Staples Black Friday events have historically featured a variety of promotional offers, including items available for one cent after rebates and discounts on custom printing services. These promotions often target home office essentials, technology accessories, and holiday-related printing needs. Based on the provided source material, Staples has offered specific freebie-style deals during past Black Friday sales events, primarily structured as rebates that reduce the final cost to one cent or provide significant percentage discounts. The availability of these offers is typically limited to specific dates and often requires in-store purchases or redemption through Staples' Easy Rebate system.
Historical Freebie and One-Cent Deals
During specific Black Friday events, Staples has offered products for one cent after an Easy Rebate. These deals function as effectively free items once the rebate is processed. The source material identifies two distinct one-cent offers from past sales events.
One offer featured Staples Multipurpose Paper, 8 1/2" x 11", 500/Ream. This item was priced at $7.99 with a $7.98 Easy Rebate, resulting in a final cost of one cent. This promotion was available only on November 25 and 26 of the referenced year. Another offer included Kaspersky Internet Security 2017 for Windows (1 User) [Boxed]. This software was priced at $59.99, received instant savings of $14.98, and had a $45 Easy Rebate, bringing the final price to one cent. This offer was valid from November 24 through November 26. Both deals required the submission of an Easy Rebate to achieve the one-cent price point.
In addition to product rebates, Staples has offered promotional discounts on services. A notable example is the 25% off expedited UPS shipping services available in-store. This discount was valid from November 1 through January 2, allowing customers to ship gifts at a reduced rate during the holiday season.
Holiday Card and Custom Printing Promotions
Custom printing services are a recurring category for Staples promotions, particularly during the holiday season. The source material references an offer for 25 free 5x7 holiday cards. This promotion required a purchase at Staples on Black Friday to receive a coupon. The coupon could then be redeemed online at staples.com/customblackfriday to obtain the free cards. This specific offer is noted in a forum discussion from November 2014, indicating it was a past promotional strategy.
More recent data regarding Staples' Black Friday 2025 plans indicates a continued focus on printing services. The retailer is expected to offer 60% off all custom cards and photo gifts. This discount applies to personalized items, which are popular during the holiday season for gift-giving and greeting cards. While the 25 free cards offer was a specific coupon-based promotion, the 60% discount represents a substantial price reduction on similar custom printing services.
Current and Upcoming Black Friday Offers (2025)
Staples has released a sneak peek of some deals for Black Friday 2025, with sales scheduled to run from November 23 through December 6, or while supplies last. It is noted that most offers are available in-store only. The following deals have been identified for the upcoming event:
- Apple Airtags 4-Pack: Priced at $69.99, a reduction from the regular price of $99.00.
- Emerge Vomax Gaming Chair: Available for $169.99, down from a regular price of $379.99.
- Gaming Console Bonus: Customers purchasing any gaming console will receive $50 in points.
- Apple AirPods Pro Wireless Earbuds: Priced at $149.00, reduced from $249.00.
- Printers: Available for as low as $49.99.
- Laptops: Up to 40% off select models, with some priced at $249.99 (regularly $499.99).
- Apple iPad: The 128GB, Gen 11 model is priced at $279.00, down from $562.00.
These deals focus heavily on technology and electronics, which are standard categories for Black Friday sales. The inclusion of $50 in points for gaming console purchases provides an additional value incentive beyond the direct discount on hardware.
Rebate Processes and Eligibility
The "Easy Rebate" system is the primary method utilized by Staples to offer products at one cent. This process typically involves purchasing the eligible item at the regular price, submitting proof of purchase (such as a receipt or UPC code) through the Staples website, and receiving a rebate check or prepaid card for the rebate amount. The sources indicate that these rebates are essential to accessing the one-cent pricing on items like paper and software.
Specific eligibility requirements, such as purchase limits or submission deadlines, are not detailed in the source material. However, the offers are strictly limited to the dates specified (e.g., November 24-26). Customers interested in these deals must act within the promotional window and follow the rebate submission instructions carefully to ensure they receive the full discount.
Custom Cards and Photo Gifts Discount
The 60% off promotion for custom cards and photo gifts is a significant discount for holiday shoppers. This offer allows customers to create personalized items at a fraction of the regular cost. While the source material does not specify the exact types of photo gifts included, typically these categories encompass items such as photo books, calendars, mugs, and ornaments.
Unlike the one-cent rebates, this discount is applied at the point of sale, either online or in-store. The 2025 Black Friday ad indicates this will be part of the upcoming sales event, providing an opportunity for customers to prepare holiday mailers and gifts at a reduced price.
Technology and Hardware Discounts
Staples' Black Friday sales consistently feature technology hardware. The 2025 preview highlights significant discounts on Apple products, gaming accessories, and computing hardware.
- Apple Products: The inclusion of Airtags and AirPods at discounted rates appeals to users of the Apple ecosystem. The iPad discount is particularly steep, offering a 128GB model for nearly half the regular price.
- Gaming: The Emerge Vartan and Vomax gaming chairs are featured in both past and upcoming sales, with price points ranging from $149.99 to $169.99, representing savings of over $200 off regular prices. The $50 in points for console purchases adds value to buying the main hardware.
- Computing: The HP Pavilion Laptop deal from a previous year (2020) illustrates the type of discount Staples offers on computers: $349.99 for a machine regularly priced at $629. The 2025 preview continues this trend with up to 40% off select laptops.
These technology deals are standard for Black Friday and provide substantial savings for consumers looking to upgrade home office setups or purchase holiday gifts.
Shipping and Service Discounts
In addition to product sales, Staples offers discounts on shipping services. The 25% off expedited UPS shipping services is a practical offer for customers mailing gifts or packages during the holidays. This discount is available in-store and covers expedited services, which are typically more expensive than standard shipping.
The source material also notes that Staples offers curbside and in-store pickup options to avoid shipping costs altogether. This is relevant for customers who prefer to shop online but pick up items locally to save on delivery fees.
Restrictions and Availability
Based on the source material, several restrictions apply to Staples Black Friday offers:
- In-Store Availability: The 2025 preview explicitly states that "most offers are available in-store only." This suggests that the best deals, particularly on high-demand items, may not be available online.
- Limited Time: Offers are valid only during specific windows. For example, the 2025 sale runs from November 23 to December 6. The one-cent paper offer was valid for only two days.
- Supplies Last: The 2025 preview notes that deals are available "while supplies last," indicating that stock may be limited for popular items like the discounted iPads or gaming chairs.
- Rebate Requirements: Achieving one-cent pricing requires the submission and approval of an Easy Rebate, which involves a separate process after the initial purchase.
The source material indicates that coupons are generally not usable at Staples on Black Friday. This is a common restriction for major sales events at many retailers.
Conclusion
Staples Black Friday events provide opportunities for consumers to acquire free or heavily discounted items through rebates and percentage-off discounts. Historical data confirms the availability of one-cent products such as multipurpose paper and software following Easy Rebate submission. Upcoming sales for 2025 focus on technology discounts, including Apple products and gaming accessories, as well as significant savings on custom printing services for the holidays. Consumers looking to take advantage of these offers should note the specific dates of the sales, the likelihood of in-store exclusivity for major deals, and the requirement to submit rebates for the lowest prices on select items.