Great deals are found at office supply stores like Staples. Knowing the rules of the promotions can result in free paper, labels, pens, and other office supplies.

All the items in the post picture were free. Yes, free using Staples rewards and easy rebates. Last week, I shared the rules for Staples Rewards in Part 1 of this series. Today, I will cover easy rebates and share how to stack these promotions to get free merchandise.

Easy Rebates

The Staples Easy Rebate program does not require the loyalty card. These promotions allow you to buy the item and then send the information, either electronically or via mail, to receive your PayPal deposit or check. Indicated by easy rebate, these offers are in the weekly sales flyer and need a little of your time. But you will get your reward in cash.

Finding Rebate Items. Less frequent than Staples Rewards, the easy rebate items come around holiday events. During holiday seasons, watch for easy rebate offers.

Checking the limit. When you find items you need, check the limit. Some items have a limit of 1 while others allow 2 or more. If you buy more than the limit, you will not receive the rebate on the exceeded items.

Purchasing the items. The sales flyer will show the price of the items, i.e., copy paper for $1 – purchase price $5.99 with a $4.99 easy rebate. When you purchase this copy paper, the item will ring up at $5.99 at the time of sale. After payment, you will receive the rebate receipt.

Submitting your rebate. At the end of your sale, you will receive the rebate submission forms with your rebate receipts. Staples offers an easy rebate system on-line or via the mail. I use the on-line submission form without experiencing any delays, denials, or complications.

Receiving payment. Upon receiving the rebate, Staples sends a confirmation e-mail. After the rebate processes, I get another e-mail before receiving my check via mail. The entire process takes between 4-6 weeks after Staples receives the rebate submission.

Stacking Staples Promotions

When combining savings strategies, you can get deep savings. In this case, I used the Staples Rewards with Easy Rebates to score free copy paper, labels, pens, and markers. For the pictured transaction, I purchased:

2 – Kleenex facial tissues – 2 pack at $2.99 each (limit 2)

2 – Staples copy paper – $5.49 each (limit 2)

1 – Avery 8160 white address labels – $11.99 each (limit 1)

1 – Staedtler ballpoint pens – $5.99 each (limit 1)

1 – dry-erase markers – $1

After scanning the items, I could have used manufacturer’s coupons.

TIP: If you use manufacturer’s coupons, you will lower your out-of-pocket cost. If you then submit an easy rebate, you will receive the full rebate amount. The rebate will not deduct the amount of the coupon. So, use your coupons with your Staples Rewards and easy rebates.

I had no coupons, so my total came to $35.94. With the Staples Rewards I earned last quarter, I paid $36 in Staples Rewards. I handed the cashier my two vouchers, and I still had $.06 remaining on my rewards. After processing the payment, I received at the bottom of my receipt a coupon for $.06 – my remaining Staples Rewards with the same expiration date – March 31, 2012.

Upon returning home, I entered my receipt information into the Staples easy rebates on-line form for the following:

2 – Kleenex facial tissues for $2.99 each

2 – Staples copy paper for $5.49 each

1 – Avery 8160 white address labels for $11.99

1 – Staedtler ballpoint pens for $5.99

In about 4-6 weeks, I will receive checks totaling $34.94 making all the merchandise free after rewards and then better than free after rebates.

Though Staples offers other rewards, like ink cartridges (explained by Jenny Martin), I choose to concentrate on Staples Rewards and Easy Rebates. As you learn the rules to the office supply stores, you, too, will see deep discounts while replenishing your supplies. Using Staples Rewards and Easy Rebates will help in stretching your dollars while using time wisely. Happy savings!

Question: How do you save money on your office supplies?

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Staples)

Between my little artists and printing coupons, our household consumes lots of copy paper. At a cost of $5 to $9 per ream, the paper gets expensive, but thanks to Staples Rewards and Easy Rebates, I get copy paper for free, and you can, too.

Though there are other office supply chains, I find the Staples program easy to navigate. Now there are quirky exceptions, but overall, Staples has two great programs: Staples Rewards and Easy Rebates.  In part 1, I will focus on the Staples Rewards and next week in part 2 end with the Easy Rebate Program.

Staples Rewards

The Staples Reward program offers 100% back in Staples store credit through vouchers either mailed or e-mailed to you at the end of each quarter. You will then have 3 months to use or lose your credit. Once expired, Staples will not honor the vouchers.

To receive 100% back in Rewards for the promotional items, you need to know the rules:

• Requiring a loyalty card. To get your Rewards card, just ask a customer service representative on your next visit. The card is free, and takes less than 5 minutes to complete the application.  You can then begin using your card immediately.

• Locating the Reward offers. Within the weekly sales flyer, the promotional offers will state “100% back in Rewards.” With these promotions, you buy the product using your loyalty card and pay the full price. Your rewards are automatically processed and either mailed or e-mailed to you, depending on your preference, at the end of the quarter.

TIP: If you buy items that generate a Staples Reward and pay with a reward certificate, you WILL NOT get another reward. These rewards will not roll. However, you can use your Staple Rewards certificate to pay for easy rebate items since you get cash back, not store credit.

• Receiving your reward. You do not send any receipts, make any phones calls, or take any surveys. Just wait. If your rewards exceed $10, then you will get your check or e-mail at the end of the quarter. If you did not accumulate $10, then the rewards will carry-over until your balance reaches $10. At the $10 mark, your rewards will release at the end of that quarter.

• Spending your reward. Your rewards will expire 3 months after issuance. Be careful to pace yourself. You do not want to find things to buy to use up your remaining rewards. Take it slowly and enjoy the process.

• Using coupons on Reward items. If you use store or manufacturer coupons on an item with 100% back in Rewards, then you will receive 100% back of what you paid. For example, if copy paper is triggering a 100% back in Rewards for $5 a ream and you used a $1 manufacturer coupon, then you will pay $4 + tax for that ream. Your Reward will include $4 for this transaction.

TRACY’S TIP: To maximize my coupon use and my Rewards, I choose not to use coupons on 100% back in Rewards. I will save my coupon for another deal since I am already receiving that amount back in Rewards.

Around Christmas, I purchased ear buds and then later two packages of batteries that were all on Staples promotion for 100% back in Rewards. After waiting a few weeks, I received two vouchers: $15 and $21 that expire on March 31, 2012. (My vouchers came separately because I had two transactions. I would have received one voucher had I purchased all the product together.)

When redeeming my rewards, I purchased items using my loyalty card and ended with $.06 remaining in Rewards. Since I used the vouchers, a coupon with my $.06 reward printed at the bottom of my receipt. I still have until March 31, 2012, to redeem my $.06 on another transaction.

The Staples Reward program is another promotional opportunity to stretch your dollars while using time wisely. Understanding this Staples program will save you money, energy, and time. With a well-stocked supply stash, you won’t need to rush to the store, paying full price, to replenish an out-of-stock office need.

Next week, I will continue this short series and share how to use these Staples Rewards with Easy Rebates to get copy paper (and other office supplies) for free.  Happy savings!

Question: What office supply product would you like to get free?