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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.


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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 Dec 2004
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 352 Posts
85 Reputation
linlj
06-18-2013 at 12:47 PM.
06-18-2013 at 12:47 PM.
Quote from LEDZEPZOSO :
Why is the program so horrible?
We still get $20 a month. They drop the spending from $60 a quarter to $30 a quarter that needs to be made by $10 a month.
Rewards are paid montly instead of quarterly.
The only change I see that is worse is only 2 months to use the rewards instead of 3.
Am I missing something? I have no problems with the new reward program.


You only have 12 more days to leech the old system..
Well, because for leechers the idea was to buy 1-2 FAR software items or $60 worth of FARew items per quarter to satisfy the spending requirement. These promotions are fewer and farther between as of late, so once per quarter was all we'd get, if that. Being able to to satisfy spend and cash out rewards through rebates is far easier with less transactions per year.
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Joined Nov 2012
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,493 Posts
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nrdk00
06-19-2013 at 02:42 PM.
06-19-2013 at 02:42 PM.
Quote from LEDZEPZOSO :
Why is the program so horrible?
We still get $20 a month. They drop the spending from $60 a quarter to $30 a quarter that needs to be made by $10 a month.
Rewards are paid montly instead of quarterly.
The only change I see that is worse is only 2 months to use the rewards instead of 3.
Am I missing something? I have no problems with the new reward program.


You only have 12 more days to leech the old system..
Quote from Smiles11 :
I think it is ok as well. I have to go there to recycle the carts anyway so spending $10 while I am there and probably the previous $20 of ink credit will be easy enough. Way better than forcing me to buy ink I don't need/want.
The other thing people didn't seem to take notice of from this:

Quote :
Do points carry over from month to month?


Point balances less than 1,000 carry over from month to month through the end of the calendar quarter. Balances of less than 1,000 points expire at the end of each quarter. For example, if at the end of the quarter you have 2,800 points, you will receive a $20 Rewards certificate for your 2,000 points and the remaining 800 points will expire.
So effectively, if you don't hit the 1,000 on the head (which yes, for ink we'll be fine at 2,000 but for other purchases) you lose that bonus. Nice of them to just jack the excess .01 - 9.99 for themselves.
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Joined Jul 2010
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,140 Posts
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Cagnotte
06-19-2013 at 03:28 PM.
06-19-2013 at 03:28 PM.
Quote from nrdk00 :
The other thing people didn't seem to take notice of from this:



So effectively, if you don't hit the 1,000 on the head (which yes, for ink we'll be fine at 2,000 but for other purchases) you lose that bonus. Nice of them to just jack the excess .01 - 9.99 for themselves.
Most transactions will not earn points anyway (non-choice members). Of course, rewards on ink, paper or CP services could become problematic. Can't even figure out what to buy from OD monthly if the dearth of FAR software and FArew items persists.

ETA: Has OD made everyone here a Choice Member for the upcoming quarter?
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Joined Aug 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
06-19-2013 at 04:40 PM.
06-19-2013 at 04:40 PM.
Quote from Cagnotte :
Most transactions will not earn points anyway (non-choice members). Of course, rewards on ink, paper or CP services could become problematic. Can't even figure out what to buy from OD monthly if the dearth of FAR software and FArew items persists.

ETA: Has OD made everyone here a Choice Member for the upcoming quarter?
Any idea how to tell?

I have made more than $200 in qualified purchases -- the 100% back in rewards offer for OD business card account holders -- for this quarter but do not see anything about being promoted to Choice for next quarter. I am able select Choice categories but I do not believe that means anything.
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Joined Oct 2009
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 498 Posts
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coolzkillaz
06-20-2013 at 10:51 AM.
06-20-2013 at 10:51 AM.
I got two questions wrt Staples:

1. It looks like my May recycling rewards did not post. I likely will not find the receipt. Any way to resolve this?

2. Is there anyway to tell when your $30-in-180-days eligibility is up, aside from tracking it yourself?
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Joined Jul 2010
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,140 Posts
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Cagnotte
06-20-2013 at 03:14 PM.
06-20-2013 at 03:14 PM.
Quote from coolzkillaz :
I got two questions wrt Staples:

1. It looks like my May recycling rewards did not post. I likely will not find the receipt. Any way to resolve this?

2. Is there anyway to tell when your $30-in-180-days eligibility is up, aside from tracking it yourself?
1.You can go to your store and ask for a receipt reprint. They can pull it using your CC #.

2. Not to my knowledge. An easy way to keep track is to set a reminder in your calendar a few weeks before the 180 days elapse.
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Joined Feb 2007
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,549 Posts
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ponycal
06-21-2013 at 12:34 AM.
06-21-2013 at 12:34 AM.
Hi! I made a mistake & didn't factor in the old 10% ink discount when I bought and recycled ink in April and so I didn't realize I missed the $30 purchase req to release my ink reward.

My question now is, if I buy the $30 in ink this month, will they still credit me for the ink carts I turned in for April or are they just lost? Has anyone turned in the ink carts first, then bought the ink after & still got credit? Thanks! Will rep of course!
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Joined Aug 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 14,664 Posts
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Original Poster
bpvh
06-21-2013 at 01:41 AM.
06-21-2013 at 01:41 AM.
Quote from ponycal :
Hi! I made a mistake & didn't factor in the old 10% ink discount when I bought and recycled ink in April and so I didn't realize I missed the $30 purchase req to release my ink reward.

My question now is, if I buy the $30 in ink this month, will they still credit me for the ink carts I turned in for April or are they just lost? Has anyone turned in the ink carts first, then bought the ink after & still got credit? Thanks! Will rep of course!
Lost. Purchase ink first then recycle.

You can always try begging Staples Rewards customer service and see what happens.
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Joined Jan 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 8,401 Posts
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screenname
06-21-2013 at 06:07 AM.
06-21-2013 at 06:07 AM.
Quote from ponycal :
Hi! I made a mistake & didn't factor in the old 10% ink discount when I bought and recycled ink in April and so I didn't realize I missed the $30 purchase req to release my ink reward.

My question now is, if I buy the $30 in ink this month, will they still credit me for the ink carts I turned in for April or are they just lost? Has anyone turned in the ink carts first, then bought the ink after & still got credit? Thanks! Will rep of course!
If you only bought $27 ink because of the 10% discount, I think you only have to buy another $3 worth of ink to qualify. I would talk to the staples rewards people to see if they can make an one time exception for the Apr recycle rewards.
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Joined Jul 2010
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,140 Posts
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Cagnotte
06-21-2013 at 07:07 AM.
06-21-2013 at 07:07 AM.
Quote from bpvh :
Any idea how to tell?

I have made more than $200 in qualified purchases -- the 100% back in rewards offer for OD business card account holders -- for this quarter but do not see anything about being promoted to Choice for next quarter. I am able select Choice categories but I do not believe that means anything.
I was hoping you could tell us. Wink
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Joined Feb 2007
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,549 Posts
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ponycal
06-21-2013 at 10:44 AM.
06-21-2013 at 10:44 AM.
Quote from bpvh :
Lost. Purchase ink first then recycle.

You can always try begging Staples Rewards customer service and see what happens.
Thanks a bunch to you both! I'm over it already! It cost me less than 2 bucks for the ink carts & I think I had used a q for a free $10 with it too. (probably why I calculated wrong) Repped ya both!

Quote from screenname :
If you only bought $27 ink because of the 10% discount, I think you only have to buy another $3 worth of ink to qualify. I would talk to the staples rewards people to see if they can make an one time exception for the Apr recycle rewards.
Reply
Joined Aug 2008
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 804 Posts
520 Reputation
scb435
07-05-2013 at 01:35 PM.
07-05-2013 at 01:35 PM.
Quote from linlj :
Well, because for leechers the idea was to buy 1-2 FAR software items or $60 worth of FARew items per quarter to satisfy the spending requirement. These promotions are fewer and farther between as of late, so once per quarter was all we'd get, if that. Being able to to satisfy spend and cash out rewards through rebates is far easier with less transactions per year.
My thoughts exactly. Initially I thought the reduced spending requirement would be a good thing, but after looking at how they've set it up (monthly), it's going to get me in there more often and spending more overall, at a place with horrible prices and "deals" where I don't want to spend OOP money.

Unless 100% Rewards promos unexpectedly become a lot more frequent, I think I'm done with OD recycling.
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Joined Feb 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 19,976 Posts
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tenderidol
07-05-2013 at 02:46 PM.
07-05-2013 at 02:46 PM.
The only nice thing about the new OD program is that everything is on a monthly basis. If there are no FAR or FARewards deals for that particular month, then there's no need to recycle.
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Joined Dec 2004
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 352 Posts
85 Reputation
linlj
07-06-2013 at 10:55 AM.
07-06-2013 at 10:55 AM.
Quote from tenderidol :
The only nice thing about the new OD program is that everything is on a monthly basis. If there are no FAR or FARewards deals for that particular month, then there's no need to recycle.
But how is the monthly basis better? That's the worst thing about it. If there was a FAR or FARew promo you could load up for $60 worth and be done for the quarter ($240 for the year in the old days). Now that promo is only good for the month ($20). OK, you can wait to see if there's a promo before recycling, but it's not like the empty cartridges really cost you much and you could count on most quarters to have something to get $60 worth of spend.
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Joined Feb 2006
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 19,976 Posts
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tenderidol
07-06-2013 at 01:12 PM.
07-06-2013 at 01:12 PM.
Quote from linlj :
But how is the monthly basis better? That's the worst thing about it. If there was a FAR or FARew promo you could load up for $60 worth and be done for the quarter ($240 for the year in the old days). Now that promo is only good for the month ($20). OK, you can wait to see if there's a promo before recycling, but it's not like the empty cartridges really cost you much and you could count on most quarters to have something to get $60 worth of spend.
I didn't say it was better compared to the old program. Since the program has changed and the old rules don't apply any more, that's the "only" positive thing that I could see...
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