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Amazon and Staples announced their returns partnership in June 2023, with a goal of bringing eligible Amazon returns to Staples U.S. retail stores by July 31, 2023. Amazon described the expansion as nearly 1,000 additional drop-off locations. It is now an established service, not a new launch: Staples still accepts eligible Amazon returns, and Amazon’s overall U.S. return network has grown well beyond that original expansion.
What Amazon and Staples announced
The 2023 announcement said customers could return eligible Amazon purchases at Staples stores without first packing or labeling the item. A customer would start the return through Amazon, bring the item and the Amazon-generated QR code to Staples, and have an associate package, label, and ship it at no charge. The nearly 1,000 figure described the locations Amazon said the partnership would add; it is not a current count of participating Staples stores. Amazon and Staples’ June 2023 announcement
This service is for returns Amazon authorizes through its return process. It is separate from Amazon order pickup at Staples, ordinary paid shipping at a Staples shipping counter, and returns of products bought directly from Staples.
How to return an Amazon item at Staples
- In Amazon, open Your Orders and select Return or Replace Items for the order.
- Select the item, choose a return reason, and review the methods Amazon offers.
- Choose Staples if it appears as an option, then follow Amazon’s instructions to get the QR code.
- Bring the item and QR code to a participating Staples store. Staples directs customers to the Checkout or Shipping Services area; follow store signs or ask an associate if the layout is unclear.
- Show the code to the associate and confirm that it has been scanned before leaving. Keep the QR-code confirmation and monitor the return status in Amazon.
Staples’ current instructions describe the associate packing, labeling, and shipping the return. Amazon decides which methods are available for a particular order, item, address, seller, and return reason. If Staples is not offered in the return flow, store staff cannot substitute it for the method Amazon assigned. Amazon’s return-option guidance
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What “free, box-free, and label-free” means
When Amazon offers the Staples QR-code method for an eligible return, the customer normally does not need to bring a shipping box, print a label, or supply tape. Staples says its associate will pack and label the item and ship it for free. That describes this eligible method—not every Amazon return. Check the return screen for any fee and packaging instructions before choosing an option.
Do not assume every item can be handed over unpackaged. Amazon’s return workflow determines whether the QR-code method is available, and some items may require a different process. Staples notes that some products cannot be returned, including digital items, cards, items unsafe to return, and certain devices after 30 days. This is not a complete list of Amazon exclusions; the item’s current return instructions control. Staples’ return FAQ · Amazon’s returns overview
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What not to assume before going
- That every item qualifies: Products from third-party sellers, oversized or restricted goods, items outside their return window, and products needing special handling may have different instructions. Use the options Amazon displays for that item.
- That every store accepts every return: Staples refers to participating stores, and Amazon must offer Staples for the specific return. Check the return flow before traveling.
- That every Amazon return is free: Only treat Staples as free when Amazon offers that method without a charge. Other options can have different terms or fees.
- That a refund is immediate: Drop-off and refund approval are separate steps. Amazon says the vast majority of eligible refunds are issued within five hours, but that is a broad company statement, not a guarantee for an individual Staples return. Follow the estimate and status shown in Amazon. Amazon’s returns overview
- That a paper receipt is guaranteed: The available official Staples instructions do not establish a universal receipt policy. Ask the associate whether the scan completed, save the QR confirmation and any in-app update, and contact Amazon if the return status does not progress.
- That an Amazon QR return is ordinary shipping: The return needs to be initiated and authorized in Amazon. Do not treat the code as a customer-paid shipment or expect Staples to change the return method.
What happens after the handoff
Staples says it holds returned packages securely until Amazon or UPS collects them. Amazon describes returned items being consolidated and routed to return centers, where they may be inspected and then resold as new or used, returned to a selling partner, liquidated, donated, repaired, or recycled where appropriate. Not every item follows the same route. Staples’ return FAQ · Amazon’s account of the returns lifecycle
How Staples fits into Amazon’s wider return network
The nearly 1,000 figure belongs to the 2023 Staples expansion. Amazon now says U.S. customers have access to more than 10,000 return drop-off locations across partners including Staples, Whole Foods Market, Kohl’s, The UPS Store, and Rent-A-Center. In March 2026, Amazon also announced more than 1,500 FedEx Office locations as additions to its network. The best choice is the convenient method Amazon actually offers for the item; availability and terms can differ by return.
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| Option | What to know |
|---|---|
| Staples | QR-code return with in-store packing and labeling when Amazon offers it; Staples directs customers to Checkout or Shipping Services. Staples |
| Other drop-off partners | Amazon lists partners including Whole Foods Market, Kohl’s, The UPS Store, and Rent-A-Center; available choices depend on the return. Amazon |
| FedEx Office | Amazon announced more than 1,500 FedEx Office locations as additions in March 2026. Amazon · Axios |
Amazon’s return screen may also offer a pickup or a label-and-package method, which can be more suitable for large or specially handled items. Some carrier options may not be free, so check the terms shown before confirming. Amazon’s explanation of return methods
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