In most cases when an Inventor sends off his prototype and signs the NDA or other agreements, it usually states that they will not send prototypes back…….

Hi Sally,
I searched and couldn’t find your submission and haven’t heard anything about your product. Could you please let me know what search you entered in to and who you tried to contact?

Hi Kelly,
This was not a submission to EN.
Thanks anyway:-)

Ken,
There wasn’t any agreement made. I sent it to someone who was suppose to be helping me. The other inventor also did not make any agreement for them to keep their prototype.
Basically it is just a case where it is not important enough to take the time to return.

Ok great, I just wanted to check and make sure! Happy Inventing!

Thanks again Kelly:-)

I would try to reach the administrative assistant who works with your contact at the company. Sometimes they are the best resource to go through because they’re essentially the gate-keeper.

Keep the conversation short by letting them know you’d like to send them a pre-paid shiping label so your prototype may be returned. Don’t bring up your previous, failed attempts to get it back. Mail the shipping label directly to the admin assistant with a cover letter or even a thank you card to express your appreciation for your prototype’s return.

If your prototype hasn’t been sent back within two weeks, I would give the admin assistant a follow-up call. Hopefully at that point they will put it at the top of their ‘to-do’ list or at least let you know why they haven’t been able to send it back.

I have been in this situation a handful of times. Unfortunately I was rarely able to get the samples back until I started including a statement with my NDA that stated the value of the sample/prototype/working model and stated that the sample was to be returned within 30 days of a written request or the amount previously mentioned would be due. This sounds extreme but I have known some companies to require a deposit before they will send a sample. I am not saying I endorse that practice but I have heard of companies doing it.

Thank you for your suggestions and telling me about your experiences.
The information is good and very helpful:-)
Thank you all!

I might be selective about who I send a prototype to where supplies are limited. It is ideal not to have to be too concerned about whether you get the prototype back. Before interest in an invention has reached a certain point, you are probably one of quite a few inventors and the assumption is that what you have isn’t too special. In some cases, the prototype might not be necessary or might be besides the point when initially drumming up interest, initially, in an invention. In those cases only send to prospective licensees who you have already communicated back and forth with and with whom you have received an expression of interest from. If there is not enough interest to begin with, your recipient will not necessarily care to deal with even the slight bit of hassle involved with keeping track of your prototype and making sure that it is returned.

In other cases, the prototype may be what will drive initial interest in your invention. In those cases, you don’t necessarily want your recipient to feel rushed, and what do you know, maybe your prototype grows on your recipient over time. Here it might be best to carefully pick your spots where you feel they will be most valuable, and not to worry so much about not receiving your prototype back.

More generally, recognize the human factor involved in the whole process. Hypothetically, send your prototype out with a little gift package, or with/in anything that is positively unique enough to get someone’s full attention. Add a little note with your package, politely asking for the prototype to be returned within X days. I can’t speak from experience but my guess is that if you go out of your way to be noticed in a positive light – as a person rather than inventor – you would at least be more likely to receive cooperation.

Thank you CD!

Sometimes the prototypes are not really as important as moving on. The protoype can be made again, but the point of being respectful and returning something was more of a factor in this particular situation.

Lots of lessons to be learned.

Thank you again for your reply CD, you always have great advice:-)