I would just like to offer my own thoughts on Staples, I am neither fond of or dusgusted by the shop for reasons that you will see now throughout this review. I am rating my own local store, for which I have frequented this week - this is why I am now writing a revview on it! I cannot speak for other stores, as I have not been in to them.
Staples is probably by far one of the largest suppliers in the country, for office and/ or home equipment. By this is meant anything from desks; through computers (along with all of their related accessories); through printing and photocopying services, right down notebooks pens and staples (literally). The stock they sell is top brand names (Epsom; HP; Canon etc etc etc), but in terms of ink cartridges etc they do in fact sell their own makes (but compatible with the top brand nnames) - usually at about 3/4 the price.
My local shop is built right in the city centre, but is still based around one of those 'warehousey' style designs rather just like those large out of town DIY places. As soon as you walk in to theh shop, you are greeted by floor to ceiling shelves with rows of goods on them all just waiting to be purchased by the awaiting British oublic. Of coure, in order to get to the higher stock it is best to ask a sales assistant to risk their own lives by climbing up on one of those rickety old ladders to reach that last carton of ink for you.
This leads me on to my next point, that being the one of staffing levels. Midweek staff are the usual 'oldies', that is those with a little bit more experience who have been doing the job for a while - maybe not at Staples, but have had more of that all round retail experience that is so often lacking. More often than not however, it is usually lacking at the weekend when none of the regular staff want to work. Therefore, they put the stroppy teengaers on shift who are only there to keep them going in supplies of fags; cheap booze, and die cast models of Lord of the Rings. OK, a bit generalised but you get my meaning.
Half the time when I go in to Staples, there appears to be not a lot of staff on the floor. There is usually one manning the tills, along with about another two filling shelves. But they are cheerful (generally) in their jobs, and will do whatever they can (generally) to help you out.
Because of the long opening hours (around 8 - 8 weekdays; 8 - 6 Saturdays, 10.30 - 4.30 ish on a Sunday), the shop is never too busy. Granted, you only go in there when you need to get some office equipment so the shop is never full of people milling about. This means that the queues are pretty small, leaving you to get on with your day.
Returning goods holds the same restrictions as pretty much all shops, thatis that you can 'return a purchase within 28 days blah blah blah'. However, I have never had to do this (yet) because the standard of goods is so high.
I cannot comment here on their delivery policy, as I have to report that I have neverused it. I don't even know if there IS one, but this is the only aspect of the store that I have not used.
There is a oublic/ pay and display car park attached to the shop provided for by the local council, meaning that you don't have to take those heavy items very far.. The council have also given over half a level to the shop, for free parking for those who shop in the store. Thse spaces are painted over red (as opposed to the others being in blue), and thankfully the service is still there as it has the potential to be abused. But with that said, there is in fact a security guard who regularly patrols the area.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I used to work for a computer solutions provider across the road from the Cambridge branch...we could be quite evil if we were bored on a Friday afternoon, and decided to wander over there and pretend to be 'normal' customers.
Jan 31st, 2009
exceptional by (5%):
very helpful by (95%):
