PenRecorderPro SL200 Voice Recorder Pen, Audio Activated, Small Recording Device, LCD Display, PCM Broadcast Quality, Wired Remote (Slimline Series)

Having tried a few cheaper options this pen is absolutely worth spending the extra money on,At over £100, it's a pretty serious investment but this pen does its job extremely well, recording multiple conversations, i.e. in a group, clearly even when in a relatively noisy environment like a busy office. So, as a descrete recording device that looks only like a normal pen, not cheap but not a snazzy expensive pen either, I would say it's the best on the market at the mid-point of the market. Covert surveillance pens can cost many hundreds or even thousands.Nothing is perfect, however, and this is no exception as there are a few disappointments to be aware of:Firstly, the top of the pen has a hole it in which is a mini jack socket for plugging-in headphones and/or the 'remote' control. How many pens have you seen that have an obvious hole in the top? I have already been asked about it once (why does your pen have a hole in it?). Why is this simply not a removable cap? It would be less obvious and would save the jack socket filling with dust/fluff/crap in your pocket.Secondly, the pen is put into record mode by sliding the metal pocket catch down. It moves only a few millimteres and clicks into place. This generally works well but, in normal use, when we natuarally fiddle with our pens or decide to use it and realise it needs twisting to expose the ball-point, it's incredibly easy to accidentally turn the recording function off. I just think the on position should be a little more of a positive/firmer action. Also, the metal is low-grade and, as so many pens do, it will eventually weaken and snap-off as the constant sliding it in and out of your pocket, effectively clipping it on to the pocket, sees the gap between clip and pen increasing. Gently re-bending the clip back so it touches the pen's body and therefore tighten's the grip on your pocket, simple weakens the metal.Thirdly, in this day and age I am really surprised there is no date stamp. I'm not expecting a full timed recording even, just a start or end point date stamp. Battery life would barely be compromised by retaining a running internal clock and it would make sorting-out the recordings much easier. My solution is I try, as soon as possible, to remember to [descretely] drag each recording into Google Drive and rename it. Not always easy in a busy office.Forthly, the quality of the ball-point is poor. Regardless of the recording functionality I had just spent over £100 on a pen that I expected to write smoothly, particularly as the best way to disguise that you're recording a conversation is to use the pen to take notes! I informed TETON of this (the scratchy quaklity) saying how great the pen was but how disappointing the writing quality was and they simply sent me a link to buy more refills. How thoughtful.Finally, is customer service. I'm sure I won't be thanked by TETON Webstores for this but, as the plastic case the pen comes in was seriously damaged by the courier (the lid actually broken in two), I informed TETON out of courtesy, not because I wanted anything, as the pen was undamaged. Their tone was just unfriendly and to the poin (not even showing the courtesy of addressing me by name or signing-off the emails) as it was when I asked for a VAT invoice. Perhaps it's just cultural differences and I mis-read the situation, who knows, it just came across as really poor customer service.In summary, if you need a quality pen to record conversations descretely, you're unlikely to find anything better in this price bracket. My experience of the [many] cheaper options is you get what you pay for.

Excellent service, and product. Thanks