Shopping TIPS "Blog"

[pasharain]

Check this thread for Tips!
This this sticky is a "blog" of sorts to keep all the good shopping tips in the forum in one convenient place! Scroll down for tip posts.

Like an offer or coupon you find here?
Please it before leaving. This keeps the forum full of current deals, as bumping "Valid Deals" drops the "Dead Deals" to the bottom of the forum.

Thank You
for dropping by the Office Max forum!

aa

[pasharain]

Use Discounted Gift Cards & Watch Your Savings Soar
Did you know that you can purchase discounted gift cards for Office Max and a ton of other stores online? Combine that with a coupon and watch your savings soar. I stumbled across this article one day - click HERE - in Oprah Winfrey's O magazine and have been hooked on buying discounted GCs ever since.


Personally, I prefer plasticjungle.com (the site mentioned in the article above), but have used cardpool.com as a backup. There are many other online sites offering discounted GCs, just be sure they are reputable before making a purchase.


eBay has a plethora of listings for GCs too, but I prefer the convenience of PJ and CP. Plus, PJ and CP verify the balances and offer a guarantee without me having to sort through tons of different sellers' feedback scores.

[pasharain]

Buying Empty "Virgin" HP Cartridges for Recycling on eBay
How to make a little money while saving the planet.

Whilst searching for something else entirely, I stumbled upon an eBay listing for "Empty Virgin HP Cartridges." Apparently, "virgin" means never refilled. It occurred to me that by buying these cartridges I could maximize my recycling rewards at OM. I searched for the lowest price and, more importantly, a reputable seller by checking feedback.


I purchased 50 cartridges for $.30 each and stood to profit $2.70 per cartridge by recycling. It all seemed too good to be true. But, a few days later, I happily accepted my box from UPS and recycled 20 cartridges the next day!

Since they occassionally run $5 per cartridge recycling specials, it is best to recycle at the end of the month. Holding out to the end of the month ensures you do not miss any such specials.


VERY IMPORTANT
At OM, you can only get back recycling reward "money" up to the amount you have already spent in the store.

IF YOU DO NOT PLAN TO SPEND FIRST, DO NOT RECYCLE. THEY WILL NOT PAY YOU FOR CARTRIDGES IF YOU HAVE NOT PURCHASED ANYTHING IN THEIR STORE.


You can recycle up to 20 cartridges per month, which are valued at $3 each provided you spend $3 in the store for each cartridged recycled prior to recycling rewards being issued.


For example, if you bring in 20 cartridges throughout Month 1 and spend $50 on qualified purchases, your Month 1 Recycling rewards earned will be $60 but the rewards that will be issued to you will be $48 (which is $3 for each of 16 cartridges). The remaining $12 for the last 4 cartridges will be held in your account in a “pending” status until you make additional qualified purchases in at least $3 increments in subsequent months or until January 1 of the following year, when the account balance will be reset to $0. If no purchases are made by Dec. 31, recycling rewards are forfeited.


If any of this does not make sense, please ask. I will be happy to help you.

[pasharain]

Save on Ink Using eBay!

Office Max rarely excludes the purchase of ink on their coupons and almost always has $10 off $20 coupons available. I get mine on eBay.


If you have two different Office Max coupons, most OM will honor them both in the same visit provided you perform two separate transactions.


Please note: When shopping on eBay be sure to check the seller's feedback in order to make sure you are dealing with someone reputible, who is trading valid coupon