Learn What Staples Offers and Shopping Tips

Overview of Staples Store Locations and Shopping Formats

Staples operates as one of the largest office supply retailers in North America, with over 1,000 store locations across the United States, Canada, and other regions. The company offers multiple ways to shop: in physical stores, through their website at staples.com, via mobile app, or through phone ordering. Understanding where and how to shop can help you find products that meet your needs.

Physical Staples stores are typically located in shopping centers and downtown areas in most mid-sized and larger cities. Store hours generally run from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, with slightly reduced hours on weekends, though specific times vary by location. You can find your nearest store by using the store locator tool on their website, which shows exact addresses, phone numbers, and hours of operation.

The company has expanded its service model over recent years. Many Staples locations now include copy and print centers where customers can order custom printing services, business cards, flyers, posters, and signage. Some stores also offer shipping services through UPS, allowing customers to pack and send items without visiting a separate shipping location. A growing number of locations include technology services departments where customers can learn about computers, tablets, software, and other tech products.

Online shopping through staples.com provides access to their full catalog, often with a wider selection than physical stores carry in stock. The website displays real-time inventory information, showing whether items are in stock at your local store for same-day pickup or available for delivery. Many customers find this useful when they need specific items but don't want to travel to multiple stores searching for availability.

Practical Takeaway: Before shopping, determine which format works best for your needs—in-store for immediate purchases, online for wider selection and comparison shopping, or a combination where you order online and pick up in-store within a few hours.

Product Categories and What You'll Find

Staples carries products across numerous categories to serve both individual consumers and businesses of all sizes. The organization of products into clear categories makes it easier to locate what you need, whether you're buying supplies for a home office or stocking an entire company.

Office supplies represent the largest category and include paper (copy paper, cardstock, specialty sheets), writing instruments (pens, pencils, markers), filing and organization products (folders, binders, file cabinets), desk accessories, and basic tools like staplers, tape dispensers, and scissors. A typical Staples location stocks hundreds of varieties within these categories, with different brands at various price points. For example, copy paper ranges from basic store brands at around $3 per ream to premium brands at $6 or more, with differences in brightness, weight, and finish affecting the price.

Technology products form a significant portion of inventory and include computers, laptops, tablets, printers, monitors, keyboards, mice, and software. Staples also carries tech accessories such as cables, adapters, charging devices, laptop bags, and external hard drives. The technology section allows customers to compare specifications and prices across multiple brands within the same category.

Furniture and storage solutions include office chairs, desks, shelving units, filing cabinets, and storage boxes. These items help people organize their work spaces, whether at home or in a professional office. Prices vary significantly based on quality and features, with basic metal filing cabinets starting around $100 and ergonomic office chairs ranging from $150 to several hundred dollars.

Cleaning and break room supplies include janitorial products, paper towels, napkins, trash bags, and cleaning solutions. Businesses often purchase these items in bulk through Staples' business accounts, which typically offer volume discounts.

Shipping and mailing supplies include boxes, tape, bubble wrap, envelopes, and mailing labels. The company also offers mailbox rental services in some locations through their partnership with UPS.

Practical Takeaway: Browse Staples' online category pages to understand the full range of products available and price comparisons before visiting a store or making a purchase decision.

Pricing, Discounts, and Loyalty Programs

Staples uses several strategies to offer savings to customers. Understanding how pricing works and what discount programs exist can help you make cost-effective purchasing decisions, particularly if you shop there regularly.

Regular pricing for comparable products varies by brand and quality tier. For instance, a basic plastic desktop organizer might cost $5 to $8, while a premium wooden or steel version could range from $15 to $40. Prices often reflect differences in durability, design, and functionality. The same applies to larger items—a basic desk chair might cost $150 while an ergonomic model with multiple adjustment features could cost $400 or more.

Staples frequently runs promotions on specific products or categories. These promotions appear in weekly advertisements, via email to registered customers, and on the website. Common promotional periods include back-to-school season (July through September), back-to-business season (August through October), and holiday seasons. During these periods, prices on relevant items may drop 15% to 50% compared to regular prices. For example, during back-to-school sales, notebook pricing might drop from $3 to $2, and computer prices often see temporary reductions.

The Staples Rewards program is a free membership that allows customers to earn rewards points on purchases. Members earn one point for every dollar spent on most purchases. Points accumulate and can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases—typically, 100 points equal $5 in rewards. This means that over the course of a year, a customer spending $500 would accumulate 500 points worth $25 in future discounts. Rewards members also receive special member-only pricing on select items throughout the year.

Bulk purchasing discounts may be available through Staples' business accounts. Customers buying large quantities of items like paper or cleaning supplies sometimes receive per-unit discounts that lower the overall cost. The threshold for bulk discounts varies by product but typically applies to purchases of multiple cases or large quantities.

Staples also periodically offers mail-in rebates or instant rebates on selected products, particularly technology items. These rebates reduce the final price paid and appear as discounts at checkout or through submission processes after purchase.

Practical Takeaway: Register for the free Staples Rewards program to accumulate points on all purchases, sign up for email promotions to learn about timing of major sales, and plan larger purchases around promotional periods when possible to maximize savings.

Technology Services and Support Options

Beyond selling products, many Staples locations offer services related to technology and printing that provide added value for customers. Understanding what services exist and how they work can help you solve problems or complete projects more efficiently.

The copy and print center services available at most Staples locations allow customers to produce professional-quality printed materials. You can order business cards, flyers, brochures, posters, and other printed items. The process typically involves providing your design (or using a template) either in-store or online. Pricing depends on the item type, quantity, paper quality, and finish options. For example, 500 basic business cards typically cost $20 to $40, while 1,000 color flyers on cardstock might run $75 to $150, depending on specifications. These services often have turnaround times ranging from same-day to several business days depending on complexity and volume.

Technology services include in-store consultations about computers, software, and accessories. While Staples associates cannot provide extensive technical support for existing devices, they can answer questions about new product features, compare specifications between models, and recommend products based on your needs. Some locations offer device setup services where employees help set up new computers or tablets, install software, or transfer data from old devices to new ones. These services typically involve additional fees ranging from $50 to $150 depending on the complexity of the work.

Staples also partners with tech support services that customers can purchase through the store or online. These plans offer remote technical support for computer problems and can include virus removal, software installation, and troubleshooting assistance. Plans typically range from single-incident support ($50 to $100) to annual subscriptions ($100 to $200 per year).

Shipping services through UPS locations within Staples stores allow customers to pack and ship items without visiting a separate UPS store. Staff can help determine appropriate packaging materials and calculate shipping costs. This