The Staples Return Policy in the United States varies by product category. Office supplies may be returned at any time, while technology, business machines, and furniture generally have a 14-day return window. Different rules apply to software, ink, gift cards, and certain opened products.
Before making a return, identify your product category and purchase channel. An online order can be taken to a Staples store, but a store purchase must be returned in store. Keep your receipt, packaging, and accessories together, and check the item’s return eligibility date in your order details when available.
Staples Return Policy at a Glance
| Policy Detail | Current Rule |
|---|---|
| General Return Window | Category-specific; there is no universal 30-day policy |
| Office Supplies | Returnable at any time, subject to eligibility and condition requirements |
| Technology and Business Machines | Within 14 days of receipt |
| Furniture | Within 14 days of receipt; custom furniture has restrictions |
| Unopened Boxed Software | Within 30 days, provided Staples currently sells it |
| Online Purchases | Return in store or initiate an eligible online return |
| Store Purchases | Must be returned in store |
| Missing Receipt | Purchase lookup may help; eligible receiptless returns receive store credit |
| Return Shipping | Free online returns are available for online and phone purchases |
These rules cover U.S. retail purchases, rather than Canadian purchases or separate Staples business-contract terms.
Understanding the Staples Return Policy
Start with the product category rather than assuming every purchase has the same deadline.
For technology and furniture, the published window runs from receipt of the item. Online shoppers should also inspect the Return Eligibility Expiry Date under the item description in Order Details. Resolve any apparent mismatch with Staples before that displayed deadline.
Return Windows by Product Category
| Product Category | Return Window or Restriction |
|---|---|
| Office supplies | At any time |
| Computers, laptops, printers, tablets, and digital cameras | 14 days from receipt |
| Small appliances | 14 days from receipt |
| Furniture | 14 days from receipt |
| Unopened boxed software currently sold by Staples | 30 days |
| Unopened, unexpired ink and toner | At any time |
| Gift, prepaid, and phone cards | Nonreturnable and nonrefundable |
Furniture must be disassembled and safe for shipping. Custom-ordered or custom-assembled furniture is returnable only if defective upon arrival.
What Condition Must Returned Items Be In?
Staples requires sellable condition and original packaging, including the UPC, manuals, and all parts. Bring the receipt or packing slip.
Opening a package does not establish eligibility by itself. Check the category restriction before using the product:
- Opened boxed software and downloadable software: Not returnable or refundable under the current Help Center policy.
- Opened headsets, headphones, and earbuds: Staples’ published return terms exclude them.
- Ink and toner: Must be unopened and unexpired.
Do not rely on older software terms promising exchanges for opened software; the current Help Center states otherwise.
How to Return an Item to Staples
Returning an Item In Store
Bring the item and receipt or packing slip to a Staples retail store. Online purchases can also be returned there.
Before transporting furniture, confirm how it must be prepared. For electronics, backing up and removing personal information is a sensible precaution.
Starting an Online Return
For an eligible online order:
- Open Orders, then Purchase History.
- Find the order and select Returns.
- Check the item’s eligibility expiry date.
- Confirm your contact information and pickup address.
- Enter the number of boxes, items, quantities, and return reason.
- Submit the request.
- Follow the confirmation instructions and print a label if provided.
Guest shoppers can look up an order using the order number and delivery ZIP code. Staples emails a confirmation after submission. Save it alongside any carrier handoff receipt.
The assigned process may involve a shipping label or arranged pickup. Do not assume every return uses the same carrier or drop-off method.
Can You Return an Item Without a Receipt?
A lost receipt does not necessarily prevent a return. Staples says the original store can look up a purchase using the credit or debit card used to pay. Online customers can retrieve their receipt from order history.
If the transaction cannot be located, an eligible receiptless return receives in-store credit at the lowest selling price during the previous 30 days. Valid government-issued identification is required, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
For gifts, establish whether you have a gift receipt before processing the return. Staples’ published gift-receipt terms provide in-store credit; an ordinary refund to the original payment method goes to the buyer.
Return Shipping Fees and Original Delivery Charges
Staples advertises free online returns for online and phone purchases. Use its authorized instructions rather than paying independently for shipping and assuming reimbursement.
Return shipping and original delivery charges are different. Staples’ return FAQ says delivery charges are refunded when a delivered item is defective. Do not assume a change-of-mind return also refunds the original delivery charge.
Store purchases must go back to a store; Staples does not provide pickup for those purchases.
Refund Methods and Processing Times
Refunds generally go to the original payment method. For warehouse returns, the current Help Center lists these processing periods after the warehouse receives the return:
| Refund Type | Published Processing Period |
|---|---|
| Major or prepaid credit card | 3–5 business days |
| Gift card | Emailed within 3 business days |
| Check | Mailed within 7–10 business days |
| Easy Rewards points | Within 3 business days |
Shipping transit occurs before warehouse processing. Check mailing time also differs from check delivery time.
Coupons are not restored: the refund reflects the discounted amount paid. Missing promotional products or promotional gift cards can reduce the refund.
Exchanges, Damaged Items, and Supplier Orders
Staples’ return FAQ permits a same-priced exchange with a receipt, subject to eligibility. Category exclusions still apply.
For damage, defects, or an incorrect delivery, use the relevant Help Center option or contact support before arranging shipment yourself. Photograph the issue and retain the packaging while requesting instructions.
An order shipped by a Staples Trusted Supplier can be returned through Staples, including at a store. This provision concerns purchases placed with Staples; it does not establish return rights for purchases from unrelated sellers.
Easy Rewards and Holiday Returns
Returning a qualifying purchase reverses the Easy Rewards points earned on it, including related bonus points. The adjustment can create a negative points balance.
Do not assume membership extends a product’s deadline. Likewise, do not use holiday dates from older policy pages for a current purchase. Confirm any applicable holiday extension before relying on it.
What to Do If a Return Is Denied
Ask which requirement prevented acceptance, then check the category, deadline, condition, and purchase record. Bring missing documentation if available.
For assistance, call 800-333-3330 or use the Help Center chat. Have the order number, item details, and return confirmation ready.
If the return period has expired, check your product’s actual warranty or purchased protection-plan terms. A warranty claim is a separate process and should not be assumed to extend the retail return window.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Staples Have a Universal 30-Day Return Policy?
No. Identify the category first; office supplies and technology have substantially different rules.
Can Online Orders Be Returned In Store?
Yes. Bring the item and its receipt or packing slip.
Can Store Purchases Be Returned by Mail?
Staples requires store purchases to be returned in store.
Can Opened Software Be Exchanged?
Do not rely on that option. The current Help Center excludes opened boxed software from returns and refunds.
Should I Keep My Prepaid Payment Card?
Yes. Retain it until you are satisfied with the purchase because refunds generally return to the original payment method.
Conclusion
The most useful first step under the Staples Return Policy is identifying your product category. Check the deadline before preparing the item, retrieve your receipt where possible, and gather its packaging and components. Online shoppers should review the displayed eligibility date and follow the return instructions provided for their order. Keep confirmation and handoff records until the refund is complete. If eligibility is unclear, contact Staples before the deadline rather than relying on an older policy page or assuming another category’s rules apply.