printer cartridge rewards

[hereigoagain]

Does anyone participate in the printer cartridge recycling reward programs at either Office Depot or Staples? I think they both pay $2 each, and I think Staples does not take HP ones. Do you turn them in when you check out, or in the computer section? I have quite a few, because I use a large plotter at work. Just curious on others experience with it. Thanks!

[Apple]

Funny you should mention that as I'm taking my $12 rewards coupon (from returning printer cartridges) into Staples tomorrow to buy printer paper and address labels (both are free after rebate...so OOP will only be $3 and then I'll get $16 dollars back in a rebate). Staples used to do $3 each, now it's only $2, but still worth it. I have a canon printer so I have 4 cartriges in the printer but don't spend any more than any other printer.

I take them to the customer service desk and they enter them into the computer, give me a receipt, and I get a coupon in my email at the end of the month. They used to do it at checkout and you could just take them off your total, but it doesn't work that way anymore.

[donnafreedman]

I hand them in when I have enough -- the rules just changed again at Staples. I think it's that if you don't have at least $10 worth it rolls over to another month, but if you don't turn in at least $10 worth per quarter you LOSE them.
Here's what I use them for: Godiva chocolate for the giveaways on my personal website. Unless DD needs them; I just sent her a $20 voucher to be used toward a new filing cabinet.

[dogmom]

Staples does take HP cartridges. Well, at least they take mine... I'm not sre that they've changed their policy to $10.00, I have a $4.00 reward that I have to use by the end of the month. I've never hit the $10.. mark. Hope this Helps.

[rubyslippers]

When did they stop mailing the rewards? I just used a reward the other day and I received it in the mail, but it arrived last month.
I never knew you could earn rewards for buying ink and I just bought some.

[Apple]

Staples must be doing their rewards in stages depending on where you live. They started email only rewards for use last September (or somewhere around that time). The rebates still come in the mail, but I can't remember if they still come as a check or a prepaid debit card. I know a while ago I got the debit card but can't remember if it was a reward or a rebate...
Store credit is probably a better term than the "coupon" I used, but still have to wait for it to come through on email.

[hereigoagain]

Thanks everyone for the information! I have a Staples Reward card, but rarely ever shop for office supplies. I have about 15 used toner cartridges though right now. I'm always in need of copy paper and ink and the occassional school supply for my kids, but I doubt I'd meet the $100 minimum for the rewards.
I noticed in my Staples ad it mentioned not taking HP ones, but the majority I have are not HP. I figure I could take the HP ones to Office Depot if that's true. They are both an equal distance from me, just opposite directions.

[TheOtherMe]

We only have Staples and they do take HP printer cartridges. Here you turn them in when you check out.

[Frugal Nurse]

I go to all the supply stores an recycle my ink- it depends on who is offering the most. Recently Office Depot was offering $5/cartridge- I recycled 10 (there was a limit of 20), so I basically got $50 for my trash. I will go to staples if nobody is running a good promotion, because Staples has a quicker turn around. I'm not sure why you think you need $100 in rewards. Staples sends out the ink rewards monthly -no minimum that I know of. The other rewards I think you have to have at least $10 before they will send them out, but I have never had any trouble getting them. Last month I used staples ink recycling rewards to get $50 worth of HP ink, and in turn they sent me a $10 Visa gift card, so I got my ink and $10 just for giving them my trash. woohoo! Like any kind of deals, you have to pay close attention and make sure you're getting the best value, but I feel the Staples program is completely worth my time.

PS- they do take HP ink cartridges, that is the only kind I use, and I recycle them all the time.

HTH

[hereigoagain]

Thanks frugalnurse! For the $100 for rewards, I meant the other part of the Staples program, where you need to spend $100 in ink, paper and copies to get the regular Staples Rewards checks. A case of paper would probably last me years and I buy remanufactured ink cartridges (from amazon) for my home printer.
I noticed the $5/cartridge reward Office Depot was doing last month and that's what got me thinking about the whole thing. My son's old school collected them before, so I would bring them there, but he no longer goes to that school, so I have a collection right now.

[hsclassic]

I primarily use Office Depot (also have a Staples card for all purchases). They've always taken HP cartridges, but not recycled HP cartridges. (Don't think Staples takes any recycled cartridges.) Today's program has a 20 cartridge limit per drop-off, and is $2/cartridge. Use it to buy whatever I need - pens, highlighters, paper, calendars.