Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Where to Buy Cello Silke Pens

or, "The Story of a Crazy Woman and Her Pen Obsession, Part 2"

I really didn't want to give the pen back. So at first I rationalized. It's a *pen.* Surely Elijah's teacher didn't even miss it. She probably isn't crazy like me, doesn't have a pen obsession. And, in all honesty, I wouldn't even think about it when she was here anyway. Then I started to feel convicted. It was just a little pen, but it was stealing, really, and I needed to return it.

In the meantime, I was a woman on a mission. I HAD to find more of these pens. And buy a lifetime supply.

The first logical place to look was Google, of course. But a search of "Cello Silke pens" yielded only a handful of Wiki answers pages telling me what I already knew: that this cheap little stick pen was awesome. One page said the pens were available at Walmart, but that was over a year ago, and my local Walmart didn't have them.

I searched and searched. What kind of 21st century company doesn't have a website? If they had one, it wasn't coming up. I'd never heard of the brand--and neither had Office Depot, Staples or Office Max (yes, I actually went so far as to call each one and ask if they carried or could somehow order these pens).

Finally I got somewhere: Cello is an Indian company, apparently not savvy in things like search engine optimization. I excitedly flipped through the product list on their website...no Silke. No Silke by another name, even. Rats.

So this is my crazy pen obsession: I actually emailed the company. I asked them if they still made the Silke, and how I could get my hot little hands on more of those fabulous pens.

The very next day, I got an email from a nice man named Kapil:

The Cello Silke is now available in Big Lot stores under the name Cello Smooth as well as in Office Depot stores under their own brand name. In Office Depot too it is available in blister packs of 24 under SKU# 788685 and SKU# 788700.
Jackpot. I can be at Big Lots in five minutes.

OK, I'm not THAT crazy. I didn't immediately jump in the car and take off. I retrieved my toddler and strapped him into his carseat first.

KIDDING, I'm kidding. But before long, I dropped the best two bucks I ever spent on pens, for a beautiful 20-pack of Cello Smooth pens. They aren't as cute as the purple one, but otherwise, they're identical. I have one clipped to my journal and one permanently on the kitchen counter, one in my purse, one in my sermon-notes notebook...a drawer full of extras...and 40 more in the closet. Oh yes I did go back and buy two more packs.


You'll be relieved to know I also confessed my theft to Elijah's teacher, and gave her back her pen plus a couple of new ones.

So, if you care about pens even half as much as I do (probably none of you are nearly this neurotic), head to Big Lots and get yourself a 20-pack of Cello Smooth pens for $2.00. (I cannot vouch for the Office Depot ones. I checked there out of curiosity a few days later...they did not look the same.)

Mystery solved. And I am once again a happy (if slightly insane) writer.

58 comments:

Kelly said...

Amy...I just love you! This made me smile so much. :)

Have a GREAT day!

Unknown said...

You rock!!! I am the same way about something, I will search and search to find out what I need. I will be going to Big Lots in the near future for a pack of these pens!! I suppose in the meantime I should probably toss out some of the ones I have. Thank you!!!!

Bethany said...

I want to see how they write

Amy said...

Bethany, I'm swamped this week (wrote these posts last week) but I'll try to take pics and post a "part 3" next week :)

Kristin said...

Ok, I have to admit, when I read this my first thought was, "Why didn't she just ask Elijah's teacher where she got the pen?" Seems like you could have saved yourself a few steps. Glad you found them, though!

litabug said...

YAY! I'm glad your quest ended happily. :) I'm the same way about pens. My two favorites are a well-loved Collins Avenue ACME rollerball (a gift) and the new Sharpie Pens (smooth quick-drying felt tips that don't bleed through even very thin paper, perfect for Bible margins)!

Amy said...

Melita--felt-tip pens that don't bleed through Bible paper?! now THAT I've gotta try.

It cracks me up that these two posts have elicited such a response :) glad to know I'm not the only neurotic one!

Jamie Hilty said...

I will be heading to Big Lots soon, very soon! Until then, the Pilot Easy Touch ball points top my list!

Phanessa said...

Seriously, you are my Messiah! I never thought an obsession with a pen could be worse than my obsession with Edward Cullen. Its a miracle, thank you thank you thank you for finding this pen. My poor assistant almost lost her job! (KIDDING....maybe) Thanks again, you are the best!

Phanessa said...

Seriously, you are my Messiah! I never thought an obsession with a pen could be worse than my obsession with Edward Cullen. Its a miracle, thank you thank you thank you for finding this pen. My poor assistant almost lost her job! (KIDDING....maybe) Thanks again, you are the best!

Anonymous said...

thank you so much i have been looking for the pen to and i have a green one. That is the silke one and i have been looking so that really helped me out that you.
God bless you,
a little friend

Unknown said...

Amy, I looked for the pens at the Big Lots near me, but they didn't have any. I was so bummed! I'll look again though, so hopefully they get some in. I would love to try these out!

Anonymous said...

i know this is weird...but these are my FAVORITE pens. i bought 40 of them earlier in the year at a local walgreens, and i'm down to about 15 of them now! i really want to stock up, so i looked online, and this was one of the google responses! thank you for posting this!! now...to find a big lots near me!

Anonymous said...

OMG THIS IS TOO FUNNY!! :) ....I NOT ONLY HAVE THE SAME OBSESSION BUT HAVE AN EXTREMELY SIMILAR SITUATION THAT JUST HAPPENED LAST NIGHT! TODAY I SEARCHED GOOGLE FOR THE WEBSITE TO TRY AND FIND A CELLO SMOOTH PEN!...HAHAHA....BUT INSTEAD CAME ACROSS YOUR BLOG.

IT WAS THE WAITRESS' PEN AT A RESTAURANT I WENT TO, AND WHEN I SAW IT I THOUGHT EWW THATS DIFFERENT, (BEING THE EXTREME PEN LOVER THAT I AM) I'VE NEVER SEEN A PEN LIKE THIS & WOW IT'S SO SMOOTH TO WRIGHT WITH! SO I KNEW I HAD TO HAVE IT AND THOUGHT, OH SHE WONT MISS IT. OF COURSE MY FRIENDS WERE LIKE "NO, NO" DONT STEAL HER PEN, BUT I COULDNT RESIST AND I DID IN FACT TAKE IT. IT IS ALSO IN FACT CUTE AND PINK!

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS BLOG I CANNOT WAIT TO GET OUT OF WORK AND GO BUY SOME MORE! ...ITS TERRIBLE MY PEN OBESSION I SWEAR I MUST HAVE AT LEAST A THOUSAND WITHIN WORK & HOME! ITS PRETTY BAD...BUT I DONT CARE.

THANK YOU AGAIN!
CANDICE

Anonymous said...

um, i still this pen with NO remorse from my work. it compliments my handwriting to the point i don't even recognize it as my own because it's so beautiful! haha!

i, like you, searched for "cello silke" pens on google. however i didn't go through the hullamaloo you went through, because your website popped up immediately.

i'm going to buy myself like ten packages of these pens. thanks to you, i know where to get them. so, THANK YOUU!!! <3

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for posting this! I have been searching for "cello smooth" since my waitress had one. I didn't have the guts to steal it, but would have liked to :) So now I can go buy some thanks to you!

Kia Simmons said...

I am also like you, I have thousands of pens and I am obsessed with paper, notebooks, pens and etc.... I am extremely picky about what I select and purchase and I came accross the "Cello Smooth" pens. Now, I have experienced thousands of pens even spending alot of money on just one. I came cross these pens in approximately October of 2009. My mother had just purchased them and I became obssessed. She purchased a 20 or 24 pack that came with red, blue, and black! I took 1 of each (with her permission...lol) and tried them out. Out of every pen I have ever experienced, this was THE best! I went back for more and pretty soon had more than half of her pack. BTW..she thinks I'm crazy! But by December I was down to about 3 pens...I actually ran them ALL out. (I write ALOT) I immediately asked my mother where she locate these fine quality pens, and she replied Wlagreens. I went there.....NONE...I went back to her and she said maybe Walmart or Family Dollar...went to those place as well with no luck. I came back to her and beged her to remember, but she said if not thoseplaces, she then has no idea! I was soooooo upset. I on my own, went from store to store searching and purchasing similiar items, but none were even close to this pen's beautiful writing. It just recebtly dawned on me to look it up online! GOD BLESS YOU!!!! I have been searching for months now and I am quite relieved. I will too be at Big Lots and Office Depot to check out both store's inventory. THANK YOU SO MUCH for having an obssesion like mine and if you need any tips on any other good pens, or good pens with certain colors, or even paper products, let me know.....besides this one "CELLO SMOOTH" pen issue, I know the answers to all of those questions!

I can be reached at ImFabulosa@aol.com

Anonymous said...

It was so refreshing to read your blog about the cello pens, same thing happened with me , only the ones that I adore is the Cello, superglide pens!!!!!!!!! Still having trouble finding more at Big Lots, they have been out for a month, emailed the company as well, drove to 4 Big Lots looking for them, like they were diamonds, I need to get a life!!

Anonymous said...

I have the same obsession with the cello pens. The cello website needs to allow you to buy them in bulk.

Unknown said...

OK so where do I buy them, because my 16 years old is going crazy for these pens

Unknown said...

Thank you so much! Like you I was looking for the exact pen. I think I stole it from another place b/c it was pink! Anyway, coming across your blog was heaven-sent. I went to Big Lots and bought two packs...in pastel colors! You are truly an amazying person! God Bless you and your family!

Laura said...

I am so sorry for blog stalking you, but I found you on Google because I was looking for Cello pens. Just yesterday I found a Cello Smooth pen which gave me hope that they were still out there! You have officially made my week. I am going to Big Lots immediately after school!

Blake said...

Have you tried Sharpie pens? I love them just about as much as you love your pens. I had a birthday party once and instead of gifts everyone bought me sharpie pens. :)

Diocesian GeekSquad said...

Woohoo! My wife is just as crazy about cello pens as you are. She was upset she couldn't find it at all... this will be a nice little sentimental gift for her upcoming birthday.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU SO MUCH
THESE ARE THE ONLY PENS I TAKE TESTS WITH AND MY PURPLE ONES ARE ALMOST OUT

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU SO MUCH
THESE ARE THE ONLY PENS I TAKE TESTS WITH AND MY PURPLE ONES ARE ALMOST OUT

Shoe Aholic said...

i agree with the Others, I totaly LOVE you, I have been looking For these pens evrywhere. I run a small business and i called all 3 of my office supplies people NONE of them Knew what I was talking about! (I too theived this pen from a pampered chef party shhh dont tell)Just run out of ink today tear* But now there is HOPE YAY!!!!

Trish said...

I found a Cello pen that I absoutely fell in love with. yes in LOVE. I wont write with anything else. It's the Cello Superglide. I picked one up at Big Lots, and i've purchased as many packs as I can find in my local stores. Alas, they are all out of them. :( I have searched all the local stores high and low and cannot find my pens! :( My kids think I'm nuts and say MOM, its just a PEN. Its NOT. It really is so much more when you write with these. I hope that somewhere I can find them again. Thanks for the blog.

npt said...

This has made me so happy! I found one of these gems laying around my work and have since guarded it with my life. I am so glad you found out where to get them!! I was worried I would never find something that would write so lovely every again.

Kate said...

I have a pen obsession too! I got mine because I sat down at an old desk in an office and it was just there. I've been searching and searching and now your post... HAPPY TIMES!! Thank you so much for being obsessed.

Attiphia86 said...

I found your blog because I was googling where to buy these pens! The first time I used one of these pens, I fell in love. I don't write a lot, but I noticed a difference immediately. Same reaction when my fiance used it. Now that I know where to get them, I'm so relieved!! Thank you so much!

Anonymous said...

Ditto what Amy said.
Thanks SO MUCH!

k to the t said...

I, too, am guilty of stealing a Cello pen from a restaurant server. I know this is a cardinal sin in the food industry, so I left her two of my sub-par pens behind, BUT I hadn't been able to find these anywhere. As a left-hander, I was so pleased that the Cello doesn't streak as I write and is consistently the same width and color (yes, I am neurotic about pens, too). Love. Thank you so much for doing all the leg work. Big Lots here I come!

karijoy said...

I just ran across your blog much like the others looking for where to buy this "found" pen. I went to Wal-mart and got lucky I found them! But under a different name. Same pen, same look, same ink, different name. They are called the Style Glide by INC. Thanks for your obsession, you are not alone, Lol!

Anonymous said...

hI I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON OBSESSED WITH A CERTAIN PEN I LOVE THE CELLO SUPERGLIDE PEN I BROUGHT THEM AT BIG LOTS AND I HAD ABOUT 10 PACKS BUT NOW I AM DOWN TO LIKE 1 PEN AND I CANT SEEM TO FIND THEM ANYWHERE ONLINE OF COURSE I FIND THERE WEBSITE WITH JUST THERE PRODUCTS BUT NOTHING ELSE DO U HAVE THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU SENT YOUR QUESTION TO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF I CAN FIND THESE GREAT PENS AND IF YOU LOVE THE CELLO SILK YOU WILL LOVE THE SUPERGLIDE I ALSO BROUGHT LIKE 3 PACKS OF THE SILK YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TO MANY PENS LOL
THANKS, MARITZA

Anonymous said...

omg! i bought these pens over a year ago at wal mart and i have one left and i went to wal mart to get more and they didn't have them anymore and right now i came across your post and looked on office depot and they have the ones i was looking for. they have the pack with the purple one in it too!

unremarkable eyes said...

I wanted to thank you for doing the work to find these pens for everyone. If not for you, and if not for this blog, there'd be many unhappy writers out there. I found myself with one pen left out of three I received in an Easter basket at a friend's house two years back, with a mere two weeks to find them again before going to Japan with two jumbo journals both ready to be marked with lots of ink. Thanks to you, I'm quite prepared to document the coming year I'll spend in Japan both serving the people and living a new, different life.

Megan E. powers CMA said...

OMGOMGOMG I'm on my way to Big Lots now! I hope they still have them. These pens got me through college; I refuse to use any others. My supply has dwindled to the last 2 or 3, and honestly, the thought of having to setlle for something else made me sad. Thank you SO MUCH for finding the answer to a mystery!

Mallory said...

I am so glad to see that someone else is as particular about their pens as I am!!! Thank you so much for the tip about Big Lots as well. I was able to send my boyfriend (who lives near a Big Lots, since I don't here in the middle of nowhere lol) and he found them for me! Thank you!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much! I actually stole this pen from my math class because I liked it so much. I showed it to my fellow cellist (I'm a violinist [:) and he totally freaked out because it said cello on it! I love how it writes too! I also recently lost it... I'm quite a pen fanatic myself...I was wondering where to buy these pens. Thank you so much!

TanglingShadows said...

Thank you so much for this! My husband has been looking for these pens for months and hasn't been able to find them. We are on our way to Big Lots and Office Depot as soon as I shutdown the computer!

Thank you again!

Carrie said...

Thank you so much for posting about Cello Silk / Smooth pens. I mourned for them and then went on a pen-quest after Walmart stopped carrying them. When I read your blog, I ran right over to Big Lots and immediately bought a life time supply. The best part is, Cello Smooth now has pens with red ink! I'm a teacher, so I can grade with my all-time favorite pen!! Thanks again:)

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
I used a beautiful pink Cello Silke pen to sign my name on a restaurant bill and was immediately "in LOVE" with this pen. I am a PEN FREAK and have spent some time looking for this particular one with no success. Thanks for finally ending my search! Big Lots, Here I Come!

Krissa said...

THANK YOU MILLIONS!!!
i have somehow happened upon 2 of the lavendar cello silke pens...one dies recently and the other one i have kept safe as i dont want it to die either...tragic really... im a pen freak... i cant even tell you how many times i have taken pens from a restraunt... im horrible...
i will get to big lots asap!!! thank you a gazillion!!!!

Anonymous said...

I bought a bag of pens at a thrift store and found this super pen. I was googling it and found your blog!!! You get it.. I always loved the cheap blue med point papermate but this is WAY BETTER,.... I work in a bank and write all day and am really picky about my pen... this pen is THE BEST... INDIA!!!!!! REALLY !!!!!!! I need this pen. I am in Canada and now am on a quest for this pen.. I will buy THOUSAND...... K8....

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this blog. I recently came across this pen (probably stole it from someones office) as i am also a pen freak. I fell in love with this pen. I know it is just a cheap little pen but it is the absolute best!!!!! But I had no idea where I could find more and like all the other pen freaks on here I am actually googling where to find this silly pen. I am glad I am not alone. I will be going right to Big Lots and to every other store listed if they dont have it until I find it. My new mission in life. Thank you !!!

Hanaa said...

I feel so at home here! lol. I love the Cello pen's. I especially love the blue gel ink pen and the Superglide. For all of you who are not able to find it near you I would be happy to mail you some. Really tell me what kind you like and an address and I will mail it to you :). I know how it feels to be driving all over looking for certain pens..lol.

Email: Egypshniz@aol.com

Hanaa :)

Anonymous said...

Just buy Cello Pens at www.pickpens.co.cc

Anonymous said...

I found these pens a few years ago, and bought them becuase they were pretty, and fell in love with them, I am downt o my last 3 and am on a mission to find more. Anyone know if Big Lots is still carrying them?

thanks,
Grace

Anonymous said...

Yes Big Lots is still carrying them. Pastel colors harder to find though. Load up when it is back to school time, that is when they will tons of the Cello pens :)

Stacey said...

Thank you for this! I couldn't bring myself to steal a pink one from the restaurant I was at today. You made me very happy!

Hana said...

Whooo Hoooo it is back to school time for school supplies! That means CELLO pens are back at Big Lots!! The pastel 24 pack for $3. The Superglide pens are also great, look more professional when you need to:)

Hanaa

Cynthia said...

I came across your blog while searching for THE SAME PURPLE CELLO PEN that my precious dog destroyed today... THANK YOU so much. Seriously, you made my night. You are wonderful. :)

Unknown said...

AH!! Thank you SO MUCH for this post! I bought a 24 pack of these pens at walmart in the fall of 2008!!! I went back in spring to buy more and they were NO WHERE to be found! I was so mad. I have since been rationing the pens and using them until dry! I am on my LAST one now. I will be checking out my local Big Lots and hope they have them! :)

Kelly said...

You my dear are my saving grace. I have been searching the internet for the past 3 hours looking for this pen called "inc. style glides bold" luckily i came across this post and it told me to look for the pen under a different name which is the "cello silke" and to my luck you answered my prayers and told me where i could find them!! Thank you so so so so so much!!! i have been fillin gout applications like a mad woman the last few weeks and this is my designated app pen and it is starting to really run low on ink. it is by far my favorite pen in the entire world! What makes it even better is that I would rather write with this pen then write with an expensive pen. I am so happy to see that there are people with the same pen infatuation as me and that i'm not crazy. You all are amazing! especially to be keeping this post going for 3 years!

Anonymous said...

This is an old post so I don't know if you'll see this comment but I'll explain if you're interested in knowing: Cello is a brand of pens from India (I know because I'm from India and I spotted them there on a trip years ago). That's why they were so hard to find in the US. Yes, Big Lots had them (so did Indian-based sellers on Amazon). Recently I heard Bic bought a share in the company so now they're available at Office Depot, exact same packaging and colors and pen choices except the pens say "Office Depot" on them instead of "Cello." Hope that clears it up. :)

Anonymous said...

Smoothere than butter.

Junine said...

I picked up my pen at Auckland airport at the departure desk. I thought it was perfect for filling in those tiny little boxes on the form so I took it with me. I have had it for a couple of years now and rarely use it as I hadn't seen them before and didn't want it to run out!. I checked Google today and found these posts - how funny! I will now have to track them down in NZ or buy online. I have to say my Cello Silke pen is a wee bit different from those I have seen on the web but I will give them a try. ;)