Staples Consumer Reviews - Page 8

It's 2009, yet Staples still does not accept gift cards online. If you poke around on the Internet, you'll see that this has been a complaint for 2+ years, and lots of people have observed this problem. There's even a very funny YouTube video about this. When I called the number on the back of the gift card yesterday, they encouraged me to call the Customer Relations department.

When I spoke to the Customer Relations department this morning, the gentleman I spoke to made it sound like this was a rare complaint, and something they have no plans to fix. I encourage all of you to call and make sure Staples knows this is NOT a rare complaint. The Customer Relations department is 800-338-0252. Thanks!

BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA -- On November 8, 2008, I called the Staples located at 1540 SW 8th Street in Boynton Beach, Florida to ask if they had Windows Vista Home Premium. They said it was in stock and was $129. When I got there and bought it, it was $255. After saying, "Hey, wait a minute! That's not the price I was told", the manager (a woman) came out and said she quoted for an upgrade price and was wrong. She gave me $40 off the product (making it $215). (Note: It is still even cheaper on Amazon than with their discount.)

I reluctantly paid for it and took it home. Upon arrival, I saw the seal was broken (it was used). They gave me the 32-bit version of Windows Vista. (Windows Vista has 2 disks available, a 64-bit version and an older 32-bit version). The 32-bit version is sold at even much further discounts on the internet. It is an older product. Few people want it. The 64-bit version does both 64-bit and 32-bit. Nevertheless, I couldn't use the 32 bit version for my machine.

So the Staples at 1540 SW 8th Street in Boynton Beach, Florida did the following: (1) uses 'bait and switch' tactics by offering low prices to lure you in; (2) sells you pre-used products that are outdated so they make higher margins. This clearly shows a store management with an extremely low ethics and care to the customer. My suggestion, stay away!

MILLTOWN, NEW JERSEY -- I just came home from the Staples store in Milltown, New Jersey. I went there to make four color copies. The representative for the copy area had to be paged several times before she came back to her post - only to tell me that small orders are self-service ONLY. That meant she couldn't be bothered helping me navigate their new scam - putting money into a copy credit card which needs to be inserted into the copy machine.

I asked how much each color copy is. The rep said "forty nine cents." So I put two dollars on the card. When I tried to print the fourth page, there was not enough money on my card because the rep failed to tell me tax was also charged. So I asked if she could make the last copy instead of having me put another dollar on a card I may never use again. She flatly replied, "No." She certainly wasn't too busy as I only noticed about three other customers in the whole store but they had FOUR people behind the counter and only one of them was actually working the register.

Everyone's poor attitude and customer service is WHY that store is always empty. I assure you that I will NOT be humiliated by these snotty teenagers ever again - and I am so mad right now that I'll be telling this story for a week. If it keeps only one other customer from this disgraceful excuse for a business, it'll be my public service.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy a Staples Warranty via Easy Tech Force. I am absolutely disgusted with the $300 "warranty" I was sold that was supposed to protect me in the event of my laptop being damaged. As a small business person, I gladly paid the $300 feeling like I had peace of mind in case something happened. After a spill, I took my laptop computer to Staples for repair or replacement. I expected an answer within a few days and it's been more than a month and they JUST made a damn decision that is my laptop needs to be replaced.

In the meantime I was forced to buy another laptop (from anywhere other than Staples) and they added salt to the wound by forcing me to accept a gift certificate to Staples that is the full value of my laptop (instead of reimbursing me cash). So I'm out the cost of my new laptop, the $300 I paid for the warranty and being forced to spend nearly $1,000 from a store I hate.

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND -- Staples Technical Support & Protection Plan sucks. Has the worst customer service. I have tried to use two times in the past year and I got nothing. Spent more than 3 hours on the phone and at the end I had to pay another company to come and fix a printer less than 2 years old. They make it as difficult as possible so you get tired and not use the warranty. The company they use for support is National IT. Terrible customer service.

The guy I spoke with simply tried to guess what was wrong with the machine and ask me to purchase a part that did not exist for that kind of machines. At the end was a total different part. Expensive of course and nobody wants to pay me back. Do not buy store warranties!! Just buy the manufacturer one. Expensive lesson.

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA -- On 2/17/18 Staples put an ad out. In it was a wireless keyboard & mouse. On 2/18 at opening, they had none. Told I could get it online. Nope! Customer Service was rude and disrespectful. Went back to store on 2/19 and asked them to check other stores. They did. Not a single one in the whole dam USA!!! Told me they had 31 and sold them in 20 minutes. Another store had 18 and was gone in 5. What a crock of BS!!!

Contacted Staples about false advertising and was re-assured that every one of these keyboards in the whole USA was sold in 1 day!!!! Now I may be dumb, but I am not stupid. I am headed to the BBB and the attorney general of SC. This is my last deal with this low stooping, lying Staples.

So, I get a Gift Card from Staples for Christmas. I go to the store to redeem it for a product. It is out of stock, but I am told that I can order it online. I ask "Can I use my Gift Card." The store employee says "no problem." So, I go home, and I log onto the Staples.com website via my home computer and pick out an item worth the $150 that the card was valued at. What happens? The online support folks say, "You cannot use a Staples Gift Card online. You must travel to the store and use the card there, so it can be 'swiped' at a register."

It is 2007 and this seems like it is a mom and pop operation from a dozen years ago, before Internet shopping became a popular method of conducting business and gift giving. I mean, what if Apple sold iTunes Gift Cards that could only be redeemed at an Apple Store? They would not be leading the charge for customer service, as they are. Staples, well, they just want you to waste gasoline and travel to one of their stores, so that you can redeem your card. Some 'gift' to the consumer.

I went to a Staples store to purchase a toner cartridge, they did not stock it in the store. No biggie, they offered to order it there, but since I was in a hurry, I figured I would just order it online that the next day. I did this then tried to use a cash card that I got from a return and a gift card I was given-both were from Staples and both said Staples.com on them.

The problem is, you cannot use either on their website! So, I 800 number, again, there was no way possible to use either card. I was told that I have to go into the store to use them. I told them the store does not stock the item. It didn't matter, I had to go back to the store, to place the order for something they do not stock in the store in order to pay with the cards. The nearest Staples is 30 minutes away. That is why I shop online! Nowhere in the store does it tell you this. Online you do not find it out until you finish your order. Time to shop elsewhere.

CALGARY -- I purchased a wireless telephone from Staples. At the time of purchase I decided to spend the extra money to get the "Extended Warranty" coverage which was supposed to add a second year to the manufacturer's 1 year warranty. The phone failed about 18 months later. I sent the phone in for repair and was told that the cost of repair was more than the unit was worth so Staples would be sending me a cheque for $100 as a pay-out settlement. (The phone was originally worth about $150.)

In April it will be one year since I was promised my payment. I have followed up with many phone calls to the warranty service and I'm always told the same thing: “We are very backed up on our processing of claims...Your payment has been held up in the accounting department.” I have not set foot in a Staples store since. And I will never again buy an extended warranty from Staples.

OCEAN TWP, NEW JERSEY -- My computer screen/monitor on my Laptop ceased to work. I called the Staples store where I bought it (I have 12 months tech service contract) expire date 8/14. When my monitor ceased to work I called the stores and after providing all my info I was told to mail it to some place called Square Servs? and gave me a number.

I asked if the Tech would just look at my Laptop that maybe it wasn't a major issue. He said he would look at it but he would charge me $69.99 to do so... I could get nowhere with him so I just terminated the call... I called another Staples store in my area and not only was I told to bring it in but there was no charge to look at it.... The tech Ms. TeiAmber ** checked it out and said it was not a major problem just that the computer was in 'sleep mode' and showed me how to alleviate this problem if it ever happened again.

Since I received such informative service from Ms ** I will continue to use Staples for all my future needs except I will switch from the Shrewsbury NJ store to the Ocean Twp Staples store all due to TeiAmber's expert and kind treatment. She should be commended for her great service and attitude. Very rude tech support people in Shrewsbury store... Sad but true.