Is anyone else using Staples for their office supply and toner orders? We've been using them for as long as I've been here, and we get free overnight shipping and there's a Rewards program where they cut you a gift certificate based on spending.
However, today I noticed a discrepancy of anywhere from $6-10 on some products from their basic portal to when you log in to your account. For example, my principal sent me a screen grab of an electronic punch and asked me to order it (I handle the account). It showed he found it for $94.49 without logging in. When I pulled up the same item number, logged in to our account, it came up at $103.99. Just for kicks, I opened a second browser, went to Staples.com without logging in, and started comparing toner prices. I found similar discrepancies. I accessed their Live Chat and asked what was up. She claimed it's based on the zip code for your account, and pricing varies by regions. Now, I'm no marketing major, but does a 10% markup make sense? I asked her what zip code they were assuming and all she would tell me is the price varied by region. Given we're not all that far from Chicago, I don't see why there's a such a big difference. Maybe if we were in Hawaii and they had to ship across the ocean, or in the middle of the desert states and not in a Staples market. If anyone else is using Staples, I'd be curious as to whether you're seeing the same thing. My concern is they're using a lower price on their main site to suck people in, say when they're comparison shopping with other vendors. Then they hit account holders with the real price. Or, more nefariously, this is how they're making up for free shipping and the Rewards program. Thanks, Mike | Subscription info at http://www.tech-geeks.org |
