Staples Consumer Reviews - Page 2

MAINE -- I bought a "new'' computer for $550 and it arrived in a box that did not have that smooth cardboard box. The box had nips and punctured holes and a weathered look to it. Additionally, the computer base had what appeared to be fingerprints on it. Within the 14 day return policy, I took the computer into the store with a receipt, showed the manager the box and he said they did believe it was not a used computer and refused an exchange. The computer had a one year warranty. Electronics can be funny. They can be defective, have been dropped, abused, but it may not show up for a year or two later.

Ok, I go into Staples again on Nov 28. A Samsung 24" monitor was on sale for about $100.00. The store had about 7 of them on a high riser in the store, none on the floor. I asked 3 salespeople for help to get one down to buy it, all 3 said they would get someone. After about 20-30 minutes of waiting, I walked out. Now there are issues with not being credited $50 after opening up a Staples card and making a purchase. I used to shop at Staples every other week for years. Those Staples boxes used to be .25 when they first open, that's how long I bought many computers, GPS, other items. Not going into a Staples again.

BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA -- I saw an iPad on sale on Sunday 12/7/14. Basically the store was empty but waited for the lone salesperson to help me. He said they did not have the item (of course) but he could order it for me and will be delivered to my home. Great. When he was confirming, the price had magically went up $75. I said I only want the item for the advertised price, which he asked the manager if they could do and they complied. It was to be delivered 2 days later. After 3 days I called the customer service number and she said my item was on backorder and they don't do backorders so I need to go into the store to process a refund. Stupid.

When I arrive at the store, the obviously sick girl at the register said she can't refund my money for an item I don't have. After explaining to her that is the problem...I'm not going to get the item....she informed me I have to call the same customer service # that just sent me to the store!! What? I have never heard of such nonsense! The manager was no help except to apologize. They said it would be done in two days. Four days later, still no refund and when I call again they now say it was submitted but the refund will not arrive for 10 business days.

This company is so awful. I will NEVER shop there and of course I am telling everyone I know to not shop there. They all seem to know that already. I do not know how they are still in business. I hope I get my $300 before they shut their doors though!!

I (an American citizen) ordered a scale online from Staples and received an email confirmation of my order. Staples usually takes a long time to ship but it is free so I never complain about that. But after quite a few days I start to wonder where my scale is. I log into my account and see that the order was cancelled. I was never informed of this cancellation - I even checked my spam folder - it was just cancelled. So I Chat Live to find out why and I'm told I need to call their 1800 number.

I do and after a few transfers I finally get someone that tells me I used an international credit card to order and they only accept American credit cards. WHAT?! That is ridiculous. Why would you only accept American credit cards? It was a Visa card, not exactly foreign. It is technically an "American" credit card as it was issued in Puerto Rico which is a territory of the United States. My husband, (also an American citizen as are all Puerto Ricans), opened the Visa account in Puerto Rico. Why would Staples insist on such a discriminatory policy? Perhaps in the future I will have to verify my citizenship in order to purchase tape and cardboard boxes online. Shame on them.

Bought software from Staples and contacted them via chat live regarding a price match. Started the chat with my order# and the price I saw elsewhere. I even added the link for the price to speed things up. The price match was rejected, so I added the next best price, which happened to be Amazon.com. Over 30 minutes later I was asked by the representative to provide an order# if I order and the price match as approved. Over 30 minutes later and they didn't even figure out that I already ordered.

Anyhow, I got the chat log emailed to me and now, 5 days later, I am finding out that Staples reneges on the price match. Maybe, because I complained about the poor customer service (chat session). I will flag the purchase as fraudulent with my credit card company. I will not buy from Staples again and can't believe that Staples will not honor the price match it gave to me in writing. Check your credit card if you were told that they will price match for you.

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA -- They have a service they sell from about $135 to about $150. You THINK you get a complete cleaning of your computer, blasting out and/or discovering any hidden viruses, and removing them...NOT SO! ALL THEY DO is perform ON A ONE-TIME BASIS the exact same thing that Norton, McAfee or Malware will do for you (and with those three, you get so many years to do it over and over) but with Staples, you just get it done once.

What do they do for their $135??? Just run a virus check on the most superficial level. I thought (should have made it clear) that they would back up the files, blast the computer clean and reload those programs back but they said, "err no, you didn't pay for that..." When I asked "what did I get?" they said "we just run (essentially a virus check)."
Don't spend that amount of money for a virus check.

LONDONDERRY, NEW HAMPSHIRE -- First I will preface by saying I have been to the Manchester NH location and they are polar opposite... I went into Staples this am. They were not busy and I asked if the clerk was busy - he replied no. My request was to punch holes in the report and put the spiral binder on. The clerk was rude and gave me a hard time - that I should call first, that he will do it for me today. HE WAS DOING NOTHING!!! WHEN I GOT THERE!!!

This guy Ian is a lazy employee and just did not want to do it. He did it and I left and was so angry by his rudeness that I forgot to drop off my UPS and buy packing supplies. I drove to the Manchester NH store and had the opposite experience. I think I will find another option to using Staples!!!

HERMITAGE, TENNESSEE -- We purchased your brand pens and they went through to the other side of the paper. Upon returning the pens the service lady was so helpful in not only returning the pens but helped me with a great pen that works well. She took the time and knew the products and I really appreciated her effort. Now, days finding someone to help at any store is a chore. But when they help generally will point the direction to you. She (Kat) took me right to the section and I had what I needed in just a few minutes. I told the General Manager and he gave me her name so I could send a comment to the great service on the web. Thank you. Satisfied Customer!!

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA -- I am submitting this complaint after having contacted Staples'€™ Office of the President team of customer relations representatives. I spoke twice with ** and was promised a call back from his supervisor ** which never materialized. My experience was with the Staples store in West Los Angeles on Santa Monica Boulevard. I purchased a Western Digital external hard drive at a different Staples location and within the 14 day return policy period (8 days) I brought the unopened drive to the Staples store, with my receipt, for return. The cashier called over a store manager to approve the return.

The store manager examined the packaging, which was never opened or even touched by me, and decided he needed to completely destroy the packaging and compare the serial number on the drive case to that on the packaging. When I questioned him on why he found it necessary to destroy the tamper-proofed packaging, he responded that it was policy. The examination of my product took several minutes and was done in plain view of other customers at one of the cashier stations in the front of the store.

While the product was being examined by the store manager, I asked him what would happen if the serial numbers did not match as a result of an error made by the product manufacturer. His response was that Western Digital did not make mistakes, so that was impossible. The store manager'™s examination validated that the product serial numbers did match and the return was accepted. My complaint and concern stems from the very real possibility that something did not match through no fault of mine.

The sealed product was now very much unsealed, I was humiliated in front of other customers by the actions of the store manager done in plain sight, and I was very angry that I was made to endure this waste of my time. If Staples cannot trust the tamperproof packaging of their manufacturers, they need to take that up with their vendors, not take it out on their customers. Telling me that it was not possible that a mistake in packaging could have been made by their vendor is just plain fantasy and I very much doubt that their vendors would support them in their statement that a mistake is impossible.

The office of the president customer relations representative assured me that he would: forward my complaint on to both the district and regional managers, follow up with me and share what corrective actions were taken and work to make certain that other Staples'™ customers were not subjected to the same treatment shown to me. I have no idea if item 1 was completed, but I waited 8 days to hear back from Mr. ** before calling him back for status. I told Mr. ** I would not be shopping at Staples until I was comfortable that my complaints were properly addressed.

This incident could have been much worse had there been a serial number mismatch, but I do not want to wait for that to happen to me. Staples needs to protect themselves from shrinkage and theft while at the same time respecting and valuing their customers and the customer experience. Staples chose only to worry about themselves in my experience paying absolutely no attention to their customer. I choose to give my patronage to businesses that value me as customer. I was concerned that the store manager might be a rogue employee so I reported my experience to the corporate office.

What I discovered is that the treatment I received was acceptable all the way up the corporate ladder. Bye, bye Staples and hello Office Depot, Office Max, Best Buy and the like.

NEW JERSEY -- I had an appalling experience in not one but TWO different Staples stores yesterday, and I feel I have no choice but to formally notify you of this matter, as it has made it impossible for me to EVER shop in a Staples store again. I also will be asking my friends, family, and corporate associates to switch to one of your many competitors as well.

Staples featured an Acer laptop advertised in the Sunday newspaper insert yesterday (3/8) for $449. Now, clearly, this was a very low price on a laptop. This laptop typically retails for the price of $599 at Staples. Upon reading this early Sunday morning, I drove over to the nearest Staples store, which was store 0019 in Milltown, NJ. I was in the store just after the store opened (the store opens at 10:00am, and I was there no later than 10:05).

Upon my arrival, I found an associate who informed me that the laptops were in stock. However, before he would get me one, he proceeded to try to sell me his "protection plan". Now, for a number of reasons, including my own knowledge of computers as well as ready access to free computer repair services, I declined this. The sales associate indicated that it was OK, and then walked away to, I assumed, get my computer. He returned with the store's general manager who again proceeded to aggressively push the protection plan onto me. He was EXTREMELY rude, implying that I was "cheap" and for not adding the plan.

He walked away when I finally maintained I did not want it. Then, I heard him call the sales associate over and told him something. Moments later, the sales associate informed me that the laptop was not in stock after all. Just to summarize the timeline... it was available. I declined the approximately $150 protection plan would have boosted the price of the laptop to the regular sale price, then suddenly it was unavailable. They also refused to contact any other Staples stores to help me find out whether it was available elsewhere.

I then went home and called a 2nd Staples store, this one in East Brunswick (store number 1755). I asked the gentleman who I was transferred to in Electronics if the Acer laptop was in stock. He checked and came back to say they were in stock. I told him I live less than 10 minutes away and could be please hold one for me as I was on my way. He indicated that he could not hold a sale item, but that the store had multiple laptops and they should definitely be there when I arrived. So I immediately left, I arrived exactly 8 minutes later at the location.

I walked in and found the exact person who I had spoken to 8 minutes earlier. The store was virtually empty. I asked him if I just spoke to him about the Acer laptop and he confirmed that he was the person. I asked him if they were indeed in stock, and he indicated that they were. I then asked if he could please go get one, because I definitely wanted one. And then, before he goes back to get one, he asks me if I want the service plan.

I suppose I should have lied and said yes and then said no when I had the laptop in my possession, but I did what I thought was the right thing, because I could not imagine that this guy would try to pull this same scam only minutes after implying there was plenty of stock of this item. I responded, "No thanks... I went over this all at the last store, I know what it covers, and I am not interested."

He said "fine" and walked away. 2-3 minutes later he walks back and, just like the last store, the inventory suddenly has vanished. I angrily confronted him regarding our conversation and, half smirking (obviously knowing that what he was saying had no truth to it), he implied that all of them had been sold in the last 8 minutes. Mind you, when I arrived, the store was nearly empty and no one was checking out buying any laptops.

I was and remain STUNNED at the lack of customer service that is being displayed in both of these stores. For all I know, this type of "bait and switch" is being done at Staples stores across the state and across the country, and as a freelance journalist, I believe that it is a story that merits more investigation. You cannot make it a standard practice to deny people products because they will not pad your profit margin with questionable (and supposedly completely optional) service plans.

I cannot believe that, in this economy, Staples would so readily shun previously loyal customers (I had shopped your stores for years, as its roots, I believe, are in New England, where I am originally from). Our dollars are limited, and there are MANY other places to go for the same items that Staples sells at similar, or lower, prices. To that end, following the service I received at this second Staples store, I walked right next door to the Best Buy, paid only slightly more, got a vastly superior laptop, and was treated with the respect that the sales teams at these two Staples stores could use a lesson in.

I can assure you that none of my friends, family, and work associates will be frequenting ANY Staples in the future, at the very least.

MEDINA, OHIO -- Last Wednesday, I purchased a desk (in-store) from Staples. The desk was not stocked at their store, but I paid and they told me it would be delivered by Friday. The associate who placed an online order for me neglected to mention that they used a third party delivery service and also neglected to mention the terms of delivery itself. Perhaps, I should have asked.

On Thursday, I received a call at 1:00 p.m. from their delivery service asking what they should do with the desk. I called them back at 3:00 p.m. and was told, "We will tell the driver that you're home." They then proceeded to hang up the phone. So, I thought, "Gee, maybe they'll deliver my desk!" No such luck.

I got a call at about 7:00 p.m. from Staples telling me that my order was delayed and that it would be delivered the following day. I stayed on the line to talk to a customer service person, who informed that I would need to be available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for delivery and that they do not call ahead because the companies that they contract with aren't required to have cell phones.

I sat at home from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday and called customer service at 4:30 p.m. because I still did not have a desk. I expressed my distrust in their ability to deliver my desk and the customer service representative assured me that it would be thereby 5:00 p.m. In fact, she told me that the driver stopped by my home at 4:00 p.m. the previous day.

Funny, because I was home and no one ever came. She apologized but said that it would be thereby 5:00 p.m. I finally left my home at 5:02 p.m. without a desk. I got another automated call around 7:00 p.m. saying that my order was delayed but would come on Monday. It was at that time that I cancelled my order.

On Monday, a delivery driver left the desk on my doorstep and left me a voice mail message on my phone. I had to call him back and come back to pick up the desk because I cancelled the order. Apparently, no one told them. I called customer service again and spoke to a supervisor.

She assured me that I would not be responsible for the package and that the driver should not have left it there. She acknowledged that he should not have just left the desk and that I did in fact cancel my order. The driver came back to pick up the package, well at least I assume it was the driver. He didn't knock on the door, a man came out with a dolly and loaded the desk into a brown unmarked van.

I thought everything was fine, until today (Wednesday) when another driver from the delivery company came to pick up my 11, yes, that's ELEVEN desks. I have no desk and certainly did not order eleven of them. So, back to calling customer service, again speaking to the same supervisor from Monday.

She said that she would call the delivery company and tell them to stop coming to my home. I asked her about the eleven desks, she said I only ordered one. I told her I wanted to know when I would be refunded the amount and to make sure that I was only charged for one desk. It's now 4:36 p.m. and I haven't heard back from anyone.

The customer service people are polite but useless. The delivery company should have their contract revoked and I will never shop at Staples ever again. The situation is still not resolved and I'm pretty upset. So, the "easy button" that they advertise is complete crap. There was nothing easy about my encounters with Staples.