7 Questions About Office Depot Business Services You Should Actually Ask (From a Procurement Manager)

Office Depot Business: Questions from Someone Who's Tracked Every Dollar

I’ve been managing procurement for a mid-sized company for about seven years now. Over that time, I've audited roughly $180,000 in cumulative spending across office supplies, print services, and furniture. I’ve also made my share of mistakes—like the time I ignored a line item for “setup fees” that ended up costing 15% more than the competitor with a higher base quote. So when it comes to Office Depot Business, I’ve had my eyes open. Here are the questions I’d ask if I were starting fresh today.

1. What are Office Depot Business hours, and do they really matter for B2B customers?

Standard retail hours for most Office Depot locations are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM (local time). Weekends vary. But for B2B customers, the question isn't just about when the doors are open—it's about access. The “business hours” for your account manager, your dedicated business support line, or online ordering often differ. For example, a dedicated business support line may operate 7 AM to 6 PM weekdays. If you’re a night-owl consultant ordering at 9 PM, you’re probably relying on the website. (Which usually works fine, but if something breaks, you’re waiting until the next day.) I learned this the hard way when a critical toner order failed at 10 PM and we couldn’t resolve it until the next morning. So, confirm the support hours for your account type.

2. Is the Office Depot Business Credit Card worth it for a small business?

If you’re managing cash flow and can pay the balance monthly, yes. I’ve compared it against a few general business cards. The Office Depot card often gives 2-5% back in rewards, and sometimes you get perks like free next-day delivery on orders over a certain threshold. In Q2 2024, when we consolidated our ordering there, the 2% rewards plus waived shipping saved us about $1,200 over six months. But here's the catch: the APR is high (usually over 25%) if you carry a balance. I’d recommend it only if you can treat it like a debit card. (Probably not a shock if you've seen how these cards work.)

3. What does “Office Depot business solutions” actually cover?

This is a broad term, but what I’ve found is it encompasses three main areas: supplies procurement, print and document services, and furniture/layout. For procurement, you get a dedicated account manager and consolidated billing. For print, they do everything from business cards to large format posters. And for furniture, they offer bulk pricing and installation. If I remember correctly, our account manager once helped us configure a whole filing system for a new floor—desks, chairs, and filing cabinets—and we got a 15% discount because we ordered everything together. What I mean is, the value comes from using one vendor for multiple needs, not from any single line item.

4. How do I calibrate a 3D printer? (And does Office Depot help with this?)

Calibrating a 3D printer—like a Cricket 3D printer—isn't as technical as it sounds. The basic steps are: check the bed leveling, adjust the nozzle height, and run a test print. Most models have an auto-leveling feature now. For a manual calibration, you'll usually turn the bed screws until a piece of paper fits snugly between the nozzle and bed. I should add that if you bought the printer from Office Depot, their tech support can walk you through this over the phone. They won't send someone to your office to do it, but they can troubleshoot. If you’re having issues, call the business solutions line and ask for the tech support team. (Probably faster than Googling).

5. Are “Office Depot Business” printing services more expensive than a local print shop?

This was true maybe 5-10 years ago when you had to choose between speed and cost. Today, the difference has shrunk. Let me give you an example: business cards—500 copies, full color, gloss finish. A local print shop quoted me $45. Office Depot Business quoted $39. Plus, because we had the business credit card, we got free shipping. So total cost: $39 (including shipping). The local shop charged $45 plus a picking fee (ugh). The misconception that corporate printers are always more expensive sticks around because of a time when they had to ship everything from a central warehouse. Now, with distributed print hubs, they're competitive. I’d still get quotes from both, but I wouldn't assume Office Depot is the pricier option anymore.

6. What's the best way to buy filing cabinets or office furniture for a new office?

Don't just buy what's cheapest. I did that once, and we ended up with cabinets that didn't fit our standard file folders. Here's my approach: first, get a space layout. Office Depot business solutions will send someone (usually free) to measure your space. Second, ask about bulk pricing for matching furniture. Third, check delivery and assembly costs. Last year, we switched from a competitor to Office Depot for a new filing system, and the 17% savings was partly due to them including assembly in the quote. Looking back, I should have done that two years earlier. (At the time, I thought the competitor's lower unit price was a win.) If I could redo that decision, I'd compare total installed costs.

7. Does Office Depot Business help with event or promotional printing?

Yes, that's actually a core service. Under their business solutions umbrella, they offer banners, yard signs, trade show displays, and promotional materials like pens or notepads. I've used them for a client quarterly event and was surprised by the range. For example, a 6-foot vinyl banner with full color: about $35 online, ordered on a Monday, delivered by Friday. They also have a design service if you don't have a graphics person (usually starts at $50 for basic layout). Oh, and they sometimes have coupons for B2B print orders. (Worth checking if you have a business account.)

Prices as of April 2025; verify current rates at OfficeDepot.com. Personal experience is from a procurement perspective and may not reflect every order or scenario.