New Video: Back to School Shopping at Staples

Hip2Save may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you via trusted partners and affiliate links in this post. Prices and availability are accurate as of time posted. Read our full disclosure policy here.

As I sat on my comfy couch writing up all the office supply deals this weekend, I began to get really excited about all the awesome back to school deals that are available now and that will be available in the weeks to come! And so I decided that yesterday was the perfect day to head over to my local Staples store here in Boise, Idaho to see what sort of great offers and bargains I could snatch up. Check out my spontaneous and very unprofessional video below 😉 to find out whether my shopping trip was a success…
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN8eEiu0dg8]

Hip Tips for Back to School Shopping at Staples

* Check out Hip2Save.com for the weekly match-ups which are posted every Saturday evening. You can check out the current Staples deals here (and all of the other Back to School deals here.)

* Sign up to receive Staples emails (just scroll down on Staples.com and then click on the button like the one pictured above). This will ensure that you receive great coupons, special offers and more!

* Sign up for the FREE Staples Rewards Program (you can sign up in-store, online or by calling 1-800-333-3330). Staples Rewards members earn 10% back in Staples Rewards on all ink & toner purchases, 10% back in Staples Rewards on all case & ream paper purchases, and 10% back in Staples Rewards on all Copy & Print purchases. Plus, recycle any ink or toner cartridge (up to 10 per calendar month) and get $2 back in Staples Rewards per cartridge. Staples Rewards are issued monthly when the value of the Reward is at least $10 and can be used in-store, online or via phone.

* As soon as you arrive at the store, grab the weekly ad and browse through the pages to be sure that you don’t want to add any additional items to your shopping list.

* Note that many of the extreme deals (typically advertised on the first page of the ad) will be found in bins at the front of the store. Be sure that you note the limit of each offer (do not exceed the limit or you’ll end up paying full price for the item… not hip!).

* If you aren’t able to find an item, be sure to ask a store associate for help. If an item appears to be out of stock on the shelf, ask if any additional stock is available. Also, as you saw in my video above, at first glance, the 5 pack of Sharpie Markers appeared to be completely out of stock; however, I glanced way up at the top of the shelves and low and behold, I discovered 10 packages of these markers.

* When you are checking out, keep your eyes focused on the cash register to be sure that items are ringing up for the advertised price. It is very easy to accidentally grab the wrong item and end up paying full price if you’re not paying close attention.

* As soon as you get home, submit those Easy Rebates right away (note that you will need your receipts so keep them in a safe place)! All you have to do is head over here, scroll all the way down and click on the Rebate Center link under the Customer Service menu, follow the directions, and choose your reward type. Most times, you can choose between a check sent via mail or Paypal (sometimes Visa Gift Cards are an option as well). You do need to allow about 4-6 weeks for the check/Paypal payment to arrive.

OK, now that you have watched this video and read my Hip Tips above, what are you waiting for?! Head on over to your local office supply store and snatch up some amazing deals with confidence!

Join The Discussion

Comments 81

  1. Emily McEntire

    I went to my local Staples in southern Oregon on Sunday. I got two bottles of 1cent glue, two packs of 1 cent crayons, two reams of copy paper, the $1 pack of Sharpies, the 50 cent pack of kids scissors, and the 1 year virus software protection from McAffe. I used my $5 off a $30 purchase and after the coupon and rebates I made $2.45 by getting all of it! Such a great deal!!

    • Mo

      similar story in our house – I sat down just to double check our receipt when I got home, and I was like “I think… I got PAID a buck to get all this stuff?!” LOVE STAPLES!

  2. TAMI

    Theres a spend 30 get 5 off in the add this week. Does anyone know how this comes off receipt not sure if i sure use on items that have a easy rebate or not? Anyone know if I should not use. I was going to buy acouple of non rebate items. THANKS!

    • Emily McEntire

      You can use it on rebate items. I did.

  3. shannon

    I also plan to use the $5 off $30 coupon. I have some Staples rewards and that will further reduce my bill. Just remember you can’t use rewards on items that will in turn be Rewards.

    • Tarri

      I made that mistake once and glad for the friendly reminders.

  4. Marissa

    BEEN WAITING FOR THE VIDEO ALL DAY! yay it’s finally here!!!!

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      🙂

      • Kim

        Hey Collin,
        Can you remind everyone that these deals are also great to use for Operation Christmas Child boxes. School supplies are always on the list! Thanks for all you do!

  5. CT

    Staples has the the 12-pack Sharpies that are currently on sale at Office Max. They price-matched the $1! 🙂 The manager at my Staples said the deals are going to get even better as we get closer to the school year.

  6. Ashley57

    Cute video! Thanks Collin.

  7. Ashley

    I went to Staples today! I ended up getting 2 packs of paper, 2 caldenars, 2 of the small coil memo books, 4 packs of the BIC dry erase markers, 4 packs of the mechincal pencils, 2 boxes of crayons, 2 bottles of glue, 2 packs of BIC pens, 4 blacks and white comp bookds, and 2 packs of the Sharpies. It was $32 and change. Used my $5 off $30 coupon and my Teacher rewards that I had totaling $19.90. So I out of poket $7.19 and submitted for my rebates of the calendars and the paper already. I dont know if they will adjust down my rebate amount but either way I am happy! I have two boys in school and I am a teacher myself so this was a great deal for us!

    • Rae

      I don’t think they adjust down the rebates. I just don’t think you earn the Teacher rewards back on the amount you spent Teacher rewards on.

      • Tarri

        They have not done them to me in the past, I have gotten the full amount back

        • Ashley

          thats great to know. I hope so. If that is the case I will make money on the trip!!

          • Ashley

            I logged onto my east rebate account today and it states that I am getting the full amount of the rebartes so I did make money on the trip!!

  8. TAMI

    Thanks I knew you would know the answer!!

  9. Mo

    🙁 is okay to pout that they NEVER have stuff like that in the clearance bins at our store? LOL

    • Emilytwinmom

      Ha! Is it ok to pout that the staples store near my house is out of the sale items within an hour of them going on sale? I know a woman who is there at opening time with her friends (to send them in for her) and they will clear out stock of items within twenty minutes. I instead go to Office Max, where the deals aren’t usually quite as good but I know the items will still be in stock by Sunday at noon!!!

  10. Barb J

    thanks collin. i’m motivated now. after all back to school is the most wonderful time of the year. lol.

  11. squarejellybean

    I only have an Office Max here and they are always out of the 1 cent stuff, ugh. But thanks for the video, I need to go buy ink so I will use their spend $25 get $5 off coupon.

  12. Jen

    Thanks Collin! These deals really are worth it. If you don’t need the super cheap items, donate them to your local church or school! We teachers really appreciate it!

  13. Crystal

    Collin you may dread making the videos, but they are my favorite part of your web-site. I went to Staples yesterday and loved all the deals. Thanks!

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      Thanks so much! 🙂 I sure appreciate your comment!

      • Jodi

        I love your videos, too! You have the best personality of any blogger out there (IMO) and your enthusiasm is contagious!

  14. Azal

    i love love your purse, i have been looking for a similar one. do you mind sharing where you got it?
    thank you

    • Mary

      Hi Collin–I like your necklace too! Where did you get it? Thanks for the video 🙂

      • Aly

        And I like your earrings! hahahaha

        • Pamela

          And I want to know what is on your lips because they look amazing when you are in the car.

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      LOL… thanks, guys! 🙂 My purse I got as a gift from my dad. I think he purchased it from a boutique type store. My necklace I got as a gift from the hubs! 🙂 And the earrings I think I got from Forever 21… they were super inexpensive!

  15. Rae

    I have to stay away from the school supply stores… I go a little crazy because for some strange reason I am addicted to buying office supplies. Then I end up with a stockpile and nothing to do with it because my son is only 2. Last year I donated 90% of the extras I had on hand and gave them to the kids at church and I also gave them a bunch of snacks with their school supplies.
    On a side note I was thinking back to when I was little and my parents would buy our school supplies and i remember a 400 sheet pack of lined paper was .25 during the summer sale at Staples and the 200ct was only .10. I don’t think they even make packs that big anymore.

    • K

      Whew!!! I’m not the only one. Even though I have two school aged kids, I still tend to go overboard when it comes to buying office supplies.

  16. Nancy Goldstein

    Hi Collin,
    I have a question. If you do the easy rebate for printer paper one week can you do it again the next week. Thank you.

    • Mr Cheap

      Hello Nancy! Yes, if it’s a NEW rebate offer, you can do it again. Look at the rebate info onthe rebate form. Each EASY rebate is assigned a unique staples rebate number, for instance, 12-34567 valid 7/8 to 7/14/12. If the rebate OFFER number for the paper next week is 12-34568, YOU CAN DO IT AGAIN. Sometimes, easy rebate offers run for a 2 week or longer period, so sometimes you can’t repeat a rebate the following week. HOPE THIS HELPS!

      Mister Cheap

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      Thanks for answering! You are the best! 🙂

  17. Jean

    Great video! I’m inspired to head out to our Staples tomorrow even though I only have one preschool aged kiddo. Looks like fun.

  18. Brooke

    Great video! 🙂

  19. mel

    jealous.. no staples here 🙁

  20. mistrcheap

    ALL HIP 2 SAVE READERS! Please note, most Staples Stores are running a donation bin to collect school supplies for underpriviledged kids in your area. Typically, they donate the supplies to a local Big Brothers/Big Sisters chapter, or similar type organization. PLEASE! if you have no need for the 1c school supplies on an order, please purchase them anyway and donate them into this bin.

    Also any free after rebate items you may not have a true use for. …if they are running this worthy donation drive, typically, the cashiers will simply drop what you wish to donate in the bins for you so you don’t even have to dig thru your purchases to donate them. Just let them know as you check out which items you wish to donate. Most, if not all, Staples Stores across the USA should be running this donation bin. THANK YOU! MISTER CHEAP

  21. Amie

    My Staples is doing a recycling promo where you get a $2 credit (to be used that day) for every used binder you bring in. Plus, it’s an unlimited number of binders that you can bring in. The ad didn’t say how long the promo was running.

    • Trina

      Keep in mind the $2 can only be used towards the purchase of a new binder.

  22. alwaysashley03

    I love watching your videos and you have some seriously white pretty teeth! lol 😉

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      Awe… thanks! 🙂

  23. Sandeep

    This time of the year I always wait for the free Wenger Swiss Gear Backpack deal from Staples or Office Max!! Wish that comes soon:)

  24. Betsy

    Thanks Collin – I needed some extra motivation, and I’m almost out of printer paper. Also, I love your “unprofessional” videos best, and I second Ashley’s comment that you have beautiful teeth! 🙂

  25. Nancy G.

    Thanks Mr. Cheap!

  26. Ann Dee

    WAHOOOO! I am motivated! Thanks Collin! I am feeling your excitement! I wanna get some deals tah-night!!! And I love your pretty white teeth, too. 🙂

  27. Amanda

    Does anyone know what a good price is to pay for COMP BOOKS? I have seen them on sale for $0.50.. What price should I wait for? I need about 40 books?

    • Jodi

      That’s generally the lowest price I find on them.

    • Ashley

      I bought 4 at Staples yesterday! They were $.40 each! Thats about the best price I have seen. Its not in the ad but check them out in the store! I was trilled when I found them!!

  28. stacy

    You Rock Collin! Thanks for all your tips!

  29. Brandy

    Got LOTS of goodies today with my total being $13 out of pocket after rebate.

  30. Michelle

    I scanned the comments and didn’t see this, so if this comment is a repeat, please disregard. Please take note that when you have a staples reward certificate (either from ink recycling or a previous reward deal) and you use it for another offer that gets staples rewards, it will not issue the 2nd reward. I purchased batteries that were free after reward, a month or so later, I received the purchase price back as a reward certificate, and used it on a different free after reward deal, and never recieved a reward certificate for that purchase. But, you can use a reward to purchase an easy rebate deal and sumbit the reciept for that. HTH

    • Michelle

      Also, I can’t watch this video until I get home, so Collin might have addressed this in her video, too.

  31. Tarri

    Can you print out the office max coupon and use it?

    • Tarri

      nevermind, found one from an email, easier to print out and use

  32. G.S

    My husband went and got a bunch of the deals at Staples. He was really excited. He has really got on board with waiting for great sales to buy things. He even used the $5 off $30.00 coupon which is awesome because he gets annoyed with coupons. I’m so proud of him!

    PS-Collin I thought your video was great!

  33. Kathryn

    Question. The desk calendar that is free after rebate, the associate showed me where it was, it wasn’t labeled or anything but I trusted they were right and bought it. It rang up the correct price, but it didn’t print off the rebate slip. Come to find out when I actually looked it was a 2012 calendar and the rebate is a 2013 calendar. Anyways, I used a $5 off $30 coupon, but just want to return the calendar. Is that possible? I know I will get a discount price back, but will they return it since I used the coupon and without that item I wouldn’t have qualified to use the coupon?!?!?!? Sorry if that is super confusing.

    • mistrcheap

      Yes, you can return it. Using a coupon does not invalidate the ability to return it. In fact, you can exchange it for the CORRECT calendar and the rebate form WILL print out. They will do what is known as a “return and rebuy” on one receipt. So if the 2013 is the same price as the 2012, you’ll pay $0 (even exchange) but the rebate will print out and you can submit it. Mr Cheap

  34. Kathryn

    Oh I do have another quick tip for everyone. Download the Staples App to your smartphone, and check in within the app as soon as you get in the parking lot. When you check it, you will get a coupon valid for that day only. I don’t know if everyone gets the same coupon or if it is random, but when I went yesterday I did that and I got a coupon for 50% off all pencils, pens, markers and highlighters. Match that up with all the great sales on those items this week and I got a ton of items for very inexpensive with that coupon.

    • Ashley

      Thanks! I didnt know about the check in thing! I used the app to get my rewards yesterday! This is great!!

  35. Paul Ivanovsky

    Could you be any stinkin’ cuter? Only if you were one of my girls! 🙂

  36. Flufferbutter

    Has anybody returned their ink cartriges at Staples before? I want to because I am now a member but I’m not sure where I would bring them to (check-out counter, bin)? TIA!

    • sarah

      I have done it before. As soon as I walked in the cashier greeted me and took me right at her register. Scanned my rewards card, entered in the number of cartridges I was turning in, and a week after the calendar month ended I had a staples email with my ink rewards. (10 cartridges, so $20 in store credit. Super easy HTH!

      • Carol

        You do have to check them in with a clerk. I find the easiest thing is to do it as soon as you enter the store, then I don’t forget and I don’t carry them around while I’m shopping.

  37. Heather

    Love the video, Collin. I’m all done with my school supply shopping! I spent $66 for two kids, including new backpacks and lunch totes! The backpacks were from your Toys R’ Us deal post. Now, I can sit back and relax. I’ll also watch for great stock up deals for around-the-house supplies (with no pressure)! FYI, I got many of my supply deals at Wal-Mart. I found 10 cent glue sticks and 50 cent folders there. Good luck, everyone!

  38. Susan

    Thanks for all the tips!

  39. Kate

    I love your videos and your energy!! I seriously wasn’t planning on doing any back to school deals since we only have 2 kids that aren’t school age yet, didn’t really think I needed to get anything, but after watching your “motivational” video, I am TOTALLY heading to Staples tomorrow and digging that Staples ad out of my recycling pile. I can save the items, put them into my stockpile for when they are in school!! Thanks for the motivation Collin!! 🙂

    • Jodi

      So many items that go on sale are great for any household or home office, too! We all use pens, pencils, etc. and often need rulers, paper clips and such.

  40. Candice

    What brand are your sunglasses? Love them!

  41. morforless

    Has anyone else ever had a problem getting the rewards back? My sister and I both never got our rewards. When we called they dismissed us like they didn’t even care. I have a hard time trusting them!

    • Sue

      Yup. I NEVER trust a rebate thing. Too many problems, too much hassle, very very little reward if any.

    • Karin

      I’ve never had a problem with the rewards but I only do the staples easy rewards. they email me a copy of the rebate form I filled in on-line so I can track the progress. Sorry you are having problems 🙁 I love my Staples – they’ve always been good to me 🙂

      • Carol

        I have never had a problem with Staples rebates. I ended up with a whole ream of HP paper free a year or so ago. I made my daughter and son do them. It came up again the following week and we did it again. I’m probably set for a couple years yet. I really like that they send you a check and you don’t get store credit that has to be used by a deadline. I don’t shop at Walgreens anymore because of all the limitations on the register rewards. That’s one reason why I hesitate to shop at Office Max.

  42. Sue

    That NBC crew need to take it down a notch, the sound quality and lighting is just too good to pass for “Spontaneous”. Rrrr why are the comments here clean and moderated too, doesn’t anyone have a sense of humour these days! Dewds this is not a one man show a whole team of professional marketers is behind this “Blog”

    • Rita

      sue go have some chocolate..dont like it dont watch it

  43. Lisa

    Like the spontaneous videos more then the pre planned videos…just sayin! LOVE the deals! Thank you!

  44. Lisa

    I LOVE videos!! I do not care about the quality…this site is about saving money!! I wish for a video daily! Love Love!

  45. Chris

    Uggg, I’m currently out of the country visiting family and won’t be back till mid-August. I can’t believe I’m missing out on all of these great deals, they would help so much for a poor college student like myself. I always end up running out of paper and having to spend waaay too much on it, but I will try those Easy Rebates now!

    Your video made me motivated to check out staples as soon as I get back, so thank you Collin!

  46. melissa

    i went to staples today and found awesome deals. I spent $43 oop and will be getting back $41 in easy rebates. That is awesome. I will defiently be shopping at staples more often because of the awesome deals. thanks for posting

  47. Shauna

    My Staples was out of several of the items in their ads. They ordered them for me right there in the store and offered free shipping to my home! AND I was able to pay for everything all in one transaction so I qualified to use the Save $5 With $30 Purchase coupon. Excellent customer service!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

It's not your Grandma's coupon site!

Sign up for a Hip2Save account (it's free) to access all of the awesome features!

Forgot Password?

Don't have an account? Register

Forgot Password

Don't have an account? Register

Become a Hip2Save Insider

Don't Miss Out! Join our large community of insiders - it's totally free! Once you join, you'll be able to save & share your favorite deals, rate posts and recipes and add items to your HipList and Cookbook! What are ya waiting for?!



Already have an account? Login

Thank you for rating!

Would you also like to leave us a comment?