Staples Promotions

Tips and Tricks to Save Money at Staples

The office supply store market is shrinking, with Staples pretty much having consumed its closest competitors. But you can still find some great deals from this retailer. Check out our tips and tricks for saving, the best time to shop, and the items you should definitely purchase at Staples – plus the ones to avoid.

Tips for Getting the Best Deals at Staples

• Sign up for Staples Rewards. Membership is free and you’ll get up to 5% back in rewards on most purchases, free shipping, and $2 back for each ink cartridge you recycle. The percentage of points you earn depends on how much you spend each year. Teachers receive 10% back in rewards on teaching and art supplies. There are also occasional bonus reward promotions on certain items.
  
• Sign up for Daily Deals. These daily alerts can save you more than 50% on a variety of products. Recently, for example, an 8-ream case of copy paper was on sale for $21.99 instead of $46.99 – a savings of 53%.
  
• Download the Staples app. This app allows you to shop on the go, but even if you don’t plan on doing any online shopping, you’ll still receive $5 off a $25 purchase when you sign up. For iPhone 6 users, you can use Apple Pay at any Staples location.
  
• Scout out coupons and promo codes. Staples offers plenty of savings, both online and in-store. From 10% off your entire purchase to more substantial deals on specific products, don’t buy anything until you’ve checked for a promo code or coupon.
  
• Check for rebates. Staples offers hassle-free rebates that can be submitted online or via mail. The best offers are usually around holidays like President’s Day and Black Friday, so be sure to check around those times for the best deals.
  
• Price match guarantee. Staples will price match both retail stores and their online prices, including Amazon.com. Items not included: Easy Tech services, postage, gift cards, phone cards, and apps.

When to Shop at Staples

• Back-to-school time. Whether you need to stock up on school supplies for your kids or even just your own office supplies, there are plenty of deals in late August. Recent back-to-school sales included notebooks for 17 cents, free rubber erasers after rebate, wooden rulers for 25 cents, Crayola crayons for 50 cents, and a 16 GB flash drive for $7.

• Black Friday. Your office may be closed, but Staples participates in the Black Friday frenzy. In 2014, major deals featured an Asus Intel laptop, regularly $249.99, for just $99.99. Consumers also saved $120 on a Samsung 23.6” LED monitor and $40 on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Lite.

Best Things to Buy at Staples

• Printer paper. This category isn’t exactly cut and dry, but the win still goes to Staples. Why? Because if you regularly keep an eye out, you can score some amazing discounts on paper. Between Daily Deals and rebates, you shouldn’t have to pay full price on basic paper. If you need a specific type of paper, ask the store to price match online retailers. The prices may be significantly lower, but the shipping will cost you almost as much as the paper itself, making it worth the effort to head into a Staples store.

• Keurig machines. Staples’ prices are generally priced within a few dollars of Amazon. But take advantage of Staples’ price match guarantee, then stack a coupon on top of your purchase to get a solid discount.

• Printing services. There are plenty of online and in-store options when you need to get something printed, and Staples is always offering promotional discounts in rotating categories. The added bonus at Staples, however, is that you receive 20% back in Staples Rewards for color printing services, which can add up quickly if that is a service you use frequently.

What Not to Buy at Staples

• Ink and toner cartridges. Most brands of ink and toner cartridges can be found on Amazon for about 20% less than Staples. Check to see if your local store will price match what you need; if not, stick to Amazon. Just be sure to order from the actual printer company; while you may find cheaper versions of an off-brand to fit your printer, it might not actually work correctly. Always check seller ratings before making a purchase from an unfamiliar vendor.

• Mailing supplies. Again, Amazon is the victor if you need a lot of mailing equipment. While Staples’ brand of envelopes and mailers outmatches anything available at large retailers like Walmart, Amazon offers better prices when you buy in bulk. For example, a 12-pack of 8 ½ x 11” bubble mailers will cost just under $17 at Staples, compared to a 100-pack of the same size bubble envelope on Amazon for just $26.

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