10 Ways to Save on Office Supplies
by Kathryn Tyler
Pens, paper, paper clips, and pencils. Though they do not cost a lot individually, they are items you buy repeatedly and use in large quantities-especially if you have children in school, homeschool, or have a home-based business-which means there is potential for huge savings. For instance, if you add up the amount of paper you use in a month, a 50¢ difference between the name-brand and generic brand may save you $50 or more per year. That is why it is especially important to examine these expenses regularly and to keep looking for cheaper sources. A few tips to save:
- Manage supply levels meticulously. Keep extras on hand. If you don't, you will end up paying top-dollar at a stationery store the night before a project is due.
- Buy stationery from the post office. For 3¢-13¢ more than postage, you can buy stamped envelopes pre-printed with your return address. Envelopes from a printer cost about 15¢ each-and that does not include postage. That is a savings of as much as 12¢ per envelope! Pre-stamped, blank stationery is an even better deal. For the same price as postage or a penny more, you can buy envelopes (33¢) and postcards (21¢). For more information, contact your post office or the Philatelic Fulfillment Service Center at (800) 782-6724.
- Use a cartridge recycling service. The toner cartridges in copiers and laser and ink jet printers can be refilled several times for about $50 each time. A new printer toner cartridge costs $75-$100! Remanufacturing services vary widely, so choose a service carefully. To find a service, look in the Yellow Pages or on the Internet.
- Reduce paper consumption. Use your computer's print preview, grammar-check, and spell-check options. Edit on the screen as much as possible. Print one final rough draft to proofread on paper.
- Get on office supply store mailing lists. In the mail I received a $15 coupon toward any purchase at Staples. For the coupon and $1, I bought: a box of ball-point pens, one ream of copier paper, one box of jumbo paper clips, a highlighter pen, and a Month-At-A-Glance calendar!
- Use rechargeable batteries. Rechargeables have a higher initial cost because you must buy the recharger. But, unlike disposables, you can use them over and over again which lowers the cost per use. Four AA size batteries cost about 1¢ per hour of use as opposed to 9¢-16¢ per hour of use for disposables.
- Join a warehouse club. CostCo and Sam's Club offer bulk supplies at discount prices. Though they require an annual membership fee ($40), the cost is worthwhile for individuals who buy other household items (i.e., toilet paper). Before joining, request a free day pass.
- Regularly attend garage sales and flea markets. You probably already buy other items at garage sales, why not office supplies? It's not a reliable source, but when they can be found, they are phenomenal bargains. I bought four like-new three-ring binders at a garage sale for $1.
- Use mail-order. Mail-order office supply companies are convenient because they deliver to your door, which saves gas and time. Many companies will waive shipping and handling charges if you order more than $50 worth of supplies. That may sound like a lot until you consider that one recycled printer cartridge costs $50. Below are several mail-order companies to consider. I think OfficeMax has the best prices, but you still need to compare each item you buy as one source rarely has everything you need.
OfficeMax
phone: (800) 788-8080
fax: (800) 995-9644
web site: Officemax.com
Shipping & Handling: Free next-business-day delivery within delivery area with a minimum order of $50. Under $50, costs $12 to ship. Delivery area determined by proximity to stores.
Penny Wise Office Products
phone: (800) 942-3311
fax: (800) 622-4411
web site: none listed. Have your modem dial (800) 752-3012.
Shipping & Handling: Free delivery within the continental US on orders over $25-a significantly lower minimum than most mail-order companies.
Comments: With the sales flyer, I received a coupon for $5 off my first order of $25 or more. If you order via computer, you can take an additional 3 percent off of the price. There is a $25 minimum order. One advantage of Penny Wise is that you do not need to buy in as large of quantities as you do with most mail-order office supply companies.
Quill Corporation
phone: (800) 789-8965
fax: (800) 789-8955
Shipping & Handling: Free on most orders over $45 in the contiguous 48 states. Quill charges a $2.50 small order processing charge for orders under $20.
Comments: I received a coupon for 20 percent off my first order. And Quill advertises several special sales. For instance, if you buy 12 rolls of Scotch tape for $16.68, you get a 5-pack of colored Post-it Notes for free. (The Penny Wise catalog lists those 2 items at a total of $19.13-a savings of $5.29.) Quill has its own line of office supplies that are guaranteed and cheaper than the name-brand. With my first order I received several samples of Quill brand supplies and I was pleased with them.
Staples, Inc.
phone: (800) 333-3330
fax: (800) 333-3199
web site: Staples.com
Shipping & Handling: Free next-day delivery on orders over $50 within local delivery area (if under $50, delivery costs $10). Delivery areas are determined by the store nearest you.
Viking Office Products
phone: (800) 421-1222
fax: (800) 762-7329
web site: Vikingop.com
Shipping & Handling: Free on orders of $25 or more ($2.83 on orders less than $25).
Wholesale Supply Company
phone: (800) 962-9162
fax: (800) 962-4FAX
Shipping & Handling: You pay. There is a minimum $25 order.
Comments: The catalog is illustrated completely in black and white drawings so you have to look closely at the products to ensure you are ordering the right color and size. The prices, though, are clearly displayed. Some of the products are listed as "Name Brand," but the brand will vary based on the market price at the time of your order.
10. Maintain a catalog library. Once you have sent for all of the mail-order office supply catalogs, keep them on hand. This is an easy way to compare prices quickly. Toss the old ones as new ones arrive.
Office supplies is an area in which foresight yields substantial savings. Don't overlook where you can save a few dollars or cents-it adds up quickly!
Kathryn Tyler, M.A. is a freelance writer and co-author (with Jay Conrad Levinson) of Guerrilla Saving: Secrets for Keeping Profits in Your Home-Based Business (John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2000; $19.95). Kathryn and Jay interviewed 64 experts and home-based businesspeople for the book, including Gary Foreman, editor of The Dollar Stretcher. To order copies of the book, contact the publisher at 800-225-5945 ext. 2497. Excerpts are available on Kathryn's website at Kathryntyler.com.
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