Amazon and Staples have made it official, as all of the latter’s retail locations will accept Amazon returns as of July 31, 2023.
According to a June 29 statement, "eligible unpackaged, unlabeled, Amazon items can be dropped off at the full-service shipping area inside Staples locations across the country, providing a convenient return option for Amazon customers."
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In addition, after completing the Amazon product exchange, Staples customers will be given a coupon for discounts on in-store products and services that are good for the same day the Amazon return is made.
Amazon and Staples have worked together on a pilot program to test product return capabilities at select Staples locations through the last six months of 2022.
That campaign apparently worked well for both parties, as the number of Staples stores that offered Amazon return services has already swelled to over approximately half of the 1,000 Staples locations across the U.S. Now that the partnership is official, all 1,000 stores will provide Amazon package return services by the end of July.
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The deal could bear fruit for Staples by keeping Amazon consumers in their stores to buy computer products, paper, pens, and other office supplies. When Kohls began accepting returns in 2020, company executives said foot traffic rose by two million people for the year.
If Staples can drive that many Amazon customers into their stores, a significant revenue boost should follow.
“While many Americans know Staples for back-to-school shopping, our suite of in-store services continues to expand. We look forward to offering a fast and convenient return experience while showcasing our evolution to Amazon customers,” said senior vice president of services at Staples US Retail, Craig Grayson.
For its part, Amazon will add another physical store package drop-off network in Staples. The digital shopping giant already has package return deals with The UPS Store, Whole Foods, and Kohls.
“We’re thrilled to offer nearly 1,000 additional drop-off locations in the U.S. for Amazon customer returns in collaboration with Staples,” said Amazon vice president of worldwide returns and ecommerce Gopal Pillai. “Our goal is to make buying online as easy as possible, and we know that some items don’t always work out as planned, which is why we work hard to continue to raise the bar in offering a hassle-free returns experience to our customers.”
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