[sar1]

Received in my email today. Some good, some bad. Applies to Staples Rewards Members:

HIGHLIGHTS:
* 5% back in rewards on everything. All products, all services - including technology.
* Free Shipping on all orders from staples.com
* $2 back in rewards for each ink or toner cartridge recycled when minimum purchase requirements are met.

Excerpts from the fine print:
* As of 3/15/13 Staples RewardsŪ members receive 5% back in rewards on all items excluding taxes, postage, prepaid phone cards, delivery charges, coupons, gift cards and purchases made on third-party Web sites.
*Rewards members receive free shipping on all orders placed on staples.comŪ or by phone at 1-800-333-3330.
* Here's the bad news: Recycle any ink or toner cartridge, up to 10 per calendar month per Plus customer or up to 20 per calendar month per Premier customer, and, if the member has spent at least $30 in ink and/or toner purchases at Staples over the previous 180 days, the member will receive $2 back in Staples Rewards per cartridge.

[Philly_Girl]

So now you have to spend $30 on ink/toner to get recycle cartridges?

I just started in Jan, so im confused.

Thanks

[sar1]

I was just upgraded to Premier status (or something like that) and was eligible for free shipping anyway. The 5% rewards on everything is nice though. I'll have to find something different to do with my ink cartridges b/c Staples might be the most expensive place to buy HP ink and the rewards are not going to entice me to buy it there!

[Philly_Girl]

So if i recycle 10 before 3/13, i will still get the $20 without having to spend the $30 previously, correct?

[sar1]

Originally Posted by Philly_Girl

So now you have to spend $30 on ink/toner to get recycle cartridges?

I just started in Jan, so im confused.

Thanks

Yes. Office Depot (last I checked maybe a year ago) only gives the rewards when your spending for the quarter equals the rewards, but they don't say it has to be on ink. This stinks.

[sar1]

Originally Posted by Philly_Girl

So if i recycle 10 before 3/13, i will still get the $20 without having to spend the $30 previously, correct?

I hope so. I'm counting on that!

[Philly_Girl]

Originally Posted by sar1

Yes. Office Depot (last I checked maybe a year ago) only gives the rewards when your spending for the quarter equals the rewards, but they don't say it has to be on ink. This stinks.

Oh wow, thanks. Guess after I recycle for & redeem (jan-mar) rewards, no point in staples for me.

[liibyz]

Booooo!

[carriemb2]

I got the email, too. I'm probably done with Staples then because I only went there to get the cartridge rewards. I get the best prices on ink at HP.com

[babyjade12]

Boo!!! So with this change, would you experts say office depot is best now? :/

[chrisnsal]

Fortunately for me. I buy ink for work. So I'm fine. But it does suck!!! Sorry for everyone else.

[ksellers0103]

if the member has spent at least $30 in ink and/or toner purchases at Staples over the previous 180 days


I know I will probably have to wait to find out but if it's $30 is good for 6 months i dont think its that bad. Lets say... I buy $30 in ink usually using a 15 or 20% off coupon. I buy my ink there anyway a couple times a year. It doesn't say for every month you have to purchase $30. If I bought $30 in ink in late April (first month this should apply to me) I would have until October to recycle 20 (premier status) each month.

[cooletz23]

$30 required purchase for 6 months then i can recycle $20 per month x6 =$120-$30 = $90 rewards is still good for me. I was nervous for a minute when i read the email but i think Staples is still best place to recycle. Just my opinion.

[cherylrc]

Not loving this change. I need to run 10 empty cartridges in tomorrow before my store closes for good on Saturday. I will have 40 in rewards that i can use online when the latest rewards post. That will be good for some ink i suppose.

[foodie]

I still prefer and am at Premier status. Staples also accepts CQ(s) too. I took the email to mean $30 at least as minimum for 6 months. I usually buy more that 1 set of cartridges though since we have a lot of computers for kids, etc.

It is not hard for us to meet the requirements for ink recycling. Have a good night.

Foodie (Katie)

[oxymoron]

$30 for 6 months isn't bad. Just wait when they do a double-double.

At the very least, I can resell it to my friend/family for half price or so (I use a brother/generic). Even with this, Staples is still the best office store IMO. The easy rebates is why I loveeeee staples. Plus, all the freebies.

[babyjade12]

Can you use your rewards to buy 30$ of ink? Or do you have to buy that oop for it to count?

[Sunbear]

Originally Posted by babyjade12

Can you use your rewards to buy 30$ of ink? Or do you have to buy that oop for it to count?

Good question. I just bought $48 ink - 20% coupon = ~ $38

Bought a couple fillers and used 2 x $20 rewards. I hope it counts for another 6 months.

[miss_c]

I turned in my inks yesterday and got this from the register.

"Starting 3/15/13, there will be a change to your ink recycling benefit, You will receive $2 back in rewards for each ink or toner cartridge recycled, up to your normal ink recycling limits, if you have spent at least $30 on ink or tonor in the past 180 day. Ink and/or tonor purchases made on the date of recycling purchases made on the date of recycling are calculated toward the minimum purchase requirement. Minimum purchase requirement net of coupons, taxes, and shipping charges. We will recycle additional cartridges but rewards will only be issued for 10 per calender month per Base or Plus customer and 20 per calendar month per Premier customer."

I believe this means you can't use the reward certificate towards the purchase of ink cartridges, because its coded as a coupon.

[squishymendez12]

how long does it take for them to give you your reward certificates?

[miss_c]

Originally Posted by squishymendez12

how long does it take for them to give you your reward certificates?

Date varies, but generally around the 20th of the following month.

[rbeane]

Originally Posted by oxymoron

$30 for 6 months isn't bad. Just wait when they do a double-double.

At the very least, I can resell it to my friend/family for half price or so (I use a brother/generic). Even with this, Staples is still the best office store IMO. The easy rebates is why I loveeeee staples. Plus, all the freebies.

What is a double-double? TIA


I got a paper today at Staples, "Save 10% on all Ink & Toner. Buy an ink and toner savings pass for $15 and get 10% off all ink and toner purchases until 5/31/14.

[laffinallthewaytothebank]

Items purchased with 20% off coupon are not eligible for rewards, so they may not count towards your $30 oop either. Not sure???

Staples 20% off coupon

[babyjade12]

Question- how long generally does it take for rewards to show up in your acct?? I don't mean the actual rewards to use...just the "receipt" of how many you turned in.

For example, I turned in ten march 1st and it's showing I have recycled zero this month.. I am concerned it didn't take (this was the first time I used my phone number instead of my physical card).

Any idea why it's not showing? :/

[cooletz23]

Originally Posted by babyjade12

Question- how long generally does it take for rewards to show up in your acct?? I don't mean the actual rewards to use...just the "receipt" of how many you turned in.

For example, I turned in ten march 1st and it's showing I have recycled zero this month.. I am concerned it didn't take (this was the first time I used my phone number instead of my physical card).

Any idea why it's not showing? :/

Sometimes its not really showing online but you will still get a credit on 2nd week of the month.