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ink/toner cartridge recycling primer/faq for Office Depot / OfficeMax and Staples (vers. 2020.07.15)

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So, the below is what I have worked up so far. This is a work in progress and now I am looking for corrections/input/suggestions.

For example, what other information is wanted or what information included below is not wanted.


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ink/toner cartridge recycling primer/faq for Office Depot / OfficeMax and Staples (vers. 2020.07.15)

  • Office Depot / OfficeMax:
    • Recycle:
      • Value: $2 in Rewards per cartridge recycled -- see purchase requirement below.
      • Limit: 10 per calendar month - no per day restriction.
      • Type: Ink or toner cartridge -- all brands -- OD/OM does not accept damaged cartridges for recycling.
    • Purchase requirement:
      • To qualify to recycle for a month, qualified purchases of $10 or more must be made in that month.
      • Qualifying purchases exclude taxes; delivery fees; postage stamps; gift and prepaid cards; and purchases made with Rewards Certificates, Merchandise Certificates, and Merchandise Cards.
    • Recycling Rewards:
      • Issued:
        • Recycling Rewards are paid out monthly together with Standard Rewards in the form of a Rewards Certificate.
        • Rewards are paid out to the penny.
        • Rewards Certificates are made available within 30 days after the end of the month in which the Rewards are earned. Generally around mid-month.
      • Usage: Reward certificates may be redeemed on purchases (excluding all gift and prepaid cards) at Office Depot or OfficeMax stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, online and by phone. Unlimited use until exhausted or expired.
      • Expiration: Per the terms of the program, Reward certificates are valid for 60 days after the date of issuance. All reward certificates expire at 11:59 PM ET on the date printed on the certificate. In practice, Rewards certificates are valid for two months after the month in which they are issued. For example, for Rewards issued sometime in July, the Rewards are valid until the last day of September at 11:59 PM ET.
    • Member services:

  • Staples:
    • Recycle:
      • Value: $2 in rewards per cartridge recycled -- see purchase requirement below.
      • Limit: Membership Level:
        • Standard: 10 per calendar month - no per day restriction.
        • Premier ($1000 in qualified purchases): 20 per calendar month - no per day restriction.
        • Plus (paid membership): 20 per calendar month - no per day restriction.
      • Type: Any used ink or toner cartridge sold at any retail stores in the US.
    • Purchase requirement
      • $30 $50 in ink/toner purchases in the past 180 days.
    • Recycling rewards:
      • Issued: Monthly, on a separate rewards certificate from purchase rewards, usually in the middle of the month after the month in which the recycling occurred. The rewards certificate is printable from the rewards site (ink rewards certificates can also be emailed or US Mailed).
      • Usage: Recycling rewards -- and purchase rewards -- are redeemable for most merchandise in Staples stores, online at staples.com® or by phone at 1-800-333-3330 but cannot be redeemed for or applied against taxes, cash, credit remittance, delivery charges, custom printing orders placed online, promotional products, any purchases made on print.staples.com, documents.staples.com, staplespromotionalproducts.com, staplescustomprinting.btobsource.com, shopstaplesmobile.com, appcenter.staples.com, Staples gift cards, third-party gift cards, prepaid phone cards, postage stamps, prior purchases, Staples Industrialsm purchases or any purchases made on other provider Web sites.
        • Online: One transaction - must use full amount of reward check.
        • In-store: Two transactions - a balance coupon is issued in-store if rewards check is not used all at once. Balance coupon has same expiration date as rewards check and must be used all at once in-store or online.
      • Expiration: Rewards expire the last day of the month following the month of issuance, at the end of the day EST and cannot be redeemed after the expiration date. Expired, lost or misdirected Rewards will not be reissued.
    • Member services

========================================


FAQ section (vers. 2017.07.26):


Q. (OD/OM) Do you have to recycle or make a qualified purchase first?

A. It does not matter.


Q. Where can I get used ink/toner cartridges?

A. Family and friends, neighbors, thift shops, garage/rummage sales, and of course like everything else, eBay.


Q. If I purchase an item with Rewards will that purchase count toward my purchase requirement for recycling?

A. No. By the extent the purchase is paid for with Rewards, it will not count as a qualifying purchase for the purpose of the recycling purchase requirement.


Q. (Staples) Is there any way to have the opportunity to qualify to recycle 20 carts per month without making $1000 or more in qualified purchases?

A. There are two other options if you want the opportunity to qualify to recycle 20 carts per month but do not want to make the $1000 or more in qualified purchases to reach Premier:With either option, you are still required to have spent at least $30 on ink and/or toner in the past 180 day to qualify to recycle.


========================================


Office Depot OfficeMax Rewards Everything - the new rewards program beginning 07/01/2017.

The Staples Information Thread

Warning: Office Depot Worklife Rewards changing June 17

Office Depot Ink Recycling Policy: 20 cartridges per month as of 4/1/2010

Office Depot Ink Cartridge Recycling changing?

Office Max changes their ink recycling 05/10/09 (w/ additional policy changes 1/1/10)

Staples new ink recycling policy changes Starts July 1, 2010

Staples new ink recycling policy changes Starts Feb 1

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Last Edited by bb182 May 26, 2016 at 09:47 PM
To check how long it has been since you last purchased ink:
http://www.calendar-12.com/date_add_days (credit to E_W)

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Joined Jul 2010
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,140 Posts
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Cagnotte
08-25-2012 at 12:34 PM.
08-25-2012 at 12:34 PM.
Quote from treMMor :
Thanks for the quick replies! And wow, thanks for your detailed answer, this list really puts it into perspective for me. Now I know not to dawdle when I see a FAReward item at OD; it's time to hit the spend requirement immediately!



I have such a hard time getting myself to do MIR's... and to do one without the eventual outcome being me monetizing rewards to boot! I guess in this case I have think of it as ensuring rewards instead of monetizing them. Well, you're right it just might be worth it this time since I can't think of anything I actually want to buy at OD. I'm saving up rewards for a tablet though and will burn through about $500 or so in straight rewards or Merchandise return cards. Main reason I want to buy it at OD is because the rewards are such a PITA to monetize.
I understand, but if there is no FARew promo next month, you can still hit $60 with minimal OOP (tax and stamps). I might also try to use a Staples 20% software app coupon (used one) to turn it into a MM. You have options and there is a chance you can come ahead of the game!
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Joined Aug 2010
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 931 Posts
611 Reputation
treMMor
08-25-2012 at 12:53 PM.
08-25-2012 at 12:53 PM.
Quote from Cagnotte :
I understand, but if there is no FARew promo next month, you can still hit $60 with minimal OOP (tax and stamps). I might also try to use a Staples 20% software app coupon (used one) to turn it into a MM. You have options and there is a chance you can come ahead of the game!
Interesting, did you show them the app coupon on the phone, or did you print it out and give them a paper copy?
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Joined Jul 2010
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,140 Posts
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Cagnotte
08-25-2012 at 02:10 PM.
08-25-2012 at 02:10 PM.
Quote from treMMor :
Interesting, did you show them the app coupon on the phone, or did you print it out and give them a paper copy?
Showed them the app coupon on the phone, but had a printout just in case. Wink
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Joined Jan 2010
Deal Royalty
> bubble2 3,843 Posts
510 Reputation
Sultanofdeals
08-27-2012 at 05:44 AM.
08-27-2012 at 05:44 AM.
I know it is here somewhere but can you only have one staples ink rewards account per address? Like i want to enroll a family member but we share the same address.
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Joined Jun 2009
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,055 Posts
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macrophage
08-27-2012 at 05:47 AM.
08-27-2012 at 05:47 AM.
Quote from Sultanofdeals :
I know it is here somewhere but can you only have one staples ink rewards account per address? Like i want to enroll a family member but we share the same address.
It needs to be a different name, address, email, telephone or they will eventually find you and merge them.
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Joined Jan 2010
Deal Royalty
> bubble2 3,843 Posts
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Sultanofdeals
08-27-2012 at 05:51 AM.
08-27-2012 at 05:51 AM.
Quote from macrophage :
It needs to be a different name, address, email, telephone or they will eventually find you and merge them.
They will find you and they will merge you. hah repped
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Joined Oct 2007
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 877 Posts
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s_T_Blue
08-27-2012 at 03:42 PM.
08-27-2012 at 03:42 PM.
Quote from Sultanofdeals :
They will find you and they will merge you. hah repped

And never never NEVER use the same credit/debit card against mutiple accounts!
That is one easy way for them to merge your accounts together.


That is why I always use cash... it can not be traced to mutiple accounts!
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Joined Sep 2009
FUBAR
> bubble2 2,704 Posts
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halluc1nati0n
09-15-2012 at 08:29 PM.
09-15-2012 at 08:29 PM.
New to this recycling thing. Staples has this double ink recycling credit going on right now. How often are these deals spread across Staples/OD/OM?

Like, do these promotions happen 4-5 months per calendar year?
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Joined Aug 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
09-15-2012 at 09:11 PM.
09-15-2012 at 09:11 PM.
Quote from halluc1nati0n :
New to this recycling thing. Staples has this double ink recycling credit going on right now. How often are these deals spread across Staples/OD/OM?

Like, do these promotions happen 4-5 months per calendar year?
Office Depot and OfficeMax very rarely have double/triple recycling offers.

Staples has them every now and then but there is no set schedule. They can occur in back to back months or there can be a several months break.
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Joined Aug 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
09-19-2012 at 01:59 PM.
09-19-2012 at 01:59 PM.
OfficeMax's MaxPerks Rewards program is trial marketing several new recycling offers.

While the existing program is up to 10 carts per month, $2 per cart, paid via rewards the new trial programs are:
  • up to 10 carts per month, $1 per cart, paid via in-store coupon that has to be used that same day
    • "*Effective 9/16/12, save $1 instantly on your same-day in-store transaction for each qualifying cartridge, up to a maximum of $10 in savings per calendar month per member."
  • up to 20 carts per month, $1 per cart, paid via in-store coupon that has to be used that same day
    • "**Effective 9/16/12, save $1 instantly on your same-day in-store transaction for each qualifying cartridge, up to a maximum of $20 in savings per calendar month per member."
  • there might be others
Apparently, to find out if you are in a trial market, log into your rewards account and view the "Recycling Program" page. If the old terms are there it appears you are not in a trial. If a trial's terms are there, it appears you are in a trial.

For those in a trial program, please let OfficeMax/MaxPerks know that the trial program terms are an unwelcome change from the old terms. Do not let this pass without comment.


TERMS:

*Effective 9/16/12, save $1 instantly on your same-day in-store transaction for each qualifying cartridge, up to a maximum of $10 in savings per calendar month per member. Qualifying cartridges are any visibly undamaged ink/toner cartridges. Excludes remanufactured cartridges of any brand. Qualified items and the degree of damage are determined by OfficeMax at its sole discretion. While there is no limit to the number of ink or toner cartridges you may recycle, you will only receive a discount for the qualifying items and limited quantity noted. Discount valid on regular, sale, promotional and/or clearance priced items. Not valid on purchases of HP and EPSON ink/toner cartridges, gift cards, general-use prepaid cards, phone cards, Virgin Mobile devices, US postage stamps, shredding services, MaxAssurance®, Ctrlcenter®, OfficeMax Essentials Kits, assembly or FedEx® shipping services. Void where prohibited. Cannot be combined with any other coupon, associate discount, OfficeMax® Customer Perks and/or Retail ConnectSM pricing. Not valid on prior purchases or for credit card payments. No cash or credit back.


**Effective 9/16/12, save $1 instantly on your same-day in-store transaction for each qualifying cartridge, up to a maximum of $20 in savings per calendar month per member. Qualifying cartridges are any visibly undamaged ink/toner cartridges. Excludes remanufactured cartridges of any brand. Qualified items and the degree of damage are determined by OfficeMax at its sole discretion. While there is no limit to the number of ink or toner cartridges you may recycle, you will only receive a discount for the qualifying items and limited quantity noted. Discount valid on regular, sale, promotional and/or clearance priced items. Not valid on purchases of HP and EPSON ink/toner cartridges, gift cards, general-use prepaid cards, phone cards, Virgin Mobile devices, US postage stamps, shredding services, MaxAssurance®, Ctrlcenter®, OfficeMax Essentials Kits, assembly or FedEx® shipping services. Void where prohibited. Cannot be combined with any other coupon, associate discount, OfficeMax® Customer Perks and/or Retail ConnectSM pricing. Not valid on prior purchases or for credit card payments. No cash or credit back.
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Last edited by bpvh September 20, 2012 at 12:48 PM.
Joined Dec 2004
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 352 Posts
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linlj
09-19-2012 at 02:14 PM.
09-19-2012 at 02:14 PM.
This would suck. I already did my qualified spending for the year on wife's account and mine based on the regular program. Luckily we don't appear to be in a trial market for the time being.
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Joined Aug 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
09-20-2012 at 01:36 AM.
09-20-2012 at 01:36 AM.
The OfficeMax MaxPerks rewards earned in August and from the backpacks are now available to spend -- at least for me.
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Joined Oct 2007
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 877 Posts
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s_T_Blue
09-20-2012 at 03:35 AM.
09-20-2012 at 03:35 AM.
Ever since OM reduced their payout to $2 @ ink cartidridge.... I have stopped reclycing and shopping at OM. I am sure others as well.


But now I do not follow the OM forums as much as I did. So I have more free time! ;-)


And in the last 3 months 2 OM stores have closed down both about 20 miles
south of me. I do not know if more store closure are about to come? Who knows.
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Joined Feb 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 19,976 Posts
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Pro
tenderidol
09-20-2012 at 09:26 AM.
09-20-2012 at 09:26 AM.
Quote from bpvh :
OfficeMax's MaxPerks Rewards program is trial marketing several new recycling offers.

While the existing program is up to 10 carts per month, $2 per cart, paid via rewards the new trial programs are:
  • up to 10 carts per month, $1 per cart, paid via in-store coupon that has to be used that same day
    • "Effective 9/16/12, save $1 instantly on your same-day in-store transaction for each qualifying cartridge, up to a maximum of $10 in savings per calendar month per member."
  • up to 20 carts per month, $1 per cart, paid via in-store coupon that has to be used that same day
    • "Effective 9/16/12, save $1 instantly on your same-day in-store transaction for each qualifying cartridge, up to a maximum of $20 in savings per calendar month per member."
  • there might be others
Apparently, to find out if you are in a trial market, log into your rewards account and view the "Recycling Program" page. If the old terms are there it appears you are not in a trial. If a trial's terms are there, it appears you are in a trial.

For those in a trial program, please let OfficeMax/MaxPerks know that the trial program terms are an unwelcome change from the old terms. Do not let this pass without comment.
Luckily, my area is not part of this ridiculous testing. If they end up switching to one of those two options nationwide, they'll lose the business from "recyclers". Yes, we do earn recycle credits, but we also spend that much to unlock the rewards. This change will be an excuse for me to end the OM game.
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Joined Dec 2004
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 352 Posts
85 Reputation
linlj
09-20-2012 at 09:53 AM.
09-20-2012 at 09:53 AM.
Quote from tenderidol :
Luckily, my area is not part of this ridiculous testing. If they end up switching to one of those two options nationwide, they'll lose the business from "recyclers". Yes, we do earn recycle credits, but we also spend that much to unlock the rewards. This change will be an excuse for me to end the OM game.
We spend that much to unlock the rewards, but that does not come close to making it profitable for OfficeMax. I'm happy to take advantage of the program to get good deals, but you can't pretend that OfficeMax losing the hardcore recyclers is bad for their business.
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