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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

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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.


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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 Aug 2006
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> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
05-30-2010 at 11:15 PM.
05-30-2010 at 11:15 PM.
Quote from phraser :
went to office depot to recycle 20 and they turned me down and said they will only accept 5. 5 per day limit 20 per month. Ill try to go to one near my work if not then oh well im farked for this month
Interesting.

And you asked the cashier to ask a manager about the terms of the program? Did you try recycling in April? What happened then?

Three things to try if your stores enforce a 5 per day limit:

1. Have the manager print out and read the terms of the program. At the very bottom of the terms and conditions there is an asterisk. You might bring a copy to show them with the relevant bits highlighted :

"Worklife Rewards Members will receive $3 back in Recycling Rewards for each cartridge recycled in-store, up to 20 per month. We can recycle additional cartridges but Recycling Rewards will only be issued for 20 per month*. ...

*Limit of 5 cartridges per day ended March 31, 2010."

2. Ask them to ring up the 20 carts (or 15 carts on Monday). If the limit is 5 per day, the rewards system will only count the first 5 anyway.

3. Go to 3 different stores on Monday if available. Then contact OD corporate and ask them what is going on at your stores.

I have heard from other posters that some individual OM stores are enforcing a 5 per day limit but you are the first that I recall noting OD stores enforcing a 5 per day limit at least now at the end of the 2nd month since the change in terms.
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Joined Oct 2009
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> bubble2 60 Posts
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ttboy
05-31-2010 at 05:20 PM.
05-31-2010 at 05:20 PM.
Quote from bpvh :
Interesting.

And you asked the cashier to ask a manager about the terms of the program? Did you try recycling in April? What happened then?

Three things to try if your stores enforce a 5 per day limit:

1. Have the manager print out and read the terms of the program. At the very bottom of the terms and conditions there is an asterisk. You might bring a copy to show them with the relevant bits highlighted :

"Worklife Rewards Members will receive $3 back in Recycling Rewards for each cartridge recycled in-store, up to 20 per month. We can recycle additional cartridges but Recycling Rewards will only be issued for 20 per month*. ...

*Limit of 5 cartridges per day ended March 31, 2010."

2. Ask them to ring up the 20 carts (or 15 carts on Monday). If the limit is 5 per day, the rewards system will only count the first 5 anyway.

3. Go to 3 different stores on Monday if available. Then contact OD corporate and ask them what is going on at your stores.

I have heard from other posters that some individual OM stores are enforcing a 5 per day limit but you are the first that I recall noting OD stores enforcing a 5 per day limit at least now at the end of the 2nd month since the change in terms.
A cashier at 1 of the 2 stores i use, at beginning of change of terms, a couple months ago, tried to tell me you could only do 5 at a time, then i went back to the same store a month later and they allowed the 20. I guess its usually best to keep a low profile, so i generally do not argue with an employee, just go to another store.
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Joined Sep 2008
power tool FlyppR
> bubble2 16,265 Posts
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dj-3lusion
05-31-2010 at 05:22 PM.
05-31-2010 at 05:22 PM.
alright so I managed to get my 20 carts in Smilie. I guess the one location I went to had a real snobby bitch who didnt want to count or believe I had 20 inks.
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Joined May 2010
L1: Learner
> bubble2 9 Posts
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alfredjr18
06-01-2010 at 07:20 AM.
06-01-2010 at 07:20 AM.
Nice post really helpful. thank you..
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Joined Jun 2009
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> bubble2 3,055 Posts
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macrophage
06-02-2010 at 05:27 PM.
06-02-2010 at 05:27 PM.
Does Office Max have frequent FAR deals? If not, it's pretty difficult to buy what you want to earn.
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Joined Aug 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
06-02-2010 at 05:32 PM.
06-02-2010 at 05:32 PM.
Quote from macrophage :
Does Office Max have frequent FAR deals? If not, it's pretty difficult to buy what you want to earn.
OM has very few Free After Rebate (FAR) deals but they have been having Free After Rewards (FARewards) deals every other month this year so far (enough that I have been able to max out my account ($720(12x60)) for recycling purposes). Who knows if they will continue.
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Joined Jun 2009
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,055 Posts
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macrophage
06-02-2010 at 05:34 PM.
06-02-2010 at 05:34 PM.
Quote from bpvh :
OM has very few Free After Rebate (FAR) deals but they have been having Free After Rewards (FARewards) deals every other month this year so far (enough that I have been able to max out my account ($720(12x60)) for recycling purposes). Who knows if they will continue.
But you still are kind of paying "half price" for the stuff you bought is that right?
Or how do you spend your rewards when you get them back? Does OM work like staples (in the past) where you can be rewarded with a reward purchase?
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Joined Aug 2006
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> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
06-02-2010 at 05:40 PM.
06-02-2010 at 05:40 PM.
Quote from macrophage :
But you still are kind of paying "half price" for the stuff you bought is that right?
Or how do you spend your rewards when you get them back? Does OM work like staples (in the past) where you can be rewarded with a reward purchase?
So far rewards have rolled. Again, who knows if that will continue.

Unfortunately paying for a purchase with rewards does not create a qualified purchase. So if you roll the same $200 over and over, you would still have only $200 in qualified spending (original $200 was out of pocket and yes, I know most will have friction from sales tax, but it's just an example).

I am fortunate that some of my local stores still follow the terms and conditions on using rewards to the letter.
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Last edited by bpvh June 2, 2010 at 05:43 PM.
Joined Jun 2009
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> bubble2 3,055 Posts
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macrophage
06-03-2010 at 07:22 PM.
06-03-2010 at 07:22 PM.
For Office Depot, are the reward gift cards linked to your rewards number?
And will the purchases made with regular OD gift cards count towards purchases to redeem rewards?
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Joined Aug 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
06-03-2010 at 07:59 PM.
06-03-2010 at 07:59 PM.
Quote from macrophage :
For Office Depot, are the reward gift cards linked to your rewards number?
Yes -- if you pay with your rewards payout card and do not use your rewards ID card, the purchase will still show up in your rewards account (as a purchase, not as a qualified purchase).

While using rewards payout cards from more than one account on a transaction is against the program's t&c, OD apparently does nothing if such an occurrence happens.

Quote from macrophage :
And will the purchases made with regular OD gift cards count towards purchases to redeem rewards?
Yes, purchases with regular OD gift cards count as qualified purchases for both purchase rewards (1%, 10%, etc) and recycling rewards (toward the annual purchase requirement).
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Joined Sep 2008
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> bubble2 3,873 Posts
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makeitslickER
06-05-2010 at 08:35 AM.
06-05-2010 at 08:35 AM.
they must get a kick out of saying "no" to 20 cartridges or something. Out of 3 OD I have nearby, the manager at one location keeps insisting that they've ALWAYS had 5 per day recycling limit and the new change is that the maximum per month is 20, and 5/day still enforced. It didn't matter what the TOC said. I kept explaining that 5 per day was the old term and new term only mentioned 20/month, but not daily limit, but he won't budge.

So I called the OD reward dept, asked if they could talk to the manager about the real TOC, the manager refused to talk to them on the phone on the grounds that they do not know who they are talking to. I asked him if he could call the OD reward dept now and he refuses to and says "I will get in contact with my own supervisor and let you know" He took my phone number down, but never ever called me, not that I expected getting one. What kind of an a$$ am I dealing with here? I hate these super-hero managers enforcing their own "little" rules.

I am glad that I will soon be freed from recycling cartridges from all 3 stores and that I won't see those idiots' faces anymore.
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Joined Nov 2008
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> bubble2 89 Posts
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daaux
06-05-2010 at 04:38 PM.
06-05-2010 at 04:38 PM.
Of the 4 stores I can go to, only one location lets me do 20 all at once. In fact, the employees at that store always remind me I can bring in more when I have less than 20. I just go to that one mostly now.

Quote from makeitslickER :
they must get a kick out of saying "no" to 20 cartridges or something. Out of 3 OD I have nearby, the manager at one location keeps insisting that they've ALWAYS had 5 per day recycling limit and the new change is that the maximum per month is 20, and 5/day still enforced. It didn't matter what the TOC said. I kept explaining that 5 per day was the old term and new term only mentioned 20/month, but not daily limit, but he won't budge.

So I called the OD reward dept, asked if they could talk to the manager about the real TOC, the manager refused to talk to them on the phone on the grounds that they do not know who they are talking to. I asked him if he could call the OD reward dept now and he refuses to and says "I will get in contact with my own supervisor and let you know" He took my phone number down, but never ever called me, not that I expected getting one. What kind of an a$$ am I dealing with here? I hate these super-hero managers enforcing their own "little" rules.

I am glad that I will soon be freed from recycling cartridges from all 3 stores and that I won't see those idiots' faces anymore.
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Joined Oct 2009
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> bubble2 60 Posts
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ttboy
06-06-2010 at 04:52 AM.
06-06-2010 at 04:52 AM.
so I hear the rumor that staples is supposed to reduce the reward to $2 per cartridge starting in July. hopefully the others won't follow, as the others both have a purchase requirement.
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Joined May 2006
L9: Master
> bubble2 4,067 Posts
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SegaRob
06-06-2010 at 10:36 AM.
06-06-2010 at 10:36 AM.
nice summary. im going to miss staples $3 rewards Frown
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> bubble2 19,975 Posts
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tenderidol
06-10-2010 at 10:13 AM.
06-10-2010 at 10:13 AM.
Let me see if I understood the OD program right...

The checks are issued "quarterly with purchase rewards about 60 days after quarter's end".

So, for the April-June cycle that ends on June 30th, they'll start mailing the checks out on September 1st, and the expiration date will be November 30th?
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