How to Maximize the Staples Preferred Program

The Staples Preferred program is an unusual rewards program designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It provides a very small discount on purchases, along with simple perks and benefits like extended return windows.

This article reviews the Staples program in detail, including its benefits and downsides, plus a few credit card recommendations for businesses shopping with this retail giant.

What is Staples Preferred?

Staples Preferred Canada is a loyalty rewards program specifically designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It's free for business owners to join, and membership gives instant preferred pricing, printing discounts, and other perks.

You don't earn points, so there's nothing to keep track of or redeem. Instead, benefits are automatically applied when you shop at Staples.

Staples Preferred overview

Currency: None

Redemption options: Discounts on eligible purchases, discounts on printing services, gifts with purchases

Pros:

• Free to join
• Free delivery
• No complicated earning or reward structures
• Begin enjoying discounts and perks immediately
• No status tiers to keep track of

Cons:

• Limited opportunities to earn tailored rewards
• Program is pretty basic
• Discount is fairly low
• Hard to get value from the program without making a purchase

What are Staples Preferred rewards worth?

It's hard to put an exact value on your Staples Preferred rewards, since you're not cashing in reward currency. Instead, the more you shop at Staples, the more the program is worth.

Check out a quick overview of this program's rewards:

How to earn Staples Preferred rewards

To access all the perks and benefits of the program, log in to your Staples account using the email you used to sign up for Staples Preferred.

From there, you can make purchases and receive the Preferred Pricing discount, order printing services at a discounted rate, and access promo codes for all available business benefits.

Best credit cards to use for Staples Preferred rewards

Using the right business credit card can help stretch your company's dollars even further. Here are our recommendations:

How to redeem Staples Preferred rewards

Unlike typical reward programs, Staples Preferred doesn't issue redeemable currency like points or miles. Instead, the value of the Staples Preferred program comes from simply taking advantage of everyday savings and related perks.

Basically, the more you shop with Staples, the more value you'll get from membership.

Preferred pricing and everyday savings

With your membership, you'll get a small but reliable Preferred Pricing discount – 10% off printing services and up to 3% on other purchases.

Unfortunately, this discount doesn't apply to all products at Staples. Only select in-store products give this discount, which you receive when you provide your email at checkout.

Gifts with purchase

Every time you spend $125 or more, you'll unlock a free gift that you can choose from a limited selection – think snacks, treats, and small everyday essentials.

Free delivery

When you're shopping online for business items, you'll get free next-day delivery with no minimum spending requirement.

Discounts on printing and marketing materials

Whether you're shopping online or in-store, you'll get 10% off printing services. Just tell the representative you're a Preferred member and give the email address associated with your Preferred account.

Access to Staples Business Account

If you want access to more business tools and account dashboards, sole proprietors and small to mid-sized businesses may be eligible for a Staples Business Account with these features:

• Receive a Staples Business Card for online and/or in-store shopping
• No annual fee
• Add up to 10 authorized users
• No established business credit required (apply with personal credit)
• Dedicated credit limit
• Earn a 4% voucher each quarter (based on non-financed purchases)
• Flexible payment terms - defer purchases for up to 12 months
• Track your purchases with detailed billing

Are Staples Preferred rewards worth it?

We usually like to see what actual members have to say about a program, but with Staples Preferred, it was challenging to find any responses.

We suspect it's because Staples Preferred is only available in Canada and only open to business owners.

That said, it's easy to see that this program could beef up some of its rewards. A 3% store discount on some items isn't the most competitive strategy for rewarding business members. Instead, business owners would do well to participate in a business credit card reward program that offers better business tools and rewards.

FAQ

What does Staples Preferred mean?

Staples Preferred is the store's free program designed for business owners. Staples encourages owners to shop the store by offering preferred pricing, free delivery, discounts on printing services, access to a Staples Business Account, and more. It's tailored for sole proprietors and small to mid-sized businesses.

How is Staples Preferred different from Staples Easy Rewards?

Staples Easy Rewards is a traditional loyalty reward program offered by Staples locations in the U.S. – but it's not available in Canada at all. Instead, Staples Canada offers the Staples Preferred program, with discounts and perks designed with small and medium-sized businesses in mind.

What are the key differences between Staples Business Advantage and Staples Preferred memberships?

The biggest difference between Staples Business Advantage and Staples Preferred is that one is for big businesses and commercial enterprises, while the other is for smaller companies. Staples Business Advantage is meant for large contracts, government groups, and commercial contracts, while Staples Preferred is for small to medium-sized business owners and operators.

How do I become a Staples Preferred customer?

If you own or operate a small or medium-sized business, visit the Staples Preferred website and click "Sign Up." Follow the prompts to provide your contact information and business details. Once you submit your application, Staples will email you about completing your registration and accessing the program's benefits.

How can I contact Staples Preferred customer service in Canada?

You can contact Staples about the Preferred program on its website via a chatbot or you can call customer service at 1 888-STAPLES (782-7537). You can reach a representative during weekdays from 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM ET.