Staples Canada

Self serve machines do 4 main functions: copy, scan, fax, print. You’ll find that customers find printing from their phone, laptop, tablet, etc. the most difficult, so try to get acquainted with that process first for a smooth ride. Copying function: for all standard size papers (8.5x11, 8.5x14, 11x17), i recommend putting all papers FACE UP in the top scanner to be fed through and copied, it goes quicker and (in my opinion) gives a higher quality print. Anything that is weirdly sized (ID’s, checks, cards, etc…) lift up the top scanner and use the glass to copy the items. When using the glass, put all items FACE DOWN (facing the glass!!!) to copy correctly. Also be aware that the machine’s go-to paper size is automatically going to be 8.5x11 with flatbed scanning, so make sure all items being scanned fit within a 8.5x11 portrait (the flatbed has ruler guides for this!), you can change paper size as needed though. With copying, customers will ask you about double sided printing and all other variations, they go as so: 1-1: single sided copying 1-2: single sided papers BECOME double sided (makes two papers become one) 2-1: double sided papers BECOME single sided (separates the sides of the sheet) 2-2: double sided copying 2-2 is the most common type but occasionally a customer will throw you a curve ball. Also feel free to get acquainted with the resizing tool in self serve, along with the darkening and lightening tools. Scanning function: you can choose to scan to EMAIL, or USB. Most customers choose email, and it’s mainly straightforward, all the customer does is type in the emails they want to send it to. Please note when emailing, the customer HAS to press the little ‘+’ button after entering the email otherwise you’ll get an error code that says “add recipients” or something similar. That’s by far the biggest issue with sending emails via self serve. As with copying, I recommend putting all sheets in the top scanner for both speed and customer satisfaction (for some reasons customers love seeing each page go through. Peace of mind I guess?). Again, make sure they are face up, LONG EDGE FIRST. Email scanning includes the option to add: subject, messages, scanning quality, file name. Customer has to type all these in, and they are ALL OPTIONAL. For USB scanning, customers just plug in their USB and continue with the process, they are able to make folders in their USB to save their scans to as well, which I find very helpful. Faxing functions: this is by FAR, the EASIEST thing to do. All that is needed is the fax number. The customer just punches in the fax number on the screen, and puts their papers in the scanner (again, I always recommend the top feeder! Face up!! Long edge first!!) The only real special options for faxing is a digital cover sheet, which the customer fills out themselves following prompts. (Digital cover sheet prints out a physical cover sheet for the recipient of the fax being sent… honestly it’s just easier to have the customer fill out a physical cover sheet sometimes) The other special option is if the fax is double sided or single sided. Please note, if the papers being faxed are all one sided EXCEPT one double sided sheet, the customer will be charged for all of the blanks being sent as well. To save the customer money, I recommend making a 2-1 copy of the double sided sheet and faxing the new single sided sheets instead of the original double sided one. The only downside to faxing is, on average, takes about 1-2 minutes per page to send. Oh, and it’s also expensive as hell. Customer at my location complain about the price every day. Printing functions: this is, by far, the most popular (and my least favorite). The options here are to print from email or USB. USB is typically very easy, all the customer does is plug in their USB, and choose their files and print. Email is where things get messy, because you will need to be able to help troubleshoot customer’s phones sometimes. Essentially, our machines take .JPEG, .PDF, and occasionally, .DOC/.DOX files (on a good day). You’ll always want a .PDF, honestly. Customers email the files they want printed to [email protected] , and from there they wait for a release code to use at self serve to print their files. I think I covered all of the basics of self serve printing, I hope this helps More on reddit.com

Other than a great slogan (Staples is Human), there are some other benefits you can’t get from Amazon. You can use your contract account in store and receive the better of your contract price or retail price. You can have real human interactions with real people. If you shop in store you can price match other retailers including Amazon (if shipped and sold by Amazon). I’m sure there are plenty of other great reasons, but I say, go to the stores whenever you can. Unless you are in Canada. More on reddit.com

As rabid as they are about this shitty app I’d say at least as far as brick and mortar it’s circling the drain. More on reddit.com

Worldwide? Not long for the remaining international stores. But in general the numbers/growth for the online businesses are growing. Retail is a separate entity from .com so I can’t tell you much about the actually stores. But just like almost any business, my guess is in the next 10-20 years retail will essentially die and online business will be all that’s left lol More on reddit.com