Staples Rewards Consumer Reviews - Page 2

NORTH BABYLON, NEW YORK -- I have had a Staples Rewards account since July 2008. I haven't used it much until last year when I spent almost $600.00 at the store being sure to give my rewards account number with each and every purchase. The cashiers always make sure to ask you if you have a rewards card (like you'll be getting some kind of savings in return). What they don't tell you is that it only works for purchasing business quantity ink & toner, cases & reams of paper, and the copy & printing service.

The other thing they want you to do is check online to see IF you have anything awarded back (I have a life Staples! Yours is NOT the website I log onto when I do have time it browse the web!!). Why not just mail back a small percentage of what folks spend in your store every so often. It would be a nice surprise to find in the mail that would surely keep me coming back to your store. You have just turned me off as a customer & I won't be coming back!!

SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA -- The rewards program is an absolute sham. Your points do not accumulate and expire soon after your purchase. Despite buying several hundred dollars of merchandise over a brief period of time, I have yet to reap any "rewards" from their program.

Recently, I bought toner and copier paper and spent over a hundred dollars. Moreover, I brought in four used ink cartridges and was supposed to be credited two dollars a piece for them that would be applied to my rewards. For the copier paper, I was supposed to get 10% credited back to my "rewards". Shortly after this transaction, I went online to print my "rewards". To my surprise, the "rewards" had already expired. The purchase was only two weeks back.

PARKER, COLORADO -- In December my Local Staples store told me that if I were to recycle my HP Toner Cartridges, I would earn double rewards if I purchased a Toner Cartridge from them. This was NOT true. I did not need a $150 toner cartridge at the time. They told me that I could recycle up to 3 cartridges (for a total of $18). A month later I received a check for only $9. I called the store (where I purchased the cartridge) and they assured me that I should have gotten the double rewards. Next I called the Rewards 800 number. After waiting 40 minutes to talk to someone, the support person told me that I was misinformed.

I felt that I was tricked into making a purchase that I did not need. I told the Rewards Customer support person that I would not be shopping at Staples anymore. The Office Depot, right across the street has much better deals, has excellent customer support and they have always been truthful with me and my business. It's easier (and cheaper) for me to shop at Office Depot.

NORTH CONWAY, NEW HAMPSHIRE -- I own a small business and I shopped at Staples for my office equipment and Supplies. I have had problems in the past with Staples Rebates so I avoid all rebate offers through Staples. Today, I have decided to Boycott Staples. I'm not giving them another one of my hard earned pennies. I had received a 50% Back Rewards Coupon (00784007) as an "Exclusive Benefit". I read the coupon, the mailer and I went as far as to ask the Staples Store Manager if I could use my 50% Back Rewards coupon on my Purchase of Ink Toner. Yes!! Yippee.

My Ink Toner costs $249.00 -Let's do the math. I SHOULD get back $124.50 in Staples Rewards. Right? Wrong! No Rewards check. So I called and spoke with a Customer Service Rep on the Exclusive Membership Line at 1-888-891-3787 I was told the 50% Rewards Back coupon was for "Office Supplies" and Ink Toner is not considered an Office Supply. Luckily for me, I saved the mailer and my receipt. The mailer does not have, state or mention any exclusions or specific "Office Supplies".

So I asked the phone representative to please email me a copy of his "Office Supplies list", which he claims includes pens, pencils, staples and sticky notes. But wait - he stated he does not have the "power of email". That did it for me. Anyone out there know of a good office supply store?

COOS BAY, OREGON -- Staples offers what they call a "Rewards" program. It's not a rebate. When I turn in used printer cartridges they credit my account for $2.00 per cartridge but they insist that a customer wait 4 to six weeks to collect. I just made arrangements to collect my most recent rewards. My intent was to purchase a four-pack of the ink which I use. I checked online and it appeared that they had the large 4-packs for under $60.00. When I got to the store I couldn't find that product. Instead there were packs with one large cartridge and three small. That description was not as plain online.

They have what they call a "Product Concierge" at an e-mail address. I wrote to them and my e-mail bounced. I wrote to another e-mail address and it bounced also. I kept copies of the e-mails but don't think I should include them here.

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VIRGINIA -- Staples continually is making it harder (or less friendly) to do business with them. The current issue is that they have recently changed their policy on returning used ink cartridges for a $3.00 credit. Now, instead of getting an instant credit, you MUST sign up for their rewards card and the credit will be issued as a coupon go for use in the store at the end of the month. Except for the fine print... you can only turn in 3 cartridges at a time for a $9.00 total credit. They will only issue a coupon for amounts over $10.00. Any unpaid balance "expires" at the end of the year.

Now, with the fact that I turned in three today, and then have to sign up for it, it means that I most likely won't get any more "credit" between now and the end of the year - or in other words, they got the cartridges and will not have to pay me the money. Why even bother with this mess? That is why I never wanted to sign up for their silly card anyway. Besides this, every single time I ever go into use their copy shop, it ruins my day. There is always an issue... always. And no help either.

I am so angry with Staples and their newly revamped Business Rewards program. I have been a loyal and 99% exclusive Staples customer (small operation/non-profit) when it comes to anything having to do with office supplies from paper to furniture to equipment. I loved the former Business Rewards program and it was a big incentive in my shopping at Staples. This spring I received a new (so-called) Premiere Rewards card and a lot of baloney about the new Rewards program. What a bunch of bull, unless you are a high volume customer making purchases of the specified categories you will be lucky to get a rewards check for a few bucks.

I've spent a load of money at Staples through the years and I feel both betrayed and unappreciated by Staples. This new program almost seems sleazy to me. Hell, why should I continue to shop at Staples when I can often get many things I purchase there at competitive prices elsewhere by doing a little searching online (OK, so they will usually match lower prices, but who wants to always go to the trouble of going through all that just to shop at Staples).

I am totally disgusted and ashamed of Staples. They might as well dump the program altogether. If they at least changed the program so that if you were required to spend a certain minimum dollar amount (all purchases included) in order to accumulate Rewards dollars, well that would seem to be more equitable. The new program is simply a sleazy low slap in the face to all of their faithful and regular customers.

FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS -- HELLO STAPLES SHOPPERS! I wanted to let you all know, Staples new Rewards Program, effective 1 April 2007 (today) is dishonest and makes Staples look STUPID!!! The below paragraphs are of their own website and advertising: Rewards Earn 10% back in rewards on all ink and toner, case and ream paper, and Copy & Print Center purchases.

But not “ALL” as stated above, rather they exclude the below: Purchases of ink products manufactured by Hewlett Packard are excluded. Well, HP (Hewlett-Packard) just happens to be the nation's number one selling ink and toner. All does not mean all to Staples. Staples has you believe you will get 10% back on hp ink and toner. But what you will get is a big fat 0. Here is the link to their website for you to read and make sure you read the fine print: http://www.staplesrewardscenter.com/SORC/UserManagement/Login/LearnStaplesRewards.aspx.