Staples

They have one item that I must have and it is the only reason I go there. It is a weird collection of employees and terrible customer service. I won’t go into details. Also, I called the store and after going thru the annoying phone tree, I had to wait an additional couple of minutes while periodically listening to the recording encouraging me to hold on for someone to give me «prompt service.» So I promptly waited…

Are you looking for awesome, top grade, reasonably price office furniture?
If that’s a yes then if you’re looking at Staples (to quote a tucker mud flap and a 70s t-​shirt) «Keep on Truckin»
I wanted to get a new office set for my 11 year daughter. I looked online and realized that looking at a picture and holding a tape measure in the room just doesn’t really cut it. That and trying to tell a 11 year old «imagine an L shape here and a hutch this high» you are suddenly told «Dad, you’re not a good speaker like Steve Jobs» «huh?» was my only response.
I went to Staples saw a great desk with a hutch and said «I’ll buy it!» But wait, it’s a floor model. {You can’t have it delivered.} Ok, so how do I have this HUGE desk put into my house. {You can take it today} By myself, in my car? { or you can order one online and have it delivered} GREAT! {But that model isn’t available} not great…{But you can order a newer model} Tony the Tiger: GREAT! {But we don’t have that model in stock here in the store or anywhere in the Chicagoland area} not not great…
So I wind up back to the «imagine an L shape here and a hutch this high» only this time I’m in a store with strangers watching my performance and my daughter. Who says I need to work on my timing.
So I order a credenza and a hutch with delivery and assembly. I get a call {Sir, your credenza was damaged in mid-​shipping, we are sending another one} Gre… wait I’m on to you guys what’s the catch? {You’ll get the hutch first and then the credenza}
My hutch comes only the box has been damaged in one corner. Damaged like a box full of brains left in a room full of zombies… I call Staples {No problem sir. we’ll have the assembly technician come out and they’ll order a new part if needed}
The credenza comes and I leave box 70 lbs+ over 6 feet long boxes in my garage. I schedule the assembler appointment only to be told {Please make sure the boxes are in the room/​area to be assembled} But they’re too big for me to move and carry upstairs, see that’s why I had it delivered and wanted it assembled. {Sir our technician might not be able to move the box either} Ok I can help them. {Sir, even then they might not be able to move the box, they may be too small} Small? (at this point I’m imaging an assembly service composed of Oompa Loompas) Ok I’ll make sure there in the room. (I wound up leaving them in the garage and the technician helped me move the boxes)
The corner of the top of the hutch was damaged so I had to order another part. The new part comes and it’s damaged in a different corner. At this point I’ve consigned myself that no matter what I do Staples will keep sending me parts that are damaged due to either the shipping service or the lack of packaging material.
If I had to do it all over I would have bought the same thing through an office wholesaler who offered me delivery for $ 150 on top of the reasonable price.
Live and Learn (unless you’re a zombie then it’s all about the brains)

I usually do not review non-​restaurant businesses, but after my recent experience with Staples, I felt compelled to give them an atta-​boy for their good work.
I was recently in the market for an automatic paper folder. My company does a lot of mailing and we save a lot of time with an automatic paper folder. Our existing folder met an untimely demise so I began the search for a replacement. Naturally, the one I wanted was not available in stores, but
had it on their website and offered free shipping.
I placed my order on Monday afternoon. Much to my surprise, the following morning at 9:15AM, a private courier arrived in the lobby with a box from Staples containing our new paper folder.
Talk about incredible service! I’m usually reluctant buying expensive items online because you never know what you’re getting and you never know when it will arrive. In this case, Staples had a private courier deliver our new paper folder, all the way from Beloit Wisconsin to our lobby by 915am the following morning. Needless to say, I’m impressed.
We buy a lot of office supplies and I will definitely be giving Staples more business whenever possible.