Staples vs Office Depot: Which Is Better Store? [2024]

Staples vs Office Depot: Both Staples and Office Depot are popular and well-liked retailers of office supplies. They provide a massive selection of products, from school supplies to business equipment.

Although they are very similar, there is some difference that you need to keep in mind while shopping. Which one should you choose for your office supply needs?

Here, we compare them and help you to decide which one you should choose and why. To help you decide, we have reviewed several factors, including price, products and services, payment methods, shipping charges, and more.

Overview: Staples vs Office Depot

Staples

Famous American office supplies retailer Staples was founded in 1985 by Sycamore Partners. It is an office supply retailer that offers a range of office products. Staples' business strategy involves retail channels and delivery services focusing on business-to-business transactions.

You may get various office supplies from Staples at a competitive price compared to other businesses, including business necessities, printers, ink, laptops, office furniture, and more. Staples has 2,000 retail locations worldwide and a robust online presence.

Office Depot

Office Depot is a holding company for American office supplies founded in October 1986 by F. Patrick Sher. The headquarters of this business is in Boca Raton, Florida. You can find affordable office furniture, supplies, technology, print services, and more at Office Depot.

Office Depot is a top supplier of office supplies and services for large, small, and corporate businesses. More than 1,300 locations of this business exist in the USA. Office Depot employs over 38,000 people and generates almost $11 billion in annual sales.

Differences & Similarities: Staples vs Office Depot

Differences

The key distinction between Staples and Office Depot is that Staples generates more income and charges more than Office Depot.

Daily necessities cost substantially less at Office Depot than at Staples. Moreover, Staples provides fewer promotions than Office Depot.

The assortment of goods is another significant distinction. More office supplies are available at Staples than at Office Depot or any other supplier nationwide.

In addition, Staples has a more robust and efficient supply chain than Office Depot. Office Depot's market share is lower than that of Staples.

Similarities

Office Depot and Staples are market leaders in the US for office supplies.

Compared to Office Max and Walmart, Office Depot and Staples provide a wider range of products.

Discounts are available at Office Depot and Staples for similar products.

There are tens of thousands of Office Depot and Staples outlets nationwide.

Products & Services

Staples Products and Services:

Printing & Marketing Services:

Document Printing: Copies, Presentations & Manuals, Blueprints, Booklets
Business Cards: Traditional Business Cards, Executive Business Cards, Loyalty Cards
Signs, Banners & Posters: Posters, Indoor & Outdoor Banners, Yard Signs, A-Frame Signs, Window Decals
Marketing Materials: Postcards, Flyers, Brochures, Advertising Labels, Presentation Folders,
Envelopes & Stationery: Custom Stamps, Custom Labels, Custom Envelopes, Letterhead
Same-Day Services: Documents, Posters, Business Cards, Indoor Banners, Cards & Invitations, Postcards, Pre-Inked Stamps
Cards & Invitations: Graduation Cards, Wedding Stationery, Thank You Cards, Memorial Cards, Invitations
Photo Gifts: Canvas Wall Art, Photo Calendars
More Printing Solutions: Industry Print Solutions, Custom Forms, Banking Supplies, Direct Mail

Online Notary Services

Staples Promotional Products: Events & Tradeshows, Office Essentials, Drinkware, Bags & Coolers, Health & Wellness, Homegoods, Men's & Unisex Apparel, Women's Apparel, Outdoors & Leisure, Technology, Hats & Caps

Sustainability Services

Shipping Service: UPS Service, Happy Return, Amazon Returns, Amazon Lockers, iPostal1, Ship Tips
Travel Services: TSA Precheck, In-Store Passport Photos, Passport Services
Tech Services
In-Store Tech Services: Business Protection, Protection & Tech Help, PC Total Support, Free PC Tune-Up
Online Tech Solutions: Computers & Tablets, Connected Devices, General Merchandise

Furniture Services

Office Depot Products and Services:

Products:

Office Supplies
Furniture
Cleaning
Breakroom
Computers and accessories
Printers and Scanners
Electronics
Paper
School Supplies
Mailing & Shipping
Ink & Toner
Calendars & Planners
Tax Forms
Greener Office Products
Exclusive Brands
Article & Ideas

Services:

Print & Copy
Tech Services
Coworking Spaces
Business Services
Design Services
Photo Printing & Gifts
Shredding & Storage
Pack & Ship
Direct Mail
Furniture Assembly

Pricing: Which Is Cheaper

If you are looking for cheap office supplies at a lower price, then Office Depot will be the best option because the price of Staples products is slightly higher than that of Office Depot.

Moreover, Staples has no promotional days where you might get discounts on their purchases. And it also doesn’t offer student discounts because it is not featured on the company’s customer care page.

On the other hand, Office Depot has various sales events throughout the year. You can also get a 20 percent discount at Office Depot during a sales event, depending on the location. However, there is no discount eligible for online orders.

Also, the discount policies at various Office Depot stores vary. So, choose Office Depot if you want a discount while buying office supplies.

Shipping Charge

If you are not a member of Staples, you will receive free shipping on all orders over $25 before taxes. Any orders that do not meet the minimum will be charged a $9.95 shipping fee. However, there is no international shipping service at Staples.

Office Depot, on the other hand, occasionally provides worldwide shipping. For VIP members, there is also free two-day shipping available.

If you are not a VIP member, you may still take advantage of Office Depot's free delivery, and your order will take 4-5 business days. But all orders are not available for free shipping in Office Depot.

Payment Option

Staples allows you to use different payment options like visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, gift cards, checks, and credit cards. You can also pay for your transactions online and at the kiosk using single or multiple payment methods.

Staples delivery orders can be placed at a kiosk and paid for in-store. For these orders, the store accepts cash, gift cards, checks, credit and debit cards, and cash at the counter.

Additionally, staples currently accept these alternative payment methods:

PayPal,
Click to Pay, formerly Visa Checkout®
American Express Membership Rewards® Pay with Points.

It does not accept cards issued outside of the United States. Because of this, Staples is not the best place to use a card from a foreign bank to make a purchase.

While in Office Depot, you can pay using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Office Depot business cards, Discover, and Personal credit cards as payment methods.

If you place an online order, you must pay via Credit card. For more options, Office Depot has added Office Depot gift cards, cash, checks, and PayPal as payment methods.

Return Policy: Staples vs Office Depot

Staples and Office Depot allow you to return and exchange items for free. Even though both companies provide free returns and exchanges, their return and exchange policies differ.

Staples has a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy, but Office Depot has a 90-day return policy. However, both firms offer a 14-day return policy for products, including laptops, desktop computers, tablets, cutting-edge/cell phones, e-Readers, and unopened drones.

To receive a complete refund from both firms, you must return the purchased product in saleable condition with the original packaging with the invoice or receipt, UPC, and other parts.

You can find the most recent details about these companies' return policies on their customer service pages.

Final Thought: Office Depot vs Staples

Both Staples and Office Depot are best for office supplies. But looking deep, you can see that Staples doesn’t offer many discounts, whereas Office Depot offers many deals. Regarding the payment options, Office Depot has more choices than Staples.

The decision is ultimately up to you. Even so, the data shows that Office Depot outperforms Staples. Both of the stores have advantages and disadvantages.

Thus, we hope this article has helped you find the best one based on your requirement.

FAQs: Staples vs Office Depot

What are Staples items?

The term staples refer to a set of essential products including things like foods and beverages, household goods, and hygiene products as well as alcohol and tobacco.

What type of store is Staples?

Staples, inc. is an office supply retailer based in the United States. The company opened its first store in Boston in 1985 and has since expanded throughout North America and overseas.

Is Office Depot a large company?

The company has combined annual sales of approximately $11 billion, and employs about 38,000 associates with businesses in the United States. The company operates 1,400 retail stores, e-commerce sites and a business-to-business sales organization.

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