Remember when Staples was my new BFF?
It's been a great relationship.
I would like to say we even went beyond being BFFs this year and gotten as close as an office supply store and an elementary teacher can get.
When I needed 25 notebooks, Staples was there for me.
When I needed four new staplers because my friends pounded our old ones into oblivion, Staples was there for me.
When the power went out, my Promethean board died, and I had to kick it old school with chart paper and Mr. Sketch markers? Staples was there for me.
So, I have to ask my BFF Staples. . .
Why have you forsaken me?
It was with a heavy heart that I opened my email to find a Dear John letter from my former BFF. It seems that they have changed their Teacher Rewards program. It used to be that when they had Extreme Deals during July and August for the back to school season, you could buy an additional 25 of any extreme deal product at the same price. In fact, last July I did an entire post about this deal. I got index cards, highlighters, and pencils for just ten cents each!
Remember these reading response notebooks?
So, what is the new program? It seems you can buy the limited quantities of the Extreme Deal, which is usually about two, at the super inexpensive price. Now, any extras you buy will be the regular price. I KNOW!!!! Here's how they think they are being a good guy, they will give you the full price of the other purchases on your teacher rewards to be used later. Ahhhh, thanks Staples but really? Not much of a perk!
Here's the email I received:
| For questions, call the Staples Rewards® contact center at 1-800-793-3320. Email us > Find a store near you Request a catalog >
|
*Get 100% back in Staples Rewards when you buy any Extreme Deals during Back to School (July/August) 2012. Valid for Teacher Rewards members only. In store only. While supplies last. Maximum quantity eligible for Rewards is 25 including items purchased as part of the Extreme Deal. Items purchased over Extreme Deal limit will be charged at reg. retail price. Price eligible for Rewards is the amount paid at checkout after application of all promotions, coupons, instant savings, and Rewards redemptions. Purchaser is responsible for paying applicable sales tax. No cash/credit back. Limit one Staples Rewards account per person or at any mailing address. Staples Rewards are issued online monthly when the value of the Reward is at least $10. Rewards expire no less than 60 days after issuance. Monthly balances of less than $10 will roll over each month until the minimum is met for that calendar quarter. If the $10 minimum for the quarter has not been met, the balance will expire at the end of the quarter. For full program details, visit staplesrewards.com.
This email is intended to communicate important program information to Rewards members. The receipt of this email will not change your promotional email preferences. Make sure this email doesn't end up in your junk folder. Add staples@e.staples.com to your address book. Update your email preferences here.Privacy Policy. Staples Contract & Commercial, Inc., 500 Staples Drive, Framingham, MA 01702. |
- I don't get paid in the summer! Being able to buy these items at extreme deal prices makes it affordable for me. It's not so helpful to get the money back in rewards after school starts.
- Being able to make sure my friends have what they need to learn allows them to LEARN! Learning is the priority, not worrying that they don't have pencils or notebooks.
I honestly used to think of Staples as a teacher friendly store, and it really did make me loyal to their company all throughout the year. However, no more. I simply don't have the funds to purchase 25 notebooks at regular price for my friends. I can't afford to buy the extra supplies that I don't want to burden parents with. And, if they aren't going to be so teacher friendly, I don't feel the need to be either when buying printer ink, paper, folders, and the multitude of other supplies I purchase at regular prices for school and home all year long.
It's time to end the love affair.
Staples and I are no longer BFFs.
As with any traumatic break-up, I'm off to drown my sorrows in pint of Hagen Daz now.
What's your take on this?
target can be your new bff!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Target rocks!
DeleteEmilyK
Target has started to put limits on its supplies, too. :o(
DeleteCan you say multiple transactions?
DeleteAs a California teacher who has had numerous pay cuts, I have decided to not purchase ANYTHING out of my own pocket this year. If my school can't provide it, then we won't have it. Now that you've shared this, I'm even happier to have decided this. Shame on Staples!
DeleteI agree with you-- I look forward to those summer deals, and even WITH the discounts I spend tons of money at Staples over the summer. I'm upset about this, but I'm still holding out hope!
ReplyDelete❤Teri
A Cupcake for the Teacher
I agree with you as well. I used to work there and back to school season was the busiest part of the year (even busier than Christmas) so I'm not sure why they are doing this. I think it is going to scare many customers away (even though they "think" they are being nice). I will probably do more of my back to school shopping at Target now! Sorry Staples...
ReplyDeleteSara :)
Smiling In Second Grade
You should email this blog post to staples. You gave great reasons as to why we need those deals.
ReplyDeleteMs. Kerri and her Krazy Kindergarten
Does Target offer rewards for teachers?
ReplyDeleteNope.
DeleteI agree!!! We need to start a petition of some sort because this will make next year difficult for me!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think as teachers we should start an email campaign directed at Staples. If I remember correctly, last year you had to buy $5 or more in order to get the ridiculously cheap price. Now this year they are taking away the additional 25 amount for teachers. I will DEFINITELY voice my opinion by sending an email. If we stand up to Staples like people did to the banks when they wanted to raise their fees, maybe they will listen. (At least I hope they will, because there are a lot of students out there who rely on teachers like us to supply them with materials in order to make their learning successful!)
ReplyDeleteI agree!
ReplyDeleteIn the end, it is money they are NOT making when we choose NOT to purchase there!
This infuriated me last year--I couldn't even get the extras you described.
Pay cuts, crowded classrooms, too much on our plate, and THIS is how they support teachers.
That is the least "Teacher Friendly" thing I have seen...
Maybe they will think twice when all of those items are still on their shelves, and all the shelves at Target are empty!
They just lost me as a customer.
Kim
Finding JOY in 6th Grade
I had to stop buying at Staples a few years back when they put limits on the number of supplies I could buy at the cheaper rate. For two years I brought in my daughters and a couple of friends and we each made my purchases separately. That seemed to be ridiculous because the items were still all going to one place, so why would Staples care who did the actual purchasing?! Oh well. They lost a customer. I go to Walmart and Target now, all by myself!
ReplyDeleteThis is heart-breaking. I have spent lots of my own money at Staples in my years of teaching. Now it seems I'll be shopping at several other stores, which is much less convenient, just to be able to purchase supplies my kids need.
ReplyDeleteI will be buying my other needed supplies from those stores, as well. Hello, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS.
I teach in a Title 1, an inner-city school system. I purchase most of the school supplies for my entire class at Staples. What are they doing and why????
ReplyDeleteSame here. I was so upset to learn this. I guess my speech to my poor parents will be not supplying anything this year so find the money yourself. So upset!
DeleteTarget and Walmart have terrific deals in the summer! I hardly ever go to Staples anymore, now I probably won't go because of this!
ReplyDeleteJust another sign of how teachers are losing respect. So sad. I am an inner city teacher and we have no budget for anything so if we are to have anything in our room, I have to buy it. And I'm happy to spend my money so my little friends can be successful. I won't be spending that money at Staples. If you're on twitter, you should tweet @staples about this. I tweet a lot about good and bad experiences at places of business and always get a response. If teachers stick together we can make them reconsider!
ReplyDeleteShameless self promotion alert! I just started a kindergarten blog from a male perspective. Hope you'll check it out!
Kindergartensmorgasboard@blogspot.com
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ReplyDeleteI'm posting a comment on Staples' FB page. I'm posting a link to this post, if you want me to remove it, let me know. I have been getting their FB updates and emails waiting for their penny sales. Done with that now. :( Target/Walmart here I come!!!! :):):)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, they don't HAVE to do anything as far as giving teachers extended limits to sale items. You should appreciate that they're at least letting you get the full amount back in rewards. Secondly, the reason they're doing it is because a lot of people abused the deals, they would come in multiple times a day or go back and forth to different stores, which hurts other teachers because when they go to get their supplies, there's not enough left. You're still getting the deal, you just have to pay up front for it. I think it's fair so people don't abuse the system anymore. I do understand that it's harder to have to come up with all the money at once though, but because of a few people abusing the sales, it ruined it for all the other teachers and that sucks.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100% And I am a teacher
DeleteI agree 100%, too, and I'm also a teacher in an inner-city school. If you're so upset about not having the supplies you need, you should be petitioning your STATE GOVERNMENT to give you more money for schools, not wasting your time petitioning a corporate business like Staples. Your efforts are misguided.
DeleteI wish Staples could first get a teacher's school ID before issuing a Teacher's rewards card, second, link the purchases to the card to allow only the 25 items per teacher. That would eliminate the abuse. I am still very disappointed.
DeleteSelfish people are selfish.
ReplyDelete(For all the above, of course)
DeleteAnon, I respect your opinion and you have every right to voice it. As I noted in my post, I completely understand Staples is a business and needs to make a profit. I never stated that I felt they HAD to do anything for teachers. Obviously, they don't. I just feel that this new program does not truly help teachers in a meaningful way. Also,if the issue was a problem of abuse, since we use a rewards card why can't they just track its use and prevent multiple purchases through that? Finally, why not just give a reason for the change in policy?
DeleteI think we will have to agree to disagree on this one. However, thanks for reading the blog and expressing your opinion.
I just received the same e-mail from Staples and I was so disappointed. I hate to sulk but I am a fairly new teacher (3 years) with a new house and baby. The students that come into my classroom rarely have the supplies they need to learn each day and I am always spending my personal money to help support them. I don't mind chipping in but knowing that Staples always had reasonable deals made it so much easier for me to get the supplies that students needed. It was hard enough to pay for the amount I needed after the reasonable 25 that Staples issued. I have had as many as 33 students in my class. I don't really see how paying for all of these up front will be helpful, as it would issue more money in rewards than I would normally spend in Staples to begin with. Hopefully there will be changes with the program this summer or other stores will offer great deals!! Thanks to those who have posted about Target and WalMart, as I will certainly be checking those out!
ReplyDeleteI had the exact same reaction when I read the email. In the email there was an "email us" link. I have already responded to them, using many of the same points that you've made above. I hope that if enough of us teachers reply to them we may see a policy change.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't mind (since you are more eloquent than I), I'd love to reply to them again using some quotes from above. Would that be okay?
My love affair with Staples ended a few years ago. First, their limit of 25 didn't work for me, as I have 33-36 students each year. Then they limited the extras teachers were allowed to get. I buy 5 folders and five notebooks for each of my students - it just doesn't work for me to go to Staples. I appreciate that Staples may be trying to spread the discount, but teachers are spending hundreds of dollars out of their pocket - if they are going to sell a limited amount of discounted supplies, why not let the teachers buy them up?
ReplyDeleteIt just became so much easier to make one stop at Target or Walmart - unfortunately, I've seen Target put limits on their products lately, too. Also, the clerks hassle me (even when signs haven't been posted about limits, I've been given a hard time!) They act put out to count the items. (36 of everything, please!)
One employee told me that they have a problem with swap meet venders buying up their stock and reselling it - but I am more than willing to show my id or paycheck stub to prove I am a teacher.
The past two years I've personally had my best luck with Walmart. I can get everything I need with usually a pleasant attitude and no hassle. It is heartbreaking that as a teacher I am spending my own money to try to help my students have the supplies they need to have a successful year and then I am literally hassled by the employees, no matter how politely I explain my predicament!
Girl WE are new BFF's. Read my last post!
ReplyDeleteI think what I find most upsetting is that we go out and spend our own money on our students. It has almost become and expected thing for us to do. In our county we have a surplus store at one of our schools. A business that has extra office supplies will send it there and then teachers bring in canned goods for the local food bank to enter and pick out things to use in their classrooms. The majority of the time I don't mind at all spending my own money on my students, but when parents have money to do the purchasing but expect me to do so instead.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true.
DeleteI buy notebooks at Wal-Mart every summer when they're on sale for 15 cents. I usually buy a case or two of them since I teach middle school and teach two subjects. One summer a man asked why I was buying so many notebooks and upon hearing my answer, responded "Are you my son's teacher? Buy more! More!!"
I was so insulted because really, parents should not expect the teacher to supply their child with notebooks, pens, pencils, markers, etc, especially when we are covering the costs of those supplies ourselves.
I do continue to purchase supplies for my classroom and I now charge students 50 cents per notebook that they buy from me. They don't have to buy from me, but many students do because my prices are cheaper than non-back to school sale prices, and I put the money right back into my classroom (more supplies, rewards, etc).
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ReplyDeleteI had not heard about this new rule at Staples! I have loved the Staples in my town because they have always been good about not limiting me at all as a teacher. I remember buying about 25 packs of index cards for a quarter each or less! They have always been so much better than Office Depot. Office Depot wouldn't even let my friend ( who is not a teacher) go in another line and purchase more folders for me so I could get all the same color for my students.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that some teachers take advantage of the deals and ruin it for those of us that are just trying to buy supplies for our students and classroom. I think there has to be a way to still help out the teachers by tracking as someone above mentioned. I plan to tweet or email Staples as well! Thanks for letting me know about this before I shop this summer.
Between Target and Walmart I have been able to get what I need for school. I stock up on notebooks when they are $0.15 each because I give each child three a year.
ReplyDeleteBE ASSURED, WHEN TEACHERS START ABUSING WALMART AND TARGET, THEY TOO WILL HAVE TO PUT LIMITS. I HAVE SEEN TEACHERS GO BACK IN LINES SEVERAL TIMES TO GET 50/60 OR MORE 1 PENNY ITEMS AND COMPLAIN WHEN STOPPED OR BUY NOTHING ELSE. MULTIPLY THAT BY HUNDREDS AND IT CANNOT CONTINUE.
DeleteChange.org app on Facebook has a petition to sign if you're against Staples new rules. Check it out: https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/keep-2011-s-extended-limits-on-extreme-deals-teacher-policy-do-not-change-to-2012-policy-for-staples-rewards-check?utm_campaign=share_button_mobile&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition
ReplyDeleteI think the worst thing about getting "100 percent back in Staples Rewards" is that I believe it has an expiration date and by the time we get it, there aren't any deals to spend it on!
Do you really think they make any money on the rewards check you would redeem? Ever try to deposit one of those into the bank? It is a coupon, they are GIVING you that product as well. It is a couponed sale PEOPLE.
DeleteTHis is a sorry situation. As many of have said I work in a title 1 inner city school. My children come to school with nothing. Staples was ALWAYS my saving grace. We wrote thank you notes to them as a class every year. I blogged about how wonderful they were and sent all my friends and family in their direction. As the author said, you have my loyalty no more. However, I REFUSE to give my money to Walmart and the Walton foundation. Remember, their foundation is one of the driving forces of the school "deform" movement. The same people who want to make teachers cheap labor instead of skilled professionals. The same people who want to take away teacher benefits and retirement. So as you spend your money at Walmart, realized you are funding your own demise. There is always Target, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aide, Office Max and your local super markets.
ReplyDeleteCheck out the staples facebook page. There are teachers from all over the United States just now finding out about the new policy. I believe many or most of them will be boycotting Staples. I agree with everything written on your blog as well. I think we can make a difference!
ReplyDeleteTHE BEST WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS TO STOP ABUSING A GOOD THING. WHEN YOU ARE GIVEN A DEAL, SAY THANK YOU, DON,T TRY TO MILK IT. JUST THINK, ONE TEACHER ABUSING A DEAL TIMES 500+ PER STORE, TIMES OVER 2000 STORES. IT ADDS UP!
DeleteYes, I agree. I am truly hurt by this loss. The discounts that Staples once offered made going back to school and teaching exciting. Like many of you, I stocked up on folders, notebooks, pencils, etc. I used them for my small groups. I could give each student a folder, notebook, etc. to help keep them organized. I will just have to shop around to some other places. I must admit that I am not shocked. Somehow I knew they would stop it. Sure they are still offering discounts but INSTANT is better!! Don’t worry, I am sure that Wal-Marts will take up the slack. Perhaps we can ask our favorite Big Box store to consider giving teacher's a discount.
ReplyDeleteYes, I just left Staples and I was really disappointed (more like really pissed off) I depended on Staples to start off my classroom year. I just left my cart and walked out of the store. Office Max here I come.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! We do not have a staples within 100 miles of where I teach, so at the end of summer I drive four hours to spend the last weeks of summer with my parents to get the extra deals. I was completely bummed when I went to Staples yesterday and was not able to buy the extra 25. I teach in a low socioeconomic school. I am lucky if my students bring a pencil to school. I will have to try other stores. Office Max will let you double their limits and do multiple transactions!
ReplyDeleteI went today, not having heard any of this. Staple did let me buy the 20 items, 2 were at a penny, the other 18 were at full price which will be "refunded" on a staples certificate (in three months although they are trying to do this sooner). My purchase of 20 glues, 20 pens packs, and 20 crayons was $65. I can't afford to do this weekly to get supplies for my school and students. Plus, by the time I can print the certificate off, my classroom will be stocked until I need printer ink later in the year. I will also be looking at other options.
ReplyDeleteI also got the email and was disappointed. Staples was my favorite back to school stop. I wonder if they could offer a rebate like they do for other items instead of rewards?!?! I wouldn't mind paying up front if I knew I would get the money back to use as I wanted. Having rewards isn't going to help. I don't need Staples 3 months from now.
ReplyDeleteI found out the hard way that Staples will no longer allow teachers to purchase 25 items at the 1 cent prices. I almost left the store in tears. A cashier noticed how upset I was and gave me the customer service number for the office of the president. So, here it is:
ReplyDelete1 (800) 338-0252. Please call and voice your opinion. I was told that he listens to every message/call he receives. Also, there is an online petition you can sign:
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/keep-2011-s-extended-limits-on-extreme-deals-teacher-policy-do-not-change-to-2012-policy-for-staples-rewards-check
I believe that Office Max lets teachers get extra supplies at the low price.
ReplyDeleteI'm very aware of the extreme deals at Staples. They have great service and people that work there which keeps me coming back. My children never have received anything free from any teacher in the years the have been in school, if anything, we (me and my spouse) have donated things for the classroom. Where are these extreme deal items that the teachers have purchased in the past!?! My children were never given anything! And also, teachers send their classroom lists home for the parents to buy...where is my "break" as a parent. If you can't handle the things that come along with teaching then quit! If you don't have the supplies you need, complain to your govenor or move! I think the Teachers Rewards Program should be changed...teachers should have to present a certified evaluation that you are a capable teacher and, only then, your eligable for a "break"! If you folks have paid attention to our economy, you would know it's not good. Staples is a business and they are here to make money. Giving away "stuff" is not good business and especially when people abuse the system (and they do). Remember, Staples employs over 50,000 folks, let's keep them employed!
ReplyDeleteClearly, as is often the case, you have no idea what teachers do. To complain about the petty things you do above is why so many good teachers don't even want to teach anymore: lack of support from parents. Shame on you.
DeleteHi Anon. I think it is safe to say you disagree with my thoughts on the new Staples program! :-) If you refer to my post, you will see I state that I do understand that Staples is a business and needs to make money. I simply don't agree with how they chose to end this program as it was. I have no doubt that people (yes, teachers!) abused the program, but I think there must have been a better way to handle it than by revising the program in such a manner that it really isn't all that teacher friendly anymore. Just my opinion.
DeleteI can also tell you that I honestly don't know a single teacher that hasn't purchased items out of their own pocket for their classroom and/or their students. We are all too aware of the current economic conditions! In fact, in my post I lament the change in Staples policy in part because it no longer allows me to purchase items and help ease the burden on my parents. It doesn't mean I still don't send home a supply list. I do! You would not believe the amount of supplies and materials needed for each child over the course of the year! If you were to ask my students if they ever got anything from their teacher, they would probably say no. This is because I don't make a point of telling them that I purchased certain supplies or materials. They would have no idea what was provided by the district and what was supplied by me. For the most part, neither would their parents. It's not about getting credit for buying supplies on my own, it's about my students having what they need to be successful. I would truly be shocked if your children had never been given or used materials purchased by their teachers.
Thanks for reading the blog post and taking the time to comment. I do appreciate your comments, even if we have to just agree to disagree on this one!
I spend very little of my own money at Staples... the community is pretty good about giving me their empty ink cartridges which I return to Staples and then use the Rewards to buy supplies. Since most people only have one or two ink cartridges at a time, they're happy to have me return them for the credit knowing I'll spend it for my classroom. Just a thought to stretch those dollars a little farther and keep a little more trash from the landfills.
ReplyDeleteOffice Max extends limits to 20 for teachers, but their deals are rarely as good.
ReplyDeleteOffice Max extends limits to 20 for teachers, but their deals are rarely as good.
ReplyDeleteIT IS VERY SAD TO SEE HOW QUICKLY TEACHERS WILL TURN THEIR BACKS COMPLETELY ON A COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN ON THEIR SIDE FOR YEARS. STAPLES HAS GIVEN MILLIONS TO THE TEACHING FIELD. DUE TO EXTREME ABUSE, IT COULD NOT CONTINUE IN THIS DIFFICULT ECONOMY. WAS THIS THE BEST WAY, PROBABLY NOT. WILL IT COME UP WITH A NEW PROGRAM NEXT YEAR BERY POSSIBLE. A NEW PROGRAM HAS ITS OWN COSTS. IT COULD NOT ALLOW THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS TO BUY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ITEMS FOR 1 PENNY AND BUY NOTHING ELSE, NOT NOW. I GUARANTEE THAT THE STORES THAT DO IT THIS YEAR WILL LEARN NOT TO DO IT NEXT YEAR.
ReplyDeletePLEASE DON'T SHOUT! It is impolite to write in capital letters.
ReplyDeleteJust saw this and wanted to let y'all know, from what I am hearing, Staples is trying this out to curb people from abusing the system. They are just trying different things out, in any case they probably won't do this again, depending on sells. I should know my manger told me.
ReplyDelete