A $3 Bag of Pens Found at a Thrift Store Proves to be Worth $100
A thrifter’s $3 find of pharma rep pens turns into a $100 payday—and reveals a quirky collector market.
A woman in Ohio who goes by @cosmicdealheather posted a video on TikTok with the eye-catching caption “This bag of pens is worth $100”. She shows off an assortment of colorful ballpoint pens, bought all together for $3 at a thrift store, and explains the secret of their hidden value: “They’re drug rep pens.”
For decades, drug company sales representatives gave doctors branded promotional items. These promotional items could be anything from small office accessories like paperweights or calculators to T-shirts, plush toys, and anatomical models. This practice became surrounded by ethical questions, especially for companies that promote drugs like opiates. After years of criticism, the pharmaceutical industry agreed in 2008 to stop offering promotional gifts. Now, they are collectors’ items, and pens are especially popular.
Speaking to Newsweek, where she asked to be referred to only by her TikTok handle, Cosmicdealheather said she has been “selling things on eBay for 19 years.” In one of her videos, she mentions that “drug rep merch is one of my favorite categories to sell.”
Collectors and sellers refer to these collectibles as “drug rep merch,” “pharma rep collectibles,” and “pharma swag.” Another name, used mostly by the pharmaceutical industry, is “leave pieces.”
Many collectors are doctors. Years ago, Dr. Jeffrey Caren, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, drew national attention for his collection of over 1,000 drug rep pens. In an interview with ABC News from 2008, he said, “I think the purpose of the small gift is something that’s in your hand all the time.”
Cosmicdealheather encourages collectors to look for promotional pharmacy pens at “thrift stores, estate sales, garage sales, anywhere someone might have old stuff they want to get rid of.” She advises looking up prices on eBay; you can search for sold prices under “Advanced Search.”
Factors like the pen’s material (metal or plastic), condition, and whether it can be refilled affect the price. So can the brand name and type of drug. Cosmicdealheather says, “Painkillers, antidepressants, stimulants, sleep aids, or benzos tend to be the ones people want.” For example, a sealed package of two pens promoting OxyContin recently sold on eBay for $79.99.
While a bag of thrifted pens might seem like an odd windfall, the market for pharma rep collectibles shows how everyday objects can gain unexpected value once they’re no longer made. Collectors are willing to pay for these quirky artifacts. For treasure hunters, the lesson is simple: keep an eye out for the ordinary, because sometimes, it’s worth far more than it seems.
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