Office Depot and OfficeMax to merge

[Miramonti]

Just saw a breaking headline, no link yet. Had to figure something like this would go down to compete with staples, which kicks their buttoxes imo.

 

[Red Storm]

I don't even remember the last time I stepped foot into any of those stores.

 

[lxskllr]

There's an OfficeDepot near me, and it's a mystery how they stay in business. There's never anyone in the store, even during busy times like Xmas. They must be working some of that GNC voodoo.

 

[Miramonti]

There's an OfficeDepot near me, and it's a mystery how they stay in business. There's never anyone in the store, even during busy times like Xmas. They must be working some of that GNC voodoo.

Well put, using the GNC voodoo business model. I guess they found there aren't enough ignorant customers out there to gouge with their inkjet refills that they need to finally think outside the printer box.

 

[NFS4]

The only time I go to OfficeMax is to drop off Fedex packages. Can't recall the last time that I've been in an Office Depot.

Now Staples, I shop there all the time.

 

[Triumph]

was anyone even able to tell these two stores apart, anyway?

and is staples still around? i can't think of the last time i even thought of going to one. or seen one, for that matter...

 

[lxskllr]

was anyone even able to tell these two stores apart, anyway?

and is staples still around? i can't think of the last time i even thought of going to one. or seen one, for that matter...

There's a Staples near me too, and they seem to do a decent business. Foot traffic is moderate, and they seem to be the small business choice for supplies.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/02/20/office-depot-officemax-merge/1932189/

multiple links are up

 

[Red Storm]

Now Staples, I shop there all the time.

Why...?

 

[highland145]

There's a Staples near me too, and they seem to do a decent business. Foot traffic is moderate, and they seem to be the small business choice for supplies.

Because there aren't other local choices. If I don't wait til the last minute or run out of something, I order from them online and they bring it to my office. Let the UPS guy's back carry the cases of 8.5X14 paper. 60+ lbs.

 

[shortylickens]

May as well, they are practically the same. Staples isnt much different. In fact if you were to take down the brand signs most people wouldnt even know which one they were in.

 

[bigrash]

was anyone even able to tell these two stores apart, anyway?
QUOTE]

I could never tell them apart.

 

[xanis]

Makes sense IMO... aren't they basically the same store anyhow?

 

[JEDI]

Just saw a breaking headline, no link yet. Had to figure something like this would go down to compete with staples, which kicks their buttoxes imo.

didnt they try this last century and the feds blocked it because it reduced competition too much?

and i'm surprised about the airline merger recently.
i expect it to get blocked. it's widely known they WILL cut routes and raise prices for consumers.

 

[Svnla]

didnt they try this last century and the feds blocked it because it reduced competition too much?

and i'm surprised about the airline merger recently.
i expect it to get blocked. it's widely known they WILL cut routes and raise prices for consumers.

Yes they did try in 1997 and it was blocked.

Now it would be easier because of Amazon, WalMart, Target, and others, ei. more competitions.

I haven't been to OM like forever and only been to OD when they had sales.

 

[edro]

omg it's about time!
They are identical. They might as way merge with Staples too.

 

[vi edit]

Add me to the list of "couldn't tell them apart anyway". Honestly thought they were the same company just seperated by region or something. Websites looked the same, logos were almost the same. Ect.

 

[NFS4]

Why...?

Free after Easy Rebate items (ream paper, photo paper, pencils, pens, labels, etc, cleaning supplies)
Free after Staples Rwards items

They also run 20% back in Rewards promotions every quarter or so (i.e., I spend $100, I get $20 back in Rewards)

My wife is a teacher, so that stuff comes in handy. Also, you can recycle ink at $2/cartridge. I'm a Staples Premier customer, so I can recycle 20 carts/month which works out to $40/month for little effort.

I simply go on eBay, buy a [Lot] of 400 cartridges for $60, then trade them in over the course of a year and half. I make money back on my initial outlay in two months of trade-ins.

I then use that $40/month to buy gift cards (Starbucks, restaurants, VISA gift cards, etc) from Staples.com -- you can't use Rewards to buy gift cards in-store for some reason -- or to put it towards technology items in the store.

Not to mention, that Staples has some pretty good clearance electronics deals if you monitor Slickdeals.net. Quick and easy money for resell on eBay.

You ask "Why", I say "Why not!" :biggrin:

 

[Meghan54]

omg it's about time!
They are identical. They might as way merge with Staples too.

Exactly....Office Staples Depot. May as well use all the names.

 

[djnsmith7]

This move doesn't surprise me, but how long it took does. I thought this would've happened a few years ago, shortly after Staples acquired Corporate Express in 2008.

 

[djnsmith7]

Exactly....Office Staples Depot. May as well use all the names.

Max Staples Depot?

 

[rsutoratosu]

The many office max / office depot near me had opened and closed within 6 months.. staples seems to be holding strong..

 

[Mixolydian]

Haven't been to either store in at least 10 years.

 

[SamQuint]

I have a Staples and Office Depot close by. The Staples is large, super clean and organized and people actually try to help.

The Office Depot is dingy and dirty and they greet you at the door but there is only one or two people on the floor. Those people in Office Depot can barely tell you where to find something, don't even ask them any questions about the products.

 

[IronWing]

So Office Depot is the red one with the dim lights and Office Max is the blue one with bright lights. Staples is also red so if the newly merged Maxydump retains the red theme we, the consumer, will have lost color theme choice in the big-box-o-crap-from-china market. Therefore, I'm outraged.