Everyone seems to be building their own rewards program these days. Staples is not the exception. Unfortunately, however, many rewards programs only offer decent incentives for high-spenders.
The Staples Rewards program is open to anyone but only provides significant benefits to those that spend over $1,000 per year at the chain office supply store in person or online.
Let’s break down the structure and see if you can come out on top with your pens and pencils.
Does Staples Have a Rewards Program?
Staples does have a rewards program called Staples Rewards. The main benefits from the program are free shipping and up to 5% back in rewards. This program is for high-spenders at Staples, particularly those that purchase online and have items delivered.
The Staples Rewards program is not a single system. Instead, the program is a four-tiered system based on the amount you spend in the store in twelve months. Once you reach a threshold for a new tier, you can retain those benefits for the next twelve months.
However, if you fail to spend the required amount in those next twelve months, your tier eligibility will drop. Sign-up is free on their website or in-store, and the minimum for the first tier is zero dollars.
How Does Staples Rewards Work?
First, you need to sign up for the program. Signup is easy and can be done in-person at a physical location or online during the checkout process or via their rewards program page.
Further, registration is free, and keeping the account active is free. Free rewards programs for the stores are an easy way to keep customers, and for the customers, they are an easy way to generate rewards on eligible purchases.
The program works based on the amount of cash you spend at Staples every twelve months on eligible goods. At the end of each month, you receive a statement with your accumulated reward points that must be redeemed before they expire.
What Are the Perks of Staples Rewards?
The main perks of the program are credits on future purchases in the store. These credits are shared amongst all the tiers and will build rapidly over time. However, they expire.
So, if you spend lots of cash in January and receive your statement in February, you may only have another 30 days to redeem your rewards at a Staples store or online.
Here is a complete list of the potential benefits as listed in the separate tiers described above.
- Free shipping with orders over $30 of eligible items
- Free shipping with no minimum
- Free next-day shipping with no minimum
- 2% – 5% Rewards back on eligible purchases
- $2 back on each printer cartridge return, up to 10 or 20 per month depending on the tier
- Member exclusive deals
- Bonus sales events
- Free, expedited returns
- $25 yearly in-store printing and marketing services credit
- $20 yearly in-store technology services credit
- Dedicated account manager in the highest tier with a priority customer service team
Staples Rewards Tiers
| How to Unlock | Free Delivery | Rewards Back | |
| Base | No Minimum | $30 minimum | 2% |
| Base+ | Spend $250 | No minimum | 2% |
| Premier | Spend $1000 | No minimum | 5% |
| Elite | Spend $5000 | No minimum | 5% |
Base Rewards
You can unlock this tier without spending any money. So, you can benefit from free shipping on orders over $30, earn 2% in eligible purchase rewards, and receive a $2 bonus on each printer cartridge returned, up to 10 per month.
Base Plus (+) Rewards
When you first sign up for Staples Rewards, you will automatically be able to receive all the benefits of Base+ for three months. However, to maintain the Base+ Rewards level, you must spend $250 per twelve-month period.
At the Base+ level, you get free delivery on all your online purchases with no minimum, earn 2% in eligible purchase rewards, and receive a $2 bonus on each printer cartridge returned, up to 10 per month.
Premier Rewards
You can only achieve the third tier in the Staples Rewards program if you spend at least $1,000 in twelve months.
At this level, you get free next-day delivery on all your online purchases with no minimum, earn 5% in eligible purchase rewards, and receive a $2 bonus on each printer cartridge returned, up to 20 per month.
You are also included in bonus sale events and given expedited refunds, $25 per year for instore print and marketing services and $20 per year for instore technology services.
Elite Rewards
The top tier is reserved for the largest spenders, over $5,000 in twelve months on eligible products. The fourth and highest tier in the program offers free next-day delivery on all your online purchases with no minimum, earns 5% in eligible purchase rewards, and provides a $2 bonus on each printer cartridge returned, up to 20 per month.
You are also included in bonus sale events, free monthly product samples, expedited refunds, $25 per year for instore print and marketing services, and $20 per year for instore technology services. Lastly, the highest tier comes with its dedicated account manager.
What You Can Get with Staples Rewards
You can earn cashback rewards between 2% and 5% on all eligible purchases online and in-store. Further, you can spend all your cashback rewards on future purchases of qualified products.
Stamps and gift cards are not part of this promotional program in any way. Further, the items may be limited based on location or time of year.
Therefore, you should consider which items you buy and which items are part of the rewards program before you join with the expectation of earning cashback.
| Shipping | Based on your Tier | Free Shipping / Next Day |
| Cash Back | Based on your Tier | 2% – 5% |
| Returned Ink Cartridges | Based on your Tier | $2 on each, up to 10 or 20 per month |
How Much Is 50 Staples Rewards Points Worth?
The Staples Rewards have no cash value but can be used on eligible purchases for a 1:1 ratio of dollars. Stamps and gift cards are not part of this program.
So, if you have 50 Staples Rewards points, you have $50 of credit you can use on a future purchase of eligible items. However, you should make sure you don’t wait to use them. Staples Rewards points expire. The expiration date is found on your monthly Rewards statement.
How Can I Redeem Staples Rewards?
Each month Staples will email or mail you a copy of your Rewards statement, including the total amount of Staples Rewards you earn in the past 30 days.
Then you will need to either purchase in-store or online with those credits within a specific time to redeem the points. The points are connected to your account and can be automatically applied at checkout.
Does Staples Give Annual Rewards?
Staples does not offer annual rewards. Instead, the Staples Rewards program is a rolling monthly program that will recalculate your tier level every twelve months from when you first joined the program.
Does Staples Still Have a Rewards Program in 2024?
Staples Rewards program is still active in 2024 and offers a variety of benefits based on your spending amount and tier level. Each tier level comes with cashback, free or next-day free shipping, and other member-exclusive benefits.
The Staples Rewards program is not for everyone. Because the rewards expire rapidly, the program benefits ongoing monthly expenses online or in the physical stores.
