I figure a lot of people do the same when getting a card from someone.  I know I do. 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I've had cards for years. Mostly at our sales counter, but I do give out a few. My biggest advantage is when I'm traveling and see a salvage yard I want to check out. I've flipped a few cards and gotten easy access into places street traffic wouldn't.

[bella beeze]

I have never really thought why I have never had a business card printed up until reading this thread.

I have often thought about getting business cards printed in the past, and I have even gone out and bought the blank business cards so I can print a few out just in case I need them -- especially when others give me theirs and when others have asked me for my card.

I actually went out about 4 weeks ago and bought some blank business cards, because I did not know where I put the other blanks business cards I bought last year about this time (that I never printed out). But I never seem to want them printed or get around to printing them out and I do not know why!?

When I am asked for my card I simply answer -- sorry I do not have any -- and then, end up writing my details on the back of their business cards, ONLY if they really want it.

And that is it for me, I guess -- if they really want my details I can write it down anywhere I guess. For me, it is perhaps a signal to find out if they are serious or not. This is not intentional or a conscious thing I have done, just played out that way and evolved like that -- now I have had a chance to think about it.

I have a nice letter head that I use and I guess that is my email business card, but it does not have my name on it. I have a whole host of other peoples' business cards next to my computer and just end up inputting all their details into my computer for safe keeping.

[N96cuda]

I had my wife add 4 little words to my farm business cards last year, "Frac water for sale". I exchange with quite a few oil & gas people (right-of-way-agents, landmen, pipeline construction, etc.) and at first they just seemed to raise their eyebrows and shrug their shoulders when they read it, but once it got to the right people it has bolstered the farm income by well over 6 figures this year alone  .