Staples Coupon Use Awareness Thread

** If you find this posting helpful, please post a link to this, in your Staples Deals thread.

the purpose of this post is for me (and others, with their comments) to share useful information for all current/future postings that deal with any current/future Staples deals, and to inform SD'ers of the various issues surrounding using discounts that they get from various sources. My apologies if this has been posted before.

I and many others have been burned by some of the coupons sellers like CCCCPN .COM or SDER club, and many of others who are selling coupons (Ebay, and other websites that the coupon hackers have created). Most of us frequent Staples shoppers already know that these coupons (25 off 75, 25 off 100, etc), while they work in their computers, are fraudelently generated. the "in-store" coupons that used to be accepted in-store, were actually online only coupons, as EVIDENCED on the bottom of receipts that showed the coupon as being online purchase coupons. Staples has since fixed this in May.

1). Don't buy "Rewards" Coupons from CCCPN, SDER CLUB, OR EBAY. In most cases, you are stealing legitimate rewards coupons (coupon codes) that were created for use by customers (who could be your neighbors, relatives, friends). The only people benefiting are the hackers.
** Most of the other coupons that these people sell are also fraudulent, such as the $25 off $75 coupons, but most people these forums feel comfortable (blissfully ignorant) in using them, knowing that they are "shady" coupons.

2). There are sellers on Ebay who are selling LARGE QUANTITIES OF REWARDS coupon codes. They are examples of coupon hackers. I know some people boast of having multiple Rewards accounts (someone posted as having 24 accounts), and sell their 'extra' rewards (which isn't truly allowed). But when sellers have quantities of 30, 40, 50, and up, I rule it as coupon hacking.

3). My Personal experience has been that many of these sellers are selling $20, $50, and $100 rewards coupons that legitamately belong to OTHER customers. Recenly, my $100 rewards and that of a family member (total $200) from last months ink deaL was stolen and used by someone in 2 New Jersey stores. And, people on SD, Fatwallet, etc. are buying these coupons -- pretending to be ingorant (closing their eyes) or are Truly ignorant that they are stealing from customers who have earned these rewards.

CCCpn. com - blocking IP addresses of people buy coupons and then have an issue with one of them and contact them. This has personally happened to me and comes from experience. When I contacted them that they were selling $100 rewards and $100 gift checks (from a promotion last fall) that are rebates mean for customers who bought certain products, they block my IP Address. This has happened to others. They don't care. As long as people buy them (many of them are probably SDers who are the people most likely aware of SDER club and CCCCPN coupon availabilty).

My personal stance on Staples & coupons has changed, and I look for legitimate coupons or ways to legitimately use competitors coupons, discounts, etc.

To make this post constructively useful, please use the Wiki to share consistenly reliable and legitimate ways to save at Staples....and if you find this useful, post a link to this in your Staples thread.


Post Info into the Wiki, to update the 1st post:

COUPONS:

1. Sign-up for Staples Catalog Mailings (which often include coupons)
   [staples.com]
2. Sign-up for Staples Emails - Often sends coupons to you
   [staples.com]
3. Slickdeals Staples Coupon thread (be critical in using information that people post):
4. Competitor Coupons: Officemax Coupon Thread (Staples should accept legitimate coupons from competitors and may require a physical coupon, not allowing printed coupons. Some stores may be ok with this)
5. Competitor Coupons: Office Depot Coupon Thread
6. Recyclebank. com - earn points to redeem for Staples (and other Coupons).
   

CASHBACK:

• Many credit cards give up to 5% cashback on all office supply store purchases (ALL items), such as the American Express Simply Cash Card [americanexpress.com]. This helps reduce/eliminate tax.
• Discover Card
• Bank of America Rewards

some of you will post "there is no proof" ...how do you know?....there is enough anecdotal evidence ("in-store" coupons that are sold by these people as printable coupons that say "in-store" .... that are actually online only coupons (as evidenced by the bottom of the receipt which will say $xx off $xx online order.....or $20 off any $50 purchase coupons that are show up on as $20 off $50 Copy & Print orders on receipts).


some of you will say/think Staples knows about this and it helps their business, to help justify continuing to use the coupons. Unless you work for staples and you really know this, you have no way of knowing whether it helps their bottom-line or not. In most cass, as a previous frequent post of Staples deals, when people use the coupons with price-matches and rebates etc. the profit margins on the products is very likely NEGATIVE. Just look at the "amazing" deals people post and how most/all of them include the use of these coupons/printed money.

the point of this thread is to spread the word that these sellers are/were 100% creating real looking coupons that say in-store that are online-only. And, they are selling bundles of rewards coupons. In the end, greed will win out for most people...people come here to save...saving money becomes addictive...this addiction will foster greed. The idea is to try to reduce/remove this temptation, but still get good deals.