The Staples Printing Alternative Professionals Switch To
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Staples prints from a counter beside its office supplies, with roughly 50 print items. Here is how 4OVER4.COM compares on products, paper, finishes, speed, and guarantees, with the full table below.
Print counter against print plant
4OVER4.COM and Staples, feature by feature
| Feature |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| 200 Free Business Cards | Yes, first in USA since 2011 | No |
| Price Match Guarantee | Yes, 110% price match | No |
| 10,000+ Design Templates + Free Online Designer | Yes (Canvs tool) | Limited |
| Free Samples Kit | Yes, physical samples that ship free | No |
| Loyalty Rewards (Earn Coins) | Yes, earn coins on every order | No |
| 100% Satisfaction + On-Time + Quality Guarantees | Yes, 5 guarantees | Limited |
| Same-Day Shipping | Yes, order by 12pm ET | No |
| Total Cards Printed | 10 billion+ | Not publicly shared |
| Businesses Served | 150,000+ | Not publicly shared |
| Projects Completed | 500,000+ | Not publicly shared |
| On-Time Delivery Rate | 99.8% | Not publicly shared |
| Orders Shipping Early | 82% | Not publicly shared |
| Customer Satisfaction (will reorder) | 99% | Not publicly shared |
| Years in Business | 25+ (since 1999) | Not publicly shared |
| Google Rating | 4.8/5 | Read at the source |
| Facebook Rating | 4.7/5 | Read at the source |
| Total Reviews All Platforms | 10,000+ | Read at the source |
| Google Trusted Store | Yes | No |
| Total Standard Products | 1,000+ | 50+ (print services section) |
For Staples ratings and history, read the dated reviews at the source. The rows that change a print order are the stock list, the samples kit and the price match.
Why businesses switch
Six reasons businesses leave Staples
60+ paper stocks and finishes
Classic business cards alone run on 74 stocks from 13pt to 80pt, with kraft, linen, pearl and cotton among them.
A dedicated printer, not a retailer
1,000+ products versus the roughly 50 print-service items at Staples, from booklets and presentation folders to door hangers and table tents.
Booklets for the manual run
Saddle-stitched booklets print with 8 to 60 pages in 5.5 x 8.5, 8.5 x 11 or 11 x 11 inches, 25 for $240.55.
Premium weight up to 80pt
Black business cards run 32pt, 48pt, 64pt and 80pt Midnite Black, 50 for $40.62, a weight a counter sheet does not reach.
Free design tools
Templates open in Canvs, the free online designer, next to free print-ready blank templates, so there is no design software to buy.
Rewards and guarantees
Loyalty coins on every order and 200 free business cards for new customers.
Card weight
From a 13pt card to 80pt
Staples prints cards on the counter stock it keeps. Classic business cards here run from 13pt to 80pt UltraWhite, with colored-center layers from 40pt to 56pt.
The presses are G7 color profiled, so a brochure printed this quarter matches the one printed last quarter.
Pricing
2,000 classic business cards cost $87.87, about 4 cents a card.
Samples
The free samples kit ships free, so the card and booklet stocks can be compared before you order.
Support
A person answers on 718-932-2700, by phone or SMS, and a free proof comes with every order.
Stock and range
Kraft, linen and cotton against counter stock
Paper and finish selection
The 4OVER4.COM stock list includes kraft, linen, pearl metallic, cotton and uncoated sheets, with spot UV, soft-touch lamination, foil stamping, painted edges and raised ink as products of their own.
Product range
Staples lists roughly 50 print-service items beside its office supplies. Banners, stickers, labels, booklets and folders go on the same 4OVER4.COM order as the cards.
Gains and gaps
A print counter, or a print plant
4OVER4.COM
- Cards from 13pt to 80pt
- Kraft, linen and cotton stocks
- Same-day shipping by 12pm ET
- Five written guarantees + 110% price match
- Loyalty coins on every order
Staples
- Roughly 50 print-service items
- Limited finishing options
- Retail counter turnaround
- No published price match
- No free-cards or loyalty program
Wally explains the switch from Staples
The fastest way to feel the upgrade
Staples prints at the counter. 4OVER4.COM prints on press: start with 200 free business cards, then move the design to a heavier stock or a spot UV finish for the full run.
Order business cards →More Staples alternatives
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The Staples A-Frame Sign Alternative Built to Last Outdoors
Next to a Staples counter A-frame, 4OVER4.COM ships a metal rod A-frame for $65.90, an aluminum set for $146.07 and a Signicade kit for $182.32.
The Staples Bookmark Printing Alternative With Premium Finishes
Beside Staples bookmark printing, 4OVER4.COM prints laminated, soft touch, kraft and metallic bookmarks, 50 standard ones for $16.48, at 2x6 or 2x8.
The Staples Brochure Printing Alternative for Fast Turnaround
Faster than a Staples counter run, 4OVER4.COM prints 50 standard brochures for $57.11 in 3 business days, with same-day shipping by 12pm ET.
The Staples Business Cards Alternative With Premium Stocks
Compare Staples business cards to real premium stocks. 4OVER4.COM prints ultra thick, silk, suede, and soft touch cards with a 110% price match. Order now.
The Staples Wine Labels Alternative for Waterproof Custom Labels
Staples cannot print true custom wine labels. 4OVER4.COM makes waterproof, any-shape wine labels from $7.69 with a 110% price match. Label your vintage right.
The Staples Stickers Alternative That Prints Truly Custom Designs
Skip generic Staples stickers. 4OVER4.COM prints die-cut, clear, and holographic vinyl stickers at factory-direct prices with a 110% price match. Order today.
Prices per 50
Black cards at $40.62, postcards at $16.48
The long read
Staples and 4OVER4.COM, counter to press
Staples sells roughly 50 print items from a counter beside the office supplies. The parts below cover why businesses move, price and fit.
Why businesses are switching from Staples
Ordering print at a Staples counter means a short paper list and generic templates. 4OVER4.COM adds finishes such as spot UV and foil, free Design Templates and a Loyalty Program that pays coins back on every order.
How pricing compares to Staples
A press run spreads one setup across the job, so the unit price falls with the count: 100 classic business cards cost $17.57 and 1,000 cost $65.91.
Free file review, cutting and packaging are in the base price, and a lower written quote for the same product is matched and beaten by 10% under the Price Match.
Who 4OVER4.COM is the right Staples alternative for
For a few black-and-white copies before an internal meeting, the Staples counter is fine. Pieces that go to customers, a brochure, a booklet or a card, are where a press run pays off.
Designers and agencies managing several clients get one account for all of it. To compare further, see how 4OVER4.COM measures up as an Avery alternative.
The verdict
A stronger partner than Staples for print that goes to customers: press-run pricing, cards up to 80pt and a published price match.
Document work
Reports, proposals and training manuals in quantity
Copy-counter work and print-run work look alike until the count goes up. A dozen proposals is a copy job. Two hundred training manuals for an onboarding program is a print job, and it prices and finishes differently: 100 brochures run $82.38 on the press, and the unit price keeps dropping as the run grows.
- Booklets cover manuals, reports and programs that need a cover and interior pages held together.
- Brochures and folders carry the shorter document, the leave-behind and the proposal that has to look like the company sending it.
- Presentation pieces print on coated or uncoated stock depending on whether they are read closely or shown across a table.
At 500 brochures the price is $155.97, about 31 cents each.
Binding choices
Choosing how a printed document is held together
Binding is the decision people leave to the end and then regret. Three questions settle it, and saddle stitching adds a fourth rule: pages come in multiples of four.
- How many pages. Thin documents want a fold and a stitch through the spine. Thick ones need a flat spine or a mechanical binding.
- Does it have to lie flat. A manual someone uses while their hands are busy does. A report read once does not.
- How long does it live. A quarterly report and a reference manual that sits on a desk for two years are different builds.
Page count has to suit the binding arithmetic too. Saddle-stitched work runs in multiples of four, because one folded sheet makes four pages, so a layout that lands on an odd number ends up with a blank page or a trim of the content.
Ratings, both printers
A 4.8 from 10,000+ reviews
The 4.8 covers every 4OVER4.COM product: Google 4.8 and Facebook 4.7. For Staples, read the dated reviews at the source.
Explore more from 4OVER4.COM
More to read: document guides, showcases, other printers
Get Started
Move your next Staples job to the press
Price the brochure or booklet run on the page, order the free samples kit, and upload the file for a free check.
Legal Disclaimer
Gold Standard guarantees apply to all standard orders placed through 4over4.com. Price match requires verifiable proof of a competitor's published price for an equivalent product with matching specifications and turnaround time. Satisfaction guarantee covers manufacturing defects and print quality issues. Contact support with order number and documentation.
Staples questions
Common Questions
Eight answers on cheap document printing, home printers, price, paper, speed, finishes, guarantees and other printers. Browse every printing question on our FAQs hub.
Where is the cheapest place I can print documents?
Home for a handful of pages, a retail counter for a small stack, and a print run for anything past that. A press spreads one setup across the whole job while a counter charges per page all the way up. Price the same document both ways at the real page count and the answer is plain.
What is the best printer and copier for home use?
For everyday documents a color laser handles text and light graphics more cheaply per page than an inkjet, while an inkjet is better for photos. Neither is the right tool for anything a customer will hold, because home paper stops at basic weights and desktop color is not calibrated. Keep the home machine for drafts and internal copies, and send the pieces that represent the business to press.
Is 4OVER4.COM really cheaper than Staples for business printing?
On print runs, compare the same spec: 500 classic business cards cost $36.26 here and 500 brochures $155.97, with free file review and cutting included.
What paper options does 4OVER4.COM offer that Staples does not?
Kraft, linen, pearl metallic, cotton and uncoated stocks, with business cards up to 80pt and a painted edge on 32pt UltraWhite.
How fast does 4OVER4.COM ship compared to Staples?
Standard brochures and postcards print in 3 business days, with same-day options on many items. A Staples counter still wins a same-hour pickup of a few copies, and the Axiomprint alternative page compares another printer.
Can I get specialty finishes like foil or spot UV through 4OVER4.COM?
Yes. Foil stamping, raised spot UV, soft-touch lamination, velvet finish and embossing run across business cards, postcards, folders and other products, on the 60+ stocks in the catalog. The Staples print counter does not list these finishes.
Does 4OVER4.COM offer any guarantees?
4OVER4.COM backs every order with five guarantees: Quality, Price Match, On Time Every Time, Customer Service, and Satisfaction. The satisfaction guarantee is money back. Staples publishes no price match, so on a like for like quote the 110% match is the one that changes what you pay.
What if I am also comparing other online printers besides Staples?
The Bannerbuzz alternative page covers banner printing, and the full alternatives hub lists the rest.
