Staples Buying Empty Cartridges

[Nifty]

Great reminder & info, thanks!!

 

[ghwellsjr]

I just discovered a bad experience. Last month, I purchased another Epson WP-4530 printer from Staples, using rewards and a coupon, along with a $38 ink cartridge to qualify for the rewards program for another six months. I also turned in ten cartridges at the same time (and another ten the next month). Since I hadn't yet received my rewards, I investigated and discovered that Staples pro-rates the coupons and rewards among all the purchased items instead of just on the printer which meant I only spent just over ten dollars on the ink which isn't enough to qualify for the ink-recycling rewards. If I had made the ink purchase on a separate transaction, there would have been no problem.

So my advice is, never buy your qualifying ink along with any other purchased items or coupons or rewards. You have to spend at least $30 of real money on ink or toner every 180 days to qualify. Also, don't take any salesman's word for what's going on--they don't know. You have to go online and see what it says there for your qualifying purchases.

Several of my friends who have also been recycling ink at Staples have told me they are not getting their rewards. So beware and don't just keep taking your cartridges in to Staples if you aren't getting your rewards.

 

[Nifty]

Wow, what a bummer and what a pain to have to manage all those variables. I understand them wanting to tighten down on the system so it isn't gamed, but it seems there are a few ways they could make it more straightforward.

 

[ghwellsjr]

My last two rewards were good for only one month after issuing as opposed to two months previously. That means if you are getting $20 per month, the highest priced item you can get for free is $40 instead of $60.

Just a reminder, you have to spend at least $30 (real money, not rewards) on ink or toner every 180 days to remain in the rewards program and Staples doesn't automatically inform you when your time is up so keep track or go to their website to check your purchases.

 

[turbguy]

Yeah. My last ink purchase was marked on the calendar at the end of the month, and I counted out 180 days into the future, then I continue with the program, squeezing in another month, skip 29 or 30 days, then buy ink, then cash in the carts bought on eBay for about 10 cents each. Eventually I will get a full set of CLI-42's.

 

[ghwellsjr]

Yeah. My last ink purchase was marked on the calendar at the end of the month, and I counted out 180 days into the future, then I continue with the program, squeezing in another month, skip 29 or 30 days, then buy ink, then cash in the carts bought on eBay for about 10 cents each. Eventually I will get a full set of CLI-42's.

Have you noticed that the rewards are only good for one month after you get them?

 

[turbguy]

Yes, I did last month.

 

[Nifty]

Wow, I'm glad I dumped most of my old carts before all these rules / requirements got so strict!

 

[turbguy]

It appears that you can get $40 to use at once if you turn in carts in the early part of a month and use the prior month's "rewards" at the end of the "second" month.