Staples Ad 3/18/12 - 3/24/12 100% back in rewards on making return address Custom Stamp, 20% back in rewards for buying HP ink > $50, $5 off $25 Breakroom coupon in ad

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What is a Staples Rewards Check? Can I cash it at a bank?
Staples Rewards Check is a fancy name for essentially a coupon. It can only be redeemed at Staples. It has no cash value so it cannot be put in your bank.

Do I have to use the entire Rewards check at one time?
Online, you must use the entire Rewards check. In-store, you will get a one-time use balance coupon that you can use on a future purchase. The balance coupon will expire at the same time that the original rewards would have expired. The balance coupon must be used in its entirety on a future purchase.

Do I pay sales tax when using a Rewards check?
Rewards checks are a discount on the purchase price. So, you do not pay sales tax on the amount of the Rewards used. If an item was $10 and you use an $8 Rewards check you would only pay sales tax on $2.

You said Rewards Checks are a coupon, how are people using this and another coupon? Isn’t that double stacking?
No, on Staples coupons, they even tell the cashier the process for scanning, scan the coupon then scan any rewards coupons. Rewards are an earned from doing something. So really think of them as cash that can only be used at Stapes, much like Extra Care Bucks for those familiar with CVS.

How do you get your Rewards Check?
As of March 1, 2011, you can only receive your rewards check by computer unless you opt back in to receive them via snail mail. See your Rewards check email for this option.

When do you get your check?
I suggest just setting up your email properly with them because they send out great email alerts. But with that being said, usually somewhere around the 15th of the month.

Can I use a % off and a $ off coupon at Staples then?
YMMV, some can get managers to do this, most can’t. Usually they only accept one Staples coupon.

Where do people get coupons?
In the mail, in their emails, or from sellers like those on eBay or other sites. Kindly email someone in this thread that seems to know what they are talking about and they will tell you other places.

People are talking about ‘generated’ coupons, what are they talking about?
There are coupon sites out there that you pay a small fee for Staples coupons and they generate a coupon for you. Everyone has their own opinion on these coupons. Use at your own risk.

Does Staples accept manufacture coupons?
Officially from Staples HQ, YMMV. They say it is managers discretion.

Can I use a coupon on free after rewards purchases?
Yes, BUT you get the proportional cost back in rewards. I.e. You have $50 in Free After Rewards and use a $10 coupon, you will only receive $40 in Rewards.

Do gift cards also affect my rewards pay out?
No, you will get 100% of your rewards due because gift cards are essentially cash.

Can I use my rewards checks on free after rewards purchases?
Yes, but it is the same as coupons. If you ask a pro-Stapler though, you are a fool if you use your rewards check on something that is free after rewards.

Does using a coupon on a SER (Staples Easy Rebates i.e. 95% of the rebates from Staples) purchase affect my rebate?
No, you will get 100% of your rebate no matter what coupon you used. If it says the rebate is $4.99, you will still get $4.99 back in a rebate even if you used a coupon. So for example, buy a $20 item with a $20 rebate and use a $5 coupon. You will pay $15 but you will still get a $20 rebate.

Does using my rewards check affect my SER rebate?
No, you will still get 100% of your rebate, like the above situation.

Do gift cards also affect my SER rebate pay out?
No, you will get 100% of your rewards due because gift cards are essentially cash.

If I submitted a rebate previously for a given sku/product can I submit the rebate again?
Check the rebate center to find out if this is a new offer number for this sku/product and the expiration date of the offer. If the rebate offer number is a new offer number you can buy the product and submit the rebate again. If the offer number is not new but within the offer dates, you can buy the product and submit the rebate if you have not exceeded the purchase limit for the rebate.

How does Staples do their ink rewards
Ink comes to you as a Staples Rewards Check. You get $2 per a cartridge. 10 cartridges can be recycled by regular members per a month and 20 can be recycled by a premier member per a month. No minimum purchases necessary before you can get your reward.

How do you become a premier member?
You become a premier member by spending $1,000 (less coupons and rewards checks) at Staples in a calendar year.

$1,000!?!?! That's insane!
Not really, items with rebates count towards your $1,000. So say you buy a $20 item that has a $20 rebate, you will have $20 towards your premier status. However, use a $5 coupon on that $20 purchase, you will get your $20 rebate but only $15 will be counted towards your premier status.

How do I know how close I am to premier?
StaplesRewardsCenter.com has been updated and now has a nice tracker when you log into your account.

What are the benefits for premier?
20 ink cartridges a month, free shipping on everything at Staples.com, 5 months expiration date of rewards, and certain special premier only events.

When do you receive SERs (Staples Easy Rebate)?
Typically, 30 days after you submitted it.

OP, you failed to factor the stamp into the rebate.
Before you sit there and go through all the cost of transaction, learn a bit about Staples. SERs are EASY. You simply go online with your receipt and submit it. You can mail it if you want (and they give you a hell of a lot of paper to mail it) but that's insane!

If I buy multiple copies of a sku(product) with a rebate in a single transaction do I have to submit the rebate multiple times?
No, you only need to submit the rebate once. The rebate system knows from the transaction the quantity you purchased.

I am reading a lot about the Staples App, how do I....
Refer to the official Staples App Thread for all information pertaining to this.