Office Depot VS Staples: Who Wins The Battle in 2022?

Office Depot VS Staples

Both Office Depot and Staples are very popular and renowned office supply retail companies. However, the price of Staples products is a bit higher than that of Office Depot. Moreover, Staples doesn’t offer any discounts while Office Depot offers various discounts. So, if you are looking for office supplies at a reasonable price then Office Depot will be the best option.

Key Takeaways

  • Office Depot is a leading distributor of office goods and services for small, medium, and corporate organizations
  • From staples, you will be able to buy various office supplies including business essentials, printers, ink, computers, office furniture, etc.
  • Office Depot has various sales events where students can get discounts of up to 20%
  • If you make a purchase of more than $45 from Staples then you will get a free shipping

What is Office Depot?

What is Office Depot

Established in October 1986 by F. Patrick Sher, Office Depot is an American office supply holding company. This company is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. In Office Depot, you will shop for low prices on office furniture, supplies, electronics, print services & more. In fact, Office Depot is a leading distributor of office goods and services for small, medium, and corporate organizations. This company has more than 1,300 stores across the USA. Office Depot has more than 38,000 employees and it has combined annual sales of approximately $11 billion.

Products Available at Office Depot

Office SuppliesName Badges & HoldersLabels & Label Makers
FurnitureDesk AccessoriesTax Return Solutions
CleaningDesk OrganizersCalendars & Planners
BreakroomDesk TraysGreener Office Products
Computers & AccessoriesFile OrganizersExclusive Brands
Printers & ScannersDrawer OrganizersArticles & Ideas
ElectronicsStoragePens, Pencils & Markers
PaperFile BoxesPens
School SuppliesPlastic Storage ContainersMarkers & Highlighters
Ink & TonerStorage Bins & BasketsPencils
Packing MaterialsStorage Drawers & CartsCorrection Fluid & Tape
Filing & FoldersMore Ways to ShopBasic Supplies
File FoldersCalendars & PlannersStaplers & Staples
Hanging File FoldersTax Return SolutionsPaper & Binder Clips
Expanding File FoldersPost-It & Sticky NotesScissors
Classification FoldersTape & AdhesivesPaper Punches & Cutters
Binders & AccessoriesPresentation BoardsMailing & Shipping
BindersLabel Maker TapesEnvelopes
Dividers & TabsAddress LabelsShipping & Moving Boxes
Report Covers & PortfoliosLabel MakersMailers
Sheet ProtectorsStandard LabelsPacking Tape

Service Offered by Office Depot

  1. Document Printing
  2. Large Format Printing
  3. Marketing Materials
  4. Custom Stationery
  5. Photo Printing & Gifts
  6. Promotional Products
  7. Custom Checks
  8. Custom Business Forms
  9. Labels & Stickers
  10. Name Plates & Badges
  11. Covid-19 Signs
  12. Same Day Stamps
  13. Message Stamps
  14. Address Stamps
  15. Notary Stamps
  16. Embossers
  17. Business Cards
  18. Postcards
  19. Flyers
  20. Brochures
  21. Menus
  22. Rack Cards
  23. Microsoft IT Solutions
  24. Device-as-a-Service
  25. Service Desk
  26. IT Asset Disposition
  27. Onsite Services
  28. Computer Repair
  29. 24/7 Tech Support Plans
  30. Allstate Protection Plans
  31. New Computer Setup
  32. Home & Office Installation
  33. Device Trade-In
  34. Business Services
  35. Design Services
  36. Photo Printing & Gifts
  37. Shredding & Storage
  38. Pack & Ship
  39. Direct Mail
  40. Furniture Assembly 

What Is Staples?

What Is Staples

Staples is a renowned United States-based office supply store established in 1985 by Sycamore Partners. The headquarters of Staples is in Framingham, MA. It is an office retail company that sells various office supplies and related products. The business model of Staples is via retail channels and business-to-business-oriented delivery operations. From staples, you will be able to buy various office supplies including business essentials, printers, ink, computers, office furniture, and many more at an affordable and reasonable price compared to other companies. Unlike Office Depot, Staples is a global company with more than 2,000 retail stores across the world. In 2015, Staples wanted to acquire Office Depot and OfficeMax but their attempt failed due to antitrust grounds and the consolidation that would result.

Products Available at Staples

Ink & TonerCleaning SuppliesHard Drives & Storage
Print & MarketingFacilities MaintenanceNetworking & WiFi
School SuppliesFacilities MaintenanceProjectors & Accessories
Shop Diversity ProductsMail & ShipShredders & Calculators
Staples Promotional ProductsMail & ShipLabel Makers & Tape
Office SuppliesSafety SuppliesAudio & Streaming
PaperSigns, Banners & PostersCell Phones & Accessories
Computers & AccessoriesDocument PrintingBatteries & Power
Printers & ScannersBusiness CardsPhones & Electronics
ElectronicsMarketing MaterialsHome Automation
FurnitureCards & InvitationsStorage Cabinets
Wearable TechIndustry Print SolutionsShelving
SoftwareFolders & FilingOutdoor & Patio Furniture
Tech Product ShowcaseNotebooks & PadsErgonomic Furniture
ComputersBinders & AccessoriesMonitors
Ergonomic AccessoriesWriting SuppliesFood & Break room
BookcasesBags & Briefcases
Computer AccessoriesCalendars & Planners

Service Offered by Staples

  1. Printing Services
  2. Business Services
  3. Tech Services
  4. Travel Services
  5. Sustainability Services
  6. Furniture Services
  7. Graduation Cards
  8. Wedding Stationery
  9. Baby Stationery
  10. Thank You Cards
  11. Direct Mail
  12. Flyers
  13. Brochures
  14. Postcards
  15. Advertising Labels
  16. Promotional Products
  17. Health & Wellness
  18. Apparel
  19. Writing Instruments
  20. Business Cards
  21. Indoor Banners
  22. Cards & Invitations
  23. Scanning
  24. Computer Workstations
  25. Document Lamination
  26. In-Store Printing Services
  27. Online Digital Marketing Services
  28. Direct Mail
  29. Finance Services
  30. Virus Removal
  31. Virus Protection
  32. PC Tune-Up
  33. Device Setup
  34. Tech Support
  35. PC & Memory Upgrade
  36. Software Installation
  37. TSA Precheck
  38. Passport Photo In-store
  39. Passport Application
  40. Furniture Protection
  41. Furniture Assembly  

Similarities between Office Depot and Staples

  • In the USA, both Office Depot and Staples dominate the office supply industry
  • Both Office Depot and Stables have a more comprehensive selection of products than Office Max and Walmart
  • Office Depot and Staples offer discounts on similar kinds of products
  • Both Office Depot and Staples have tens of thousands of locations in the United States  

Differences between Office Depot and Staples

The main difference between Office Depot and Staples is Staples makes more revenue than Office Depot and Staples’s price is a touch higher than Office Depot. Office Depot’s prices for daily items are much lower than Staples’s. Moreover, Staples offers fewer discounts than Office Depot. Another important difference is the collection of products. Staples has the most extensive selection of office supplies than Office Depot or any other office supply company available in the USA. Moreover, Staples has a more effective and strong supply chain than Office Depot. Staples has a larger market share than Office Depot!

Comparison of Office Depot and Staples

1. Offers and Promotions

Staples doesn’t have any promotional days where customers might get some discount on their purchases. Moreover, Staples 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. During a sales event, students can get a 20 percent discount at Office Depot depending on the location. However, there is no discount available for online orders. Moreover, Office Depot stores in different places have different discount policies. So, if you are looking for a discount while buying office supplies, then you should choose Office Depot.

2. Shipping Charges

Staples offers free shipping for orders of $49 or above. However, there is no international shipping service at Staples. Oppositely, Office Depot in some circumstances offers international shipping. It also offers two-day free shipping for VIP members. However, if you are not a VIP member then you can still enjoy free shipping from Office Depot where your product will arrive in 4-5 business days. But you should understand that not all orders qualify for free shipping in Office Depot.

3. Payment Options

Office Depot accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Office Depot business cards, Discover, and Personal credit cards as payment methods. If you place an online order then you must have to make the payment via Credit card. To give the customers more options, Office Depot has added Office Depot gift cards, cash, checks, and PayPal as payment methods.

On the other hand, Staples accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Checks as well as Staples credit cards and gift cards. However, you should know that Staples doesn’t accept credit cards from countries other than the United States. So, if you live outside the USA and don’t have any credit card from a USA bank then you can’t shop from Staples.

4. Return Policy

Both Office Depot and Staples allow their customers to return the products or exchange the products for free. But Office Depot and Staples have different return policies. Staples has a 30-day no-questions-asked return policy, on the other hand, Office Depot has a 90-day return policy. Both companies have only a 14-day return policy for products like laptops, desktops, tablets, etc.

Final Thought

Finally, both Office Depot and Staples are the best in the business and since their establishment, they are providing the highest quality office supplies. However, if you consider the above information then you will understand that Office Depot offers more facilities to its customers than Staples. Moreover, Office Depot offers products at a much lower price than Staples. So, in the end, the choice is up to you! But statistically, Office depot is better than Staples.   

References:

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/staples-office-depot-comedic-comparison/story?id=28720450
https://chainstoreage.com/office-depot-parent-split-two-companies-staples-pursues-acquisition

Last Updated on November 13, 2022 by Magalie D.

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