Officemax

The location has a off in the corner feel
the items I needed were in stock
the store is clean and well organized

So I need a new printer. I happen to be at Harlem Cermak Plaza so I stop in Office Depot there. A very helpful guy named Bill assists me and makes a recommendation. The printer I want is $ 199. And I remember that the Office Max at Cermak and 17^th in Broadview is closing. Signs there say 40% Off! So I figure what the heck? Why not? I have to pass it to get home anyway. So I go there and as luck would have it, there’s the printer I want! The one the Berwyn store has for $ 199! Now I don’t expect the full 40% off ($ 120) but I am thinking maybe 160 or so. Guess how much the printer is at the store bannered with 40% off when their other store (remember Office Max and Office Depot have merged) had it for 199?
Wait for it…
$ 248! Can you believe that? 43% more! So the banners all say 40% off but they wanted to charge me 40% MORE! When I complained to the manager she lamely told me prices were set by the liquidator and they could do nothing about it. Can you believe that? The translation for what she said: the company Office Max /​Depot hired is clearly sticking it to you but I am empowered to do nothing. What she should have done was say, «Sometimes in these store closings prices can get a little messed up especially when the liquidator is pricing things. But you’re right. If our other store has it for 199 won’t make you drive back there. I’ll give it to you for the same price. We want you to remain our customer. But nope.
So did I drive back to Berwyn? Nope. Went to Costco. Same printer. $ 154. So it’s clear Office Max /​Depot was gouging me. They have lost me permanently. You should try Costco too!

I stop in on occasion for office supplies, etc. Employees are nice enough and willing to help. I did stand in the printer ink aisle for 5 minutes looking for the right ink cartridge for a friend and no one offered assistance. Is it me or has customer service in general gone down hill in the big stores?
Cheers!

Great people there — they took the time to look for items for us and also were letting us know about a chair we wanted that wasn’t in stock.

We drop the big bucks in here once a year when we buy school supplies. This year, we had a really nice, helpful store employee help us find a couple of things, but when it was time to check out, we had an indifferent, maddeningly slow cashier. Of course, everyone else got offered to shortcut to another line, but I had already put my things on the counter. Our cashier almost seemed passive aggressive, to be honest (and he wasn’t wearing a name badge, either).

Every one in here is blah… wtf. ofcourse they had everything I needed but idk, they all need a shot of espresso or something!

This location is very bleak and has a depressing aura about it. I know, you don’t go to an office supply store for cheer and glee, but I never have a pleasant experience there. The employees seem apathetic and just go through the motions. I only use it because it’s the nearest place.