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Staples Review

Thursday, December 5th

2024 Graduation Invitation Store Reviews

Staples Review 4 Star Rating

Staples

4 Star Rating
  • Pricing starts at $27.99 for 25 cards
  • Ships in 5-7 days
  • 200+ unique designs
  • Some returns in 14 days
  • Free in-store pickup
  • Same-day pickup
  • "A+” rating from the BBB

Staples, an American office supply retail company based in Framingham, Massachusetts, has been a top choice for workspace essentials for more than 35 years. Founded by Leo Kahn and Thomas G. Stemberg, it opened its inaugural store in Brighton, Massachusetts on May 1, 1986. Renowned for its vast selection of office supplies, furniture, technology, and cleaning products, Staples is also known for its extensive print services. One of the benefits of using Staples is the large number of brick-and-mortar locations available, so you can choose in-store pickup to avoid paying for shipping.

200+ design styles

With over 200 different designs to choose from, Staples offers a competitive variety of graduation invitations. You can simplify your search by using the filters for color, number of photos, orientation, card type, and size, and whether or not you want a design on the back of the card as well as the front. However, there's no way to limit by price, and pricing details are hidden until you click through to the individual invitation page. So, this could create a lot more back-and-forth browsing that may frustrate some shoppers on a budget.

Some customization flexibility

The design tools at Staples are pretty useful. You can move around and add text as well as move and change clipart as much as you want. Only a few things stay the same: the background, which may include some clipart depending on the design you picked initially, and the locations of the photos. Staples also offers a helpful visual of a "safe area” where you can put new elements for your design. This helps you maintain a good positioning so pieces of your invitation don't get cut off or warped during printing.

Best Graduation Invitation Stores

Prices start at $27.99 for 25 cards

For most of the graduation invitations at Staples, you have to buy a 25-card minimum. So, starting prices for the lower-cost cards will sit around $27.99 for 25 cards. This is for the lowest-tier size option and the cheapest stationery. The price also includes in-store pickup. If you want your cards delivered to you, the price will immediately go up. If you add all the top-tier upgrades, the cards can go up to $54.99 for 25 cards.

Return policy lacks transparency

The return policy for custom invitations is hard to find on the Staples website. For items that can be returned or qualify for refunds, you have 14 days. However, things like custom furniture can't be returned at all. So, there's a high chance you might run into return trouble for custom invitations too. You may want to reach out to Staples' customer service to double-check the policy there.

Free same-day pickup in-store

With Staples, you have two ways to get your graduation invitations. First, you can sign up for in-store delivery. This allows you to pick up your invitations the same day if you order before 12pm. If you choose shipping, Staples only offers one option: 5-7-day delivery. However, with shipping, you do get more styles for designs than you do if you choose in-store pickup.

Best Graduation Invitation Stores

Solid reputation for quality prints

In general, Staples gets 3.5 stars out of 5 for its print services across different review sites. However, the buzz for Staples online is dependent on specific locations. So, the reviews for your local Staples may be completely different than the reviews for Staples overall. As a business, Staples has an "A+” rating on the Better Business Bureau, and in general, customers who used the print services for invitations said that the process was quick and easy and the prints were exactly as they were pictured online. While some of the poor reviews were related to long lines or poor customer service at specific Staples locations, none of these reviews were related to the print services specifically.

Top option for quick delivery

With a large variety of designs and some flexibility with the design tool, Staples stands out as a place where you can get some unique graduation invitations. On top of competitive reviews for their print services and pricing, Staples also offers free in-store pickup, completely negating the need for shipping costs. For these reasons, it earns a solid rating in our review as it offers multiple ways to get high-quality graduation invitations (and get them quickly if you're in a pinch).

Where is the Best Place to Get Graduation Invitations?

Graduation invitations are more than just a piece of paper; they're a way to celebrate a significant milestone in your life and share your achievement with friends, family, and loved ones. Sending out graduation invitations allows you to commemorate your academic success and invite others to join in the celebration of your accomplishments. Plus, it's a great excuse to throw a party and have some fun.

While before the designs for graduation invitations might have been limited, there are tons of sites online that allow you to create completely custom invites with unique pictures, colorful designs, and fun extras. There are limitless options in the modern era, and you can have your designs quickly shipped out with no hassle.

The Best Graduation Invitation Stores Compare Graduation Invitation Stores Compare Graduation Invitation Store Reviews What are the best Graduation Invitation Stores Best Graduation Invitation Store Reviews

Graduation Invitation Store FAQ

A graduation invitation is a formal announcement sent to friends and family to invite them to your school's graduation ceremony. They are sent to a smaller, closer-knit group of friends and family that would be able to watch you receive your diploma in-person. Graduation invitations are used by high school, college, and university graduates.
Graduation invitations let friends and family know that you've completed your degree. It allows your loved ones to come celebrate with you and witness a memorable day. Even if they aren't able to come to the graduation ceremony, oftentimes friends and family will send graduation money and/or gifts when they find out you're receiving a degree. That alone is a good enough reason to send them out.
Sleek online tools allow people to create graduation invitations with a click of a few buttons. You'll choose from a variety of templates that have different designs and color schemes that fit your style. Next, you'll input the details of your graduation ceremony in the text boxes, upload any pictures you want, and submit the invitations for printing. The whole process can be completed in just a few minutes.
Graduation invitations usually just include your name, the name of your high school/college/university, your degree and honors, graduation year, time, date, and location of your ceremony, and RSVP instructions. If you choose, you could also make graduation announcements that have information about your graduation party that additional people could be invited to.
It's always a good idea to get a head start on graduation invitations, just in case there is a shipping delay or the company is slammed with orders. On average, you should expect it to take between 1-2 weeks for your graduation invitations to be printed and shipped to you. That doesn't account for the time it takes for you to compile your invitations and mail them to guests, so giving yourself about a month of leeway will ensure your invitations arrive in a timely manner.
Most graduation invitations cost between $1.75 and $3 per card. On top of this, you might have to pay for shipping if the company doesn't offer it for free. The end cost will depend on how many people you plan to send invitations to, if you want any add-ons, and what type of paper you select. The cost of your graduation invitations will also include envelopes, which is a perk.
If your graduation invitations arrive and have a misprint, it will likely be because you didn't do a thorough check before submitting your order. However, there are many generous online graduation invitation companies that offer a satisfaction guarantee and will give you a refund or exchange, regardless of why you need it. This will add weeks onto your timeline of sending out invitations though, so double and triple check all the details on your graduation invitations before submitting them for printing.
Once you receive your graduation invitations and envelopes in the mail, all that's left to do is send them out. You'll need to collect the addresses of the friends and family you want to invite, so you could do this by text, email, or a phone call. If you have a running Christmas card address list, refer to that. The only other thing you'll need is stamps. Once the invitations are compiled and ready to go, you can send them out and get excited about your big day!
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Continued from above...

Designing graduation invitations is an opportunity to express your personal style and creativity. Whether you prefer a classic and elegant design or something more modern and playful, there are endless options to choose from. You can customize your invitations with your school colors, graduation theme, or even include photos of your time in school. With so many design possibilities, you can create invitations that truly reflect your personality and make a lasting impression on your guests.

In addition to being a fun and creative project, sending out graduation invitations serves a practical purpose as well. By inviting guests to your graduation ceremony or celebration, you can help your loved ones keep track of your special event so they have the opportunity to mark their calendars and make plans to attend. Plus, receiving an invitation in the mail adds a personal touch and makes your guests feel valued and included in your special day.

When it comes to choosing graduation invitations, there are a few factors to consider helping you find the perfect option for your celebration:

  • Theme options. Look for graduation invitation designs that match your personal style and preferences. Consider factors like color scheme, layout, and theme to find invitations that reflect your personality and make a statement.
  • Customization. Choose a graduation invitation provider that offers customization options, such as the ability to add photos, change fonts, and personalize the text. This allows you to create invitations that are unique to you and your graduation celebration.
  • Price. Compare prices and packages from different graduation invitation providers to find the best value for your budget. Look for special offers, discounts, and promotions that can help you save money without compromising on quality.
  • Reputation. Check out the reviews for your favorite design sites to make sure that their quality is up to snuff. Reviews from other grads or ratings from the Better Business Bureau can help you decide which sites are worth your money.

Gathering your friends and family to celebrate your graduation is a wonderful way to create lasting memories and share in the joy of your accomplishment. To help you make your day extra special, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the top graduation invitation services out there today. Whether you're planning a small gathering with close friends or a larger party with extended family, we hope this info (and inspo!) helps you pick out the perfect place to design the invites. So, whether you're planning a graduation party, ceremony, or other special event, don't forget to send out invitations and let your loved ones share in the excitement of your big day!

The Best Reviews of Graduation Invitation Stores