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What is the best Ink Cartridge recycle program?

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Hi,
I used to recycle ink cartridge for reward in Staples several years ago. Since then I know that ink recycle programs have changed a lot. Do you know where do I get the best deal on recycling ink cartridges now? I don't buy genuine ink cartridges.
Thanks.
Created 05-05-2013 at 09:36 PM by airbender
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Joined Mar 2006
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 656 Posts
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frankk513
05-06-2013 at 06:30 AM.
05-06-2013 at 06:30 AM.
Staples is $2 per cartridge, up to 10 per month (or 20 if you are Premier), but you
have to buy $30 in ink within the previous 180 days before you recycle. So spend
$60 in a year to get $240 in credit. Rewards are issued about the middle of every
month after you recycle.

Office Depot is $2 per cartridge, up to 10 per month, but you have to purchase
at least the same amount in product as you want to get back. i.e. to get the full $60
per quarter, you had to have bought at least $60 of stuff in that quarter (free-after-rebate purchases count). Rewards issued 4 times per year.

Don't know about Office Max. Also, Office Max and Office Depot are merging
later in the year, so one or both programs may change.
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Joined Mar 2010
L1000: Wizard of Cheap
> bubble2 6,459 Posts
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spydersdeals69
05-06-2013 at 08:46 PM.
05-06-2013 at 08:46 PM.
Cheap ink on eBay. 20 cents per is average. OfficeMax is by far the best program since they're the only ones that will let you roll rewards over and over and over again. Like OD, you have to buy $X to get $X in rewards, but with 100% back items coming up often, it's not even close.
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Joined Feb 2009
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 467 Posts
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doctorman
07-07-2013 at 02:42 PM.
07-07-2013 at 02:42 PM.
Re Staples Premier: if I buy 1000$ worth of items:

1) Would I become Premier right away or have to wait a month or so? Can I buy 1000$ and deposit 20 cartridges right after shopping?

2) If I end up returning some of the items, will I lose the Premier? does it matter if returned before 30 days or after?

3) Staples reward expire in 6 months?
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Joined Dec 2008
Permanently Banned
> bubble2 7,935 Posts
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daniel32
07-07-2013 at 03:04 PM.
07-07-2013 at 03:04 PM.
Quote from doctorman :
Re Staples Premier: if I buy 1000$ worth of items:

1) Would I become Premier right away or have to wait a month or so? Can I buy 1000$ and deposit 20 cartridges right after shopping?

2) If I end up returning some of the items, will I lose the Premier? does it matter if returned before 30 days or after?

3) Staples reward expire in 6 months?
1) it will take 3-4 weeks. You need to wait until then to recycle. staplesrewards.com should show you are premier.

2) yes you will lose it

3) yes for premier members.
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Joined May 2008
L3: Novice
> bubble2 154 Posts
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stinastina
09-17-2013 at 10:08 AM.
09-17-2013 at 10:08 AM.
I always buy my ink on Amazon and it costs less than $10 for 4 cartridges which last me 1-2 months. I don't do much recycling and have no need to buy ink from Staples. Which program would be best for me - OD or OM ?
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Joined Aug 2003
Bloop!
> bubble2 773 Posts
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Four1Fool
01-14-2014 at 11:03 AM.
01-14-2014 at 11:03 AM.
Realize this is an old thread, but looking for a place for rewards/returns on laser toner cartridges. $2 doesn't really go far when we're beyond personal consumer ink cartridge level, and you step into the business or professional arena. Anyone know a good place to get rewards or returns on larger laser toner and copier toner?
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Joined Apr 2006
Hi
> bubble2 3,212 Posts
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platinumtlc
04-01-2014 at 08:57 AM.
04-01-2014 at 08:57 AM.
So are the above options the only places for recycling return for credit? I have 3 genuine HP ink cartridges as well as a toner cartridge that I would like to return someone for some kind of credit, hopefully without having to spend XX$ somewhere before I get credit.
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Joined Jan 2013
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> bubble2 80 Posts
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theliontamer72
04-01-2014 at 12:17 PM.
04-01-2014 at 12:17 PM.
If you are using a HP cartridge, just pick up an ink refill kit from amazon for about 15 bucks and refill your own ink. I use a kit for my HP 564 cartridges and have printed through several cases (not just reams) of paper and still am only about halfway through the ink supply.
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Joined Dec 2005
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 14,408 Posts
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ScottoDono
10-19-2014 at 07:52 AM.
10-19-2014 at 07:52 AM.
It seems that Staples, Officemax/Officedepot (not the same) , all suck. I have a crapload of cartridges, some remanufactured, some oem, I do not want to throw them out but unless I have something to buy at OM/OD first, it makes no sense to return them. because as mentioned they must be less than you spend in that given month. Are there any other places that will give the $2 a pop with less restrictions?
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Joined May 2015
New User
> bubble2 1 Posts
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MelvinK9000
05-19-2015 at 05:31 PM.
05-19-2015 at 05:31 PM.
more questions than answers. Sure I refill my own. It sometimes works but can be very messy and fail. Sure I can buy 2-3 cartridges online for 10 dollars or less. But where are the incentives to trade in my 2 dozen HP cartidges for cash or something I really want at a good price, and no restrictions or stupid 3 month waiting periods. Remember when Staples actually gave you 15 dollars per cartridge and it had to be an off-brand?
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Joined Mar 2006
love free stuff
> bubble2 1,602 Posts
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jill1616
05-19-2015 at 06:32 PM.
05-19-2015 at 06:32 PM.
I think the answer is to pick one system and go with it. I order ink 2-4 times a year. I picked staples because long ago I was in KC more often and could drop off the cartridges. You have 60 days to use your rewards and if you sign up for the emails you often get a % or $ amount off ink. They take competitor's coupons in the store (at least I've never had trouble).
I buy supplies there I can't get elsewhere, always go thru urlhasbeenblocked or whatever site I can get the best return from. I keep all my receipts, have gotten several printers over the last 10 years, and when one has died they have always taken back the unopened ink with the receipt even if it's been 6 months. Then I use that credit for the printer and new ink for it.
I plan my purchases that I can drop off lots of ink cartridges for 2 months and get my rewards to pay toward the order. I really don't spend much money on my ink from there when it all goes around.
Hope this wasn't too confusing! If so, ask questions and I'll try to answer.
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Joined Dec 2005
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 14,408 Posts
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ScottoDono
09-10-2018 at 05:45 PM.
09-10-2018 at 05:45 PM.
What is the current BB recycling deal with ink? Is it suppose to be $2 a cartridge? I brought in 18 cartridges, granted some of them were no name but he didnt give me anything for it, no coupon or anything. Some were brother, some were generic, 1 was HP., though he rang them all as nonHP
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