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Re:Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste? by cf100clunk on Thursday March 17, 2022 @04:57PM (#30715810)
I appreciate that you used the word "continue" in your first question as tech firms have featured swag seemingly forever. I will just say that my DEC Alpha coffee mug, a multitude of lapel pins from an array of companies, and my Nokia monitor screen brush have all stood the test of time, unlike the many golf shirts, posters, lanyards, and pens. The swag you have received seems to be pitiful and wasteful.
Re:Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste? by gwlperl on Thursday March 17, 2022 @05:46PM (#30716237)
SGI shirts, pens, and the the coveted ski jacket, all circa 1998 all with the squashed bug logo. At one time I had a Spyderco tactical folder with the Abovenet logo, given to me by Paul Vixie. Alas, that is long gone. All swag since then is mostly cheap useless junk and a waste of good landfill space.
Re:Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste? by jka on Thursday March 17, 2022 @05:17PM (#30715983)
What is the world's most durable item of historic corporate swag?
Re:Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste? by almog on Thursday March 17, 2022 @05:34PM (#30716137)
1. Old fashion wide-mouth Nalgene bottle (easy to clean and therefore less likely to become trash, also great as a hot-bottle in winter).

2. I've been carrying a tiny Victorinox classic SD on my keychain ever since I've started hiking. At some point when I lost it, and while they're not expensive (though there are much cheaper options that also feel cheap), they also don't break, so I went to ebay, scanned the completed listings to get an idea of the lowest price I can get, and there I saw soooo many used branded victorinox (in great condition). None of them that I can remember had the logo/name of a tech company, which is a shame, because it seems like at so many conference booths they would aim for quantity rather than quality, whereas myself and most of the people I value, would rather appreciate something that is very very good in its category rather than assortment of junk that I wouldn't choose for myself even if I was stressed to buy a product in that category.

Re:Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste? by Epiphany21 on Thursday March 17, 2022 @05:29PM (#30716100)
Not really "swag" but I would say iPod socks. I still have one that I keep an altoids tin inside of for transporting small fragile components.
Re:Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste? by zoover2020 on Thursday March 17, 2022 @05:42PM (#30716207)
Oh boy I can imagine exactly what you mean. I used to have a green/lime one.
Re:Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste? by _jal on Thursday March 17, 2022 @05:37PM (#30716157)
Maybe St. Peter's bones?
Re:Ask HN: Can we have a conversation on startup swag waste? by spaetzleesser on Thursday March 17, 2022 @05:23PM (#30716037)
I once got a pet rock.