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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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> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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bpvh
02-25-2012 at 10:00 PM.
02-25-2012 at 10:00 PM.
Quote from Tracey12345 :
I became a Staples Premier Member in March, 2011 and near the end of the year I was given a new account because my in rewards had been used by someone else. I recycled 20 cartridges in January and only received credit for 10. Has my premier status expired or did something go wrong when they gave me a new account? Or did I totally misunderstand how long premier membership lasts? I thought it would go until the end of this year. TIA!
When you log into your rewards account, does it state "Staples Rewards Premier" on the top right hand side?
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Joined Nov 2009
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Tracey12345
02-25-2012 at 10:04 PM.
02-25-2012 at 10:04 PM.
Quote from bpvh :
When you log into your rewards account, does it state "Staples Rewards Premier" on the top right hand side?
No it doesn't.

I did send a message to Staples about this, but probably won't hear back until next week. They sure make it hard to find a way to contact them through the rewards site!
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Last edited by Tracey12345 February 25, 2012 at 10:05 PM.
Joined Aug 2006
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> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
02-25-2012 at 10:08 PM.
02-25-2012 at 10:08 PM.
Quote from Tracey12345 :
I became a Staples Premier Member in March, 2011 and near the end of the year I was given a new account because my in rewards had been used by someone else. I recycled 20 cartridges in January and only received credit for 10. Has my premier status expired or did something go wrong when they gave me a new account? Or did I totally misunderstand how long premier membership lasts? I thought it would go until the end of this year. TIA!
Quote from bpvh :
When you log into your rewards account, does it state "Staples Rewards Premier" on the top right hand side?
Quote from Tracey12345 :
No it doesn't.

I did send a message to Staples about this, but probably won't hear back until next week. They sure make it hard to find a way to contact them through the rewards site!
Based on your achieving premier in March of 2011, you should be premier through the end of 20132012.
Reply
Last edited by bpvh February 26, 2012 at 10:13 AM.
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sycc
02-25-2012 at 10:09 PM.
02-25-2012 at 10:09 PM.
Quote from Tracey12345 :
I became a Staples Premier Member in March, 2011 and near the end of the year I was given a new account because my in rewards had been used by someone else. I recycled 20 cartridges in January and only received credit for 10. Has my premier status expired or did something go wrong when they gave me a new account? Or did I totally misunderstand how long premier membership lasts? I thought it would go until the end of this year. TIA!
You should get another year of premier status. Just talk to customer service and let them know your situation. You'll be fine.
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Joined Nov 2009
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Tracey12345
02-25-2012 at 10:10 PM.
02-25-2012 at 10:10 PM.
Quote from bpvh :
Based on your achieving premier in March of 2011, you should be premier through the end of 2013.
Thanks. Hoping they can resolve before Wednesday so I can recycle.
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Joined Jul 2010
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Cagnotte
02-26-2012 at 05:14 AM.
02-26-2012 at 05:14 AM.
Quote from Tracey12345 :
No it doesn't.

I did send a message to Staples about this, but probably won't hear back until next week. They sure make it hard to find a way to contact them through the rewards site!
Call the Premier hotline at (888) 891-3787. You should get faster resolution this way.
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Joined Sep 2009
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PoLusImo
02-26-2012 at 05:31 AM.
02-26-2012 at 05:31 AM.
Quote from bpvh :
Based on your achieving premier in March of 2011, you should be premier through the end of 2013.

How would it make you premier through the end of 2013, unless you meant through end of 2012.
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Joined Aug 2006
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bpvh
02-26-2012 at 09:41 AM.
02-26-2012 at 09:41 AM.
Quote from bpvh :
Based on your achieving premier in March of 2011, you should be premier through the end of 2013.
Quote from sap283 :
How would it make you premier through the end of 2013, unless you meant through end of 2012.
Oops. Yes through the end of 2012.

Reaching premier within a year gives you that status for the remainder of the year plus all of the next year:
"A Member retains Plus status for the remainder of the calendar year in which they qualify and the initial following year and must re-qualify in that and each subsequent calendar year."
The terms and conditions seem to have removed premier but just insert "premier" for "plus" in the above sentence.
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Last edited by bpvh February 26, 2012 at 09:50 AM.
Joined Nov 2009
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Tracey12345
03-01-2012 at 12:43 PM.
03-01-2012 at 12:43 PM.
Quote from bpvh :
When you log into your rewards account, does it state "Staples Rewards Premier" on the top right hand side?
It does now! Smilie Thanks!

Quote from sycc :
You should get another year of premier status. Just talk to customer service and let them know your situation. You'll be fine.
Back to premier, yay! They didn't transfer my spending over to my new account.

Quote from Cagnotte :
Call the Premier hotline at (888) 891-3787. You should get faster resolution this way.

Hotline is so helpful and responsive. Thanks!
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Joined Aug 2006
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> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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bpvh
03-17-2012 at 10:10 PM.
03-17-2012 at 10:10 PM.
OFFICEMAX MAXPERKS RECYCLING PROGRAM TERMS CHANGE:

According to a banner after logging into my MaxPerks Rewards account, effective 04/01/2012, OfficeMax's recycling program will only pay $2 per cart and will only pay out on up to 10 carts per month. On the plus side, the banner claims that the program will accept "all visibly undamaged ink or toner cartridges of any brand".

Click image for larger version Name: 2012_04_01_maxperks_terms_change.jpg Views: 142 Size: 70.2 KB ID: 1080614
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daniel32
03-17-2012 at 10:30 PM.
03-17-2012 at 10:30 PM.
Quote from bpvh :
OFFICEMAX MAXPERKS RECYCLING PROGRAM TERMS CHANGE:

According to a banner after logging into my MaxPerks Rewards account, effective 04/01/2012, OfficeMax's recycling program will only pay $2 per cart and will only pay out on up to 10 carts per month. On the plus side, the banner claims that the program will accept "all visibly undamaged ink or toner cartridges of any brand".

Attachment 1080614
Pretty sure Staples will be next (disallowing 20 for premier members).
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Joined Feb 2006
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tenderidol
03-17-2012 at 10:38 PM.
03-17-2012 at 10:38 PM.
Quote from bpvh :
OFFICEMAX MAXPERKS RECYCLING PROGRAM TERMS CHANGE:

According to a banner after logging into my MaxPerks Rewards account, effective 04/01/2012, OfficeMax's recycling program will only pay $2 per cart and will only pay out on up to 10 carts per month. On the plus side, the banner claims that the program will accept "all visibly undamaged ink or toner cartridges of any brand".

Attachment 1080614
It was only a matter of time. They still have a spending requirement, right?
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Joined Aug 2006
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> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
03-17-2012 at 10:43 PM.
03-17-2012 at 10:43 PM.
Quote from tenderidol :
It was only a matter of time. They still have a spending requirement, right?
The terms and conditions have not been updated to reflect the change noted in the banner but my guess is that the spending requirement remains in force.
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linlj
03-18-2012 at 07:43 AM.
03-18-2012 at 07:43 AM.
Doh! I just paid like 30 cents per cart for HP's like 3 weeks ago.
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tenderidol
03-18-2012 at 12:05 PM.
03-18-2012 at 12:05 PM.
Quote from linlj :
Doh! I just paid like 30 cents per cart for HP's like 3 weeks ago.
This will definitely put a dent on the pricing of those cartridges sold on eBay, since all 3 office supplies stores accept ANY cartridge now. Let's hope that this won't increase the price of the Epson, Canon, etc, etc cartridges.
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