MY TRIP TO THE STAPLES: A REVIEW
(Paramus NJ, Route 17, The Big One)

Hi everyone! I know this is not exactly an IT post but I went to Staples yesterday and I have thoughts and this is my blog so I am going to share them. This post is also relevant to our business because I went specifically to purchase Zip disks and ink cartridges for resale, so it counts as a business trip and I am writing it off.

The Experience — A Detailed Account

I arrived at the Staples on Route 17 in Paramus at approximately 11:45 AM, which meant I had 45 minutes before my self-imposed lunch window. The parking lot was adequate but I had to park near the garden center which is far. I timed it: 94 steps from my car to the door. For reference, the Staples in Hackensack is 67 steps. The Route 17 location has better selection though so the extra 27 steps are worth it.

The store is very large. I have been to this Staples before but I always forget how large it is. I would estimate it is approximately the size of two Gary's Dry Cleanings, possibly three. I got slightly lost near the chair section, which is in the back near the shredders. I did not intend to look at chairs but I was there for a while.

I found the Zip disks in the back near the printer paper, which is a strange location for Zip disks in my opinion. They should be near the floppy disks. I mentioned this to an employee named Tyler. Tyler did not know what a Zip disk was. I explained. Tyler said "oh, like a big floppy." I said it is nothing like a big floppy. We did not resolve this.

I purchased 12 Zip disks (100MB, 10-pack plus two individual) at a cost of $47 total. I will be reselling these through the office at $94 each plus a $25 "Zip Media Configuration Fee" which covers us formatting them. Formatting takes about 3 minutes. We charge per disk.

I also purchased ink cartridges (HP and Epson, for resale), two reams of paper (for the office), and a ream of cardstock for our invoices, which we recently upgraded to cardstock because it feels more professional and clients seem less likely to dispute a cardstock invoice, which is a theory I have not fully tested but believe to be true.

The Chair Situation

While in the chair section I identified an office chair that I believe would significantly improve my productivity at the helpdesk. It is a high-back model with lumbar support and armrests that go up and down. The armrests go up AND down. I have never had armrests that go both ways. I currently have armrests that only go down.

I purchased the chair. It did not fit in my car. I had to leave it at the customer service desk and go back for it this morning with my brother-in-law's truck. The chair is now in the office. Brenda has not commented on the chair. I think she wants one. We are not getting a second chair.

The Verdict — Pros and Cons

FINAL RATING: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars) — One star deducted for the chair fitting situation. Would visit again and have already planned a return trip for next month to look at the laminator section.