Staples — Local services in Columbia

I've been in this store twice in the past three weeks.

This has got to be the worst Staples I've ever been in when it comes to stock and customer support.

The first visit was to buy a laptop. First things first the stock is abysmal, they had maybe 6 or 7 on display and they were all not worthwhile. That in and of itself isn't the problem, the real problem is that try as I might I couldn't get anybody to help me. Not a single person as they were walking past even gazed in my direction, the one person I did ask for help said they'd get someone and then nothing happened. We left after standing around waiting for about 10 minutes.

The second visit I came in looking for notebooks.

The entire section was picked over, the stock was in disarray. I understand as it's back to school time for College, so it makes sense. So I start to look for someone to help me, maybe they have more stock (I can see the boxes above the shelf with the SKU of the items missing on the shelf, so clearly they have some) to bring down. The gentleman who I was able to get to acknowledge me asked if I was finding everything alright; when I told him I was looking for notebooks but there were none on the shelf his response to me was "Do you know where to look?," to which I replied that I did know where they were but there were none on the shelf. He looked me in the face and said "Ok great" and walked off.

I'm not sure if maybe he misunderstood me, or maybe he was never talking to me to begin with. So I asked another guy who was wheeling a cart full of boxes if he could help me, he said he couldn't at the moment but would get someone to. He talked to the manager (grey shirt) and then went about his business, I assume he told him I needed assistance. I stayed where I was up near the register, watched the Manager (grey shirt, half his hair was picked out and the other half down) drink coffee and talk to someone then kinda putz around not doing anything, then he just walked off.

I'd like to add that I once held a managerial position at Staples and never would the store I worked at be in this disarray, even during back to school we would keep more stock on the shelves than this (except for those damn composition notebooks) and at least ATTEMPT to help customers.

It's as if everyone in this staples is a zombie, just mindlessly doing their task but ignoring customers. Getting help is next to impossible, I only went in for the convenience of getting my item that day, but at this point I'd rather wait the day for an item to be shipped from Amazon then give this store...

I rarely shop this store for several reasons the staff is rude and lazy including the "store manager Tracey" At was there at 4:05 on Sunday 5/18/25. I had my own bags, brand new and clean. Harrison was the one who waited on me - he never spoke until I spoke to him regarding using my Staples rewards. He left my binders sitting on the counter never even asked if I wanted to pay the money for a bag. He looked at me when I gave him my brand new clean and washed bags - he looked at me like I had 3 heads. Kept staring at me I just picked my binders up and started bagging myself. When my daughter in law, who was with me making a purchase and asked if the sales price came up - he said I don't know. She had to walk back to where the items were in store to check the price. Again he just stood there made no attempt to bag the purchased items - I again bagged the items. This only gets worse once I got in the car I called for the so called store manager. Tracey who probably never had any customer service training. I told her about the poor service I just received from Harrison. I never some many yeahs from a manager in my life. It appeared that she DID NOT CARE about a what I was saying. I even told her I have been using Staples as a business member since 2009 and never any other Staples store been treated this way. I will only go to the Annapolis store from now on or order online Never will I go back to this store location in Columbia. Tracey and Harrison need to be retrained or find a job that does not require interacting with others. If we bring our bags because we are not paying a store 10 cents per bag - bag our purchases. We,the customer, are paying your salary so treat us with respect and realize we are not your phone screen or your video games - we deserve to be spoken to and put a smile on your face and have eye contact with others. Because we can just as easily use Amazon or online then you won't have a job. Be thankful...

It's sad to watch the decline of a local business. I know there are issues with finding staff, but this is the 2nd time I've left without buying a piece of electronics that I needed because of lack of help. Yes, warm bodies, but no real service. Sure if you need to pick out a calendar or a notebook it's fine, even though the selection is not great, but for anything more substantial look elsewhere. A few months back a found a printer I was looking for but went somewhere else because the service was abysmal. Ditto this week for a phone related piece of electronics. There are no sales people on the floor, there were 2-3 at the front dealing with helping people make copies. Teens but no adults. Odd that they have no interest in selling anything but copies (the machines are self-service anyway) -- what is the point of carrying furniture, electronics, and everything else? A girl couldn't be bothered to tell me where the item I needed was located. Something about "up that isle" I had already been up and down, while pointing to the other end of the store. It is a huge store, and I am used to taking 15m - 1/2hr scouring for what I need nowadays, but it so happens I didn't have another 1/2 hour to burn yesterday, and was annoyed by the dismissive curtness of the sales girl who was obviously aggravated to answer a question and didn't turn to even face me. Went to Best Buy. While Best Buy is known for it's spotty sales help, it is like a Nirvana for shoppers compared to Staples. They may not know everything, but at least they try. I blame Staples management and not the one employee who seemed nice but couldn't leave the register. Obviously a low desirability and high turnover position with little or no...