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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 Nov 2010
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> bubble2 2,714 Posts
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KiLLAJaTT
03-21-2012 at 10:11 PM.
03-21-2012 at 10:11 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
man this is horrible news Frown i'm heartbroken ..I wish they did 20 X $2 but 10 X$2 is just ridiculous Frown
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Joined Nov 2010
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> bubble2 2,714 Posts
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KiLLAJaTT
03-21-2012 at 10:18 PM.
03-21-2012 at 10:18 PM.
Quote from linlj :
Doh! I just paid like 30 cents per cart for HP's like 3 weeks ago.
FYI 30cent/Hp cart was way too much

Quote from tenderidol :
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.
I don't think i'll change much cuz lot of people will stop recyling @ OM
even now lots of people don't recycle @ OM and OD (cuz it's PITA) and people don't like to buy a lot like me and u do lol. people just wanna buy 50-100 the most and these idiots are willing to pay more /empty too ..EEK!

these sellers on ebay has enormous amount of empties that they need to get rid of fast and I'm guessing pricing will stay between .14-.20 cuz competition increased. More supply/less demand Frown Now the Lexmark/Hp guys are a forced to sell @ cheap otherwise it's won't move as much it was moving before.
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Joined Jan 2005
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> bubble2 7,952 Posts
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Starrx05
04-05-2012 at 06:45 PM.
04-05-2012 at 06:45 PM.
Do they still refund you in OM GC if you return something bought by rewards or it's up to the manager?

Bad news with their recycling change. I guess less people will buy their free or near free after rewards stuffs now.
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> bubble2 6,450 Posts
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xlnc
04-12-2012 at 06:16 AM.
04-12-2012 at 06:16 AM.
Office Depot Worklife Rewards & Star Teacher 2012Q1 rewards are available for printing. (YMMV?)

Login to your account to print your reward certificate from the "Get My Rewards" on the left sidebar.

Office Depot Worklife Rewards® Program [myworkliferewards.com]

Office Depot Star Teacher Program [mystarteacher.com]
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Joined Aug 2004
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> bubble2 11,603 Posts
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Hoseman666
05-09-2012 at 04:58 PM.
05-09-2012 at 04:58 PM.
Slightly OT: has anyone seen any OD shipping promos recently that might be in effect? Sometimes they would run 25% back in WLR or similar
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Joined Aug 2006
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> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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bpvh
05-09-2012 at 05:48 PM.
05-09-2012 at 05:48 PM.
Quote from Hoseman666 :
Slightly OT: has anyone seen any OD shipping promos recently that might be in effect? Sometimes they would run 25% back in WLR or similar
Did you check the OFFICIAL SlickDeals' OFFICE DEPOT Coupon Code Thread
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Joined May 2006
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> bubble2 1,542 Posts
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coolmuke
05-09-2012 at 06:18 PM.
05-09-2012 at 06:18 PM.
Question on staples Premier - I completed my $1000 purchase today.
-When do they upgrade the status. Can i recycle 20 starting this month?
- Will my Premier status remain until May 2013
- When will my spending reset to count towards next years purchase? is it always calenday year?

Sorry for so many questions but I could not find the answers on the staples website.

TIA.
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tenderidol
05-09-2012 at 06:21 PM.
05-09-2012 at 06:21 PM.
Quote from coolmuke :
Question on staples Premier - I completed my $1000 purchase today.
-When do they upgrade the status. Can i recycle 20 starting this month?
- Will my Premier status remain until May 2013
- When will my spending reset to count towards next years purchase? is it always calenday year?

Sorry for so many questions but I could not find the answers on the staples website.

TIA.
They update their system 4 times a month. They also wait 14 days from the time you hit $1K before upgrading the account. Depending on which cycle you catch after the 14-day wait, it could be as early as 2 weeks or as late as 3 weeks.

Your status will remain until 12/31/2013.

Spending for 2014 will begin to count on 1/1/2013.
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> bubble2 1,542 Posts
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coolmuke
05-09-2012 at 06:33 PM.
05-09-2012 at 06:33 PM.
Quote from tenderidol :
They update their system 4 times a month. They also wait 14 days from the time you hit $1K before upgrading the account. Depending on which cycle you catch after the 14-day wait, it could be as early as 2 weeks or as late as 3 weeks.

Your status will remain until 12/31/2013.

Spending for 2014 will begin to count on 1/1/2013.
Thanks. Repped.
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> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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bpvh
05-22-2012 at 01:29 AM.
05-22-2012 at 01:29 AM.
In case anyone cares, MaxPerks has made the May rewards payout ... at least for me.
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> bubble2 352 Posts
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linlj
06-01-2012 at 07:52 AM.
06-01-2012 at 07:52 AM.
I have $40 in rewards to use and I also want to hit my $60 spending requirement for Q2. Say I get $49.99 and $44.99 FAR titles for $94.98 + ~$8 tax. Will the tax come out of the rewards, leaving me with >$60 qualified spending? If I use gift cards to cover the balance after rewards, does it matter what order I put them in? If anyone has answers or even just educated speculation, thanks in advance.
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> bubble2 3,140 Posts
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Cagnotte
06-01-2012 at 09:12 AM.
06-01-2012 at 09:12 AM.
Quote from linlj :
I have $40 in rewards to use and I also want to hit my $60 spending requirement for Q2. Say I get $49.99 and $44.99 FAR titles for $94.98 + ~$8 tax. Will the tax come out of the rewards, leaving me with >$60 qualified spending? If I use gift cards to cover the balance after rewards, does it matter what order I put them in? If anyone has answers or even just educated speculation, thanks in advance.
1) Your $40 rewards will be deducted from the total. Therefore, using your figures, your OOP will be ~ $62.98.

2) It may be easier to submit your rewards first. That way, you can apportion the remainder to your gift cards.

HTH.
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> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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bpvh
06-01-2012 at 10:47 AM.
06-01-2012 at 10:47 AM.
Quote from linlj :
I have $40 in rewards to use and I also want to hit my $60 spending requirement for Q2. Say I get $49.99 and $44.99 FAR titles for $94.98 + ~$8 tax. Will the tax come out of the rewards, leaving me with >$60 qualified spending? If I use gift cards to cover the balance after rewards, does it matter what order I put them in? If anyone has answers or even just educated speculation, thanks in advance.
Quote from Cagnotte :
1) Your $40 rewards will be deducted from the total. Therefore, using your figures, your OOP will be ~ $62.98.

2) It may be easier to submit your rewards first. That way, you can apportion the remainder to your gift cards.
Not sure that answers linlj's question and I'm not sure about the answer.

If I understand linlj correctly, linlj wants to know how the sales tax is apportioned when a purchase is paid for with a non-qualified purchase form of payment -- rewards -- and a qualified purchase form of payment -- gift cards.

I do not know if the sales tax for qualified purchase purposes is apportioned proportionally or all to the first or more likely last form of payment.

I do know that the $62.98 OOP number does not help in determining how much of the purchase price is a qualified purchase as sales tax is not qualified.

Give it a try -- noting which form of payment was tendered first -- and report back. I would use rewards first only because they have an expiration date and gift cards do not.
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Cagnotte
06-01-2012 at 12:59 PM.
06-01-2012 at 12:59 PM.
Quote from bpvh :
Not sure that answers linlj's question and I'm not sure about the answer.

If I understand linlj correctly, linlj wants to know how the sales tax is apportioned when a purchase is paid for with a non-qualified purchase form of payment -- rewards -- and a qualified purchase form of payment -- gift cards.

I do not know if the sales tax for qualified purchase purposes is apportioned proportionally or all to the first or more likely last form of payment.

I do know that the $62.98 OOP number does not help in determining how much of the purchase price is a qualified purchase as sales tax is not qualified.

Give it a try -- noting which form of payment was tendered first -- and report back. I would use rewards first only because they have an expiration date and gift cards do not.
Interesting point - I did not think about how the tax is allocated between the 2 forms of payment. Maybe linlj can let us know how OD computes his qualifying spend. Obviously, it is understood by most that OOP is not the same as qualifying spend.
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KiLLAJaTT
06-01-2012 at 05:53 PM.
06-01-2012 at 05:53 PM.
I was in staples yesterday trying to recycling my ink they were closing in 5 mins. When i went to the store there were 5-6 people waiting for checkout so I thought in meantime I'll just pick my brother Stamp (100% back rewards offer from cpl weeks ago i think) and then i'll go to cashier and recycle my ink. The staples employee @ print & ship checkout took more than 5 mins for my pickup (she literally took more than 5 minutes just to find my order) ok so finally she found it and checked the I already paid for the order and gave me my stamp. So now I go to recycle my ink @ regular checkout and this n00b A** cashier tells me I can't recycle after 8 pm since store is closed and they already took the empty cartridges box in back ?? I was like WTFF u serious?? i told her that i come here almost everyday and u telling me this BS..i even told her if buy something will u take the ink she said no. I said can I talk to your manager and she told me manager already left cpl hours ago. There are only 4 employees ATM. I was pissed already and told her that i always recycle and I've to recycle these today since it's the last day and never had problems buying or recycling ink as long as I'm in the store before 8 PM. well I tried everything talked to other employees and cpl said they don't even know about recycling ..u can do 10 only..blah blah all kinds of BS and excuses then luckily someone from back room/stock room came and asked what's the problem. I explained to him that this cashier is telling me some real BS and i never seen this cashier before and i come here almost everyday. he actually said the he has seen me numerous times in store as this is the last time they will take my ink after 8 pm?? I was like thx dude and gimme my damn receipt and walked out @ 8:20 outta the store.

This staples store is my fav store and i know most of the employees but today was first time in a year or so i had something Weird (i would say weirdest) happened to me cuz of some dumb cashier.
today i went into the store and talked with manager and she said we are extremely sorry and employees already her about last night and it won't happen in future since the cashier was hired 4 days ago so she didn't know about recycling. I then asked what about other employees and she told me other employes were not cashiers. OMGOMGOMGOMG
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Last edited by KiLLAJaTT June 1, 2012 at 05:59 PM.
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