Staples Pricematching Policy

[slackerx]

You guys might want to watch out when you start pricematching. I work for staples, and I fully support shafting them, but one thing is word is getting around in the staples world, e-mails and such, about the whole pricematch policy. If staples gives a MIR then they take that into consideration for the STAPLES price. may get less deducted. Plus coupons aren't SUPPOSED to be used in conjunction. I just thought I'd give you guys the heads up that they ARE realizing about the pricematching. OH yeah and last but not least they are starting to EXPHASIZE the whole CHARGE FOR NEXT DAY SHIPPING. If you have any questions I will try to answer and what I can't answer I will find a way to get an answer.

s|acker

 

[RandyE]

Placed an order for the Linksys 4-port router ($129.99 - SKU#430930) this morning (before I left for work), and sent off an email to price match with Outpost ($99.95 - SKU#66841). Came home to find they denied the price match saying "we are currently not honoring a price match on item 430930 as the competitor is not offering as many features on this product." Looks like the same item to me. I was in need of another router to replace this lousy SMC, so I used a $25 off $100 coupon instead.
$129.99
-$25 (coupon)
$104.99
+tax (NY 8.5%)= $113.91
-$30 rebate = $83.91
Though the site showed 1-day delivery, it became a 3-5 day item (as per CSR), with the SKU#IM1008611 (which doesn't show up when you search for it). Was hoping to do better with the price match (and overall price), but was in a rush this morning.

Randy

 

[zoiks]

bummer if this happens....though i do think that we've kind of abused staples policy...
sometimes i do feel bad for staples though....it may seem that we give them business but in fact we probably give them more loss than profit...

my own 2 pesos

 

[NetworkDad]

I don't feel bad at all for using the coupons that the continue to email to me for being a good customer - or for tacking on MIR's, PM's - Yea, a lot of anandtechers take full advantage of it, but Staples does a lot more business than just anandtech.

my 2 cents...

 

[Zwingle]

The loss of profit from us is no comparison to the profits they make from the 'normal' customers who shop their. We are just smarter or as I like to say "well informed" shoppers.

 

[lesch2k]

they started enforcing the no coupon with pm last time i was there, 40 PM or 40off200 but not both.

 

[slackerx]

exactly... they ARE catching on. I watched a guy get all pissed off yesterday when he wanted to pricematch a dig camera with an online store... was 130 cheaper then the manager said give me one second.. first off.. doesn't say retail box... two not in stock.. and 3 70 for next day shipping so the manager said we can't price match. They guy said something about that's not staples policy.. I've pricematched before at this store and never payed for shipping.(manager is newer and now KNOWS the policy) and she said "Well this is the UPDATED policy I can get it if you like" he then said "Fine I'll take my business elsewhere"

oh the joys of the always good PRICEMATCHING....

s|acker

 

[MrCodeDude]

And Staples jacks up the price on most of their products too, just their specials are remotely good deals. The only reason I shop at Staples is their amount of inventory and the ability to Price Match stuff from Best Buy, Fry's Electronics and Office Depot
-- mrcodedude

 

[slackerx]

<< The loss of profit from us is no comparison to the profits they make from the 'normal' customers who shop their. We are just smarter or as I like to say &quot;well informed&quot; shoppers. >>



umm to tell you the truth we don't make that much money off computer products.. usually about 10-15% markup... what we make money off of are the wooden pencils.. like 1cent to us 2 dollars to the customers...

s|acker

 

[HawkeyeNJ]

slackerx You might want to answer some questions or post the best way for PMing Staples.com and the B&amp;M in this thread ~~~~ How Do I? ~~~~ . I look forward to your post there. Also take a look @ the second post in that thread where I have quoted member Athena PMing @ .com which I feel is very good. But we lack a good post for the B&amp;M so if you can help out there.

Regards,
HawkeyeNJ

 

[Nucleus111]

Recently, I placed a second order the same night and they knew that I used the same coupon on the previous deal. I had to use a different coupon.

 

[NauTiKa128]

o man this is gonna b the &quot;talk&quot; of the week..

 

[zoiks]

i used to work in retail when i was going to school and i know the markups on hard drives and cameras wasnt really high at all...i bet staple aint makin a whole lot at all..
in fact if this keeps up...i dont think they would survive too long just like all the other online stores....

 

[slackerx]

<< i used to work in retail when i was going to school and i know the markups on hard drives and cameras wasnt really high at all...i bet staple aint makin a whole lot at all..
in fact if this keeps up...i dont think they would survive too long just like all the other online stores.... >>



Staples has Furniture and Office Supplies and other stuff. They make lots of money off that. Plus Government orders. No tax but they pay full price. But still I agree that they are losing a lot of money. But then again, I can only find out what the STORE has to pay for the products. I am thinking that the MAIN company gets it for less

s|acker

 

[AnimEva]

I can't believe it, staples flagged my account, be warned i think they are starting to flag people's accounts like crazy, go to hell staples

 

[slackerx]

The whole pricematch policy was for to guarantee lowest prices, then they said online stores are acceptable. Now you guys hammer em with PM and COUPONS. Did you honeslty think they would just sit around and take the hits? I don't always agree with staples, they send me my paycheck, but I mean if they flag your account and limit the PM you can do I am fine with that.

s|acker

 

[yodayoda]

slackerx, just a word of caution. i would recommend that you remove any distinguishing information about yourself from anandtech--no references to personal webpages, remove ICQ UINs, use forwarding email addresses like ****@mail.com and have it redirect to your personal email, and also remove your address location. it is well known the story of the guy who got fired from officemax for talking about deals at OM, and i would hate for that to happen to you (if you really do work for staples).

 

[Rally1]

They should take coupons and PM! Otherwise there is no reason for them to expect us to buy from them. Why bother PMing if you can just buy it from the other place!? If they stop accepting coupns and PM together, then none of us will shop there, simple.

 

[popinjay]

Staples way over prices its products. The 6ft USB cable, for instance, is $19.99 - that's some real conscience. My local video game store sells the same cable for only $6.59. I'm sure that Staples does make a crap load from busineeses that never have time to check for prices and purchase from Staples' &quot;luxury&quot; catalogue, in which everything's over priced to the extrem. So PMing and using coupon only protect us the customers.

 

[slackerx]

OK lets see. If you live 50 miles from a best buy and 15 miles from a staples why would ya drive the extra amount to pay the SAME amount. And also if staples will give you the product but the online store will take 1 week WHICH are you gonna choose?


s|acker

 

[slackerx]

<< So PMing and using coupon only protect us the customers. >>



OK so let me ask why should Staples give you extra money off... because you are coming there and not going to best buy. Most people are PMing from an online store. If you go INTO the store you get it THAT DAY. You don't have to wait.

s|acker

 

[Rally1]

<< OK lets see. If you live 50 miles from a best buy and 15 miles from a staples why would ya drive the extra amount to pay the SAME amount. And also if staples will give you the product but the online store will take 1 week WHICH are you gonna choose? >>



Umm i live 1 mile from staples and within 5 miles to every other store.... but thanks for asking!
I would not buy from staples if they did not allow PM and coupon, but since that is not their policy I have nothing to worry about.

Oh BTW wrong forum.

 

[nekote]

slackerx

You are a pretty valuable commodity around here.

An insider.

#1) *PROTECT YOURSELF* - be one helluva' annonymous son of a gun!
I don't think there is a sole here who wishes you ill.

#2) Keep up the good work! Inside poop is just #1!

Maybe, well I'm a high calibre dreamer, but just maybe it can all work out as a win - win and Staples gets to own the &quot;world&quot;!

Now, how do I make a million or billion bucks of this! !

 

[AnimEva]

same here, i would never buy from staples unless they had PM. although staples has free shipping, i get charged sales tax, in ny it is 8.25%, which to me is a lot. if i buy online i dont have to pay that fee. i also use my amex card for BVG, and amex does not give back sales tax nor shipping cost, but i usually shop in places that have free shipping and there are still places that have that.

By the way

STAPLES IS SUCK!!!

 

[krays]

Maybe you can help me out, Slackerx. My friend walked into a staples with a printout of an online store that was selling an item for less. Staples wouldn't pricematch it because the store was outside of a 50 mile radius. However, I see you mentioning that they do PM online stores. What is the official word on that? Should I be able to walk in with a URL to an online store with a cheaper and identical item? Is this something that can only be done over the phone?