Back to school sales?

[goofyredraider]

Oh man, that stinks about the way they are doing the teacher purchases. Those items go directly to students who can't afford them in my classroom.

 

[rainydayplay]

Can't say if it's still going on or if it's beyond our local Walmart, but they had a 20 pack of Papermate mechanical pencils for $1. The department manager for that area said it would stay that way until they did the back to school reset, which should be this week.

Last year, I got wooden pencils from Publix. They had a 10 pack of Dixon at 3/$1. I bought a bunch, especially as I give these out at the beginnig of the year. They also had a really great deal on Pilot G-2 pens (which I generally use to grade -- and they had purple ink!) and something else...may have been Bic mechanical pencils in a 10 pack. Will be looking for those deals.

Last year, TRU had crayons 4/$1 (Crayola). And Target had 1 subject notebooks cheap. I also give out notebooks on the first day of school. I have close to 500 in storage, and watch Target because they have always put them on clearance. A couple of years ago, I bought 200 notebooks for $6. If it ever gets that cheap again, I have no problem either loading down my car or making someone bring me a truck!

In other news, I see that TRU has the buy a backpack and get a lunch box for free deal going on, complete with a "trade in your old backpack for an additional 20% off" -- guaranteed prices until July 7th. This is usually where I get my DD's backpack/lunchbox, plus the BOGO on the "food savers" thermos. I think I'll be headed over there tomorrow to go on and get that out of the way.

 

[patsal]

Usually right after July 4th. NYS just got out of school, last week was the first week off.

 

[patsal]

I received a letter from Staples last week stating that they are changing the way they are discounting the school supplies to teachers. Used to be that if something was a penny (or whatever the sale price was) and there was a limit of 3 items at that price, they'd let teachers get 25 of the said item for the advertised price. So I could go in and buy 25 folders for .25 cents, 25 packs of paper for 10 cents each, etc..

Well, from now on, anything teachers purchase over the limit will be charged at the full price and then given back in Staples rewards. So if a pack of pencils is 1 cent each, limit three, and I buy 25 packs, I now have to pay full price for 22 packs and would get the money back in rewards. Definitely not as good of a deal when purchasing for a whole class. That gets expensive!

I have a pull-out program and kids get added all year, so I never get schools supplies and end up just keeping a supply in my classroom. It's been great with Staples extending the limits for the sale prices, but now I'm not going to be able to spend that much OOP.

Just thought I'd give a heads-up to other teachers who buy supplies from their own funds for their classrooms.

Oh no, I do the same thing, any transfer kids end up with me as well so I have a constant need for pens, pencils, folders and loose leaf paper. Budgets were cut to bare bones so I have nothing coming in except a pack of pencils, a pack of black pens, a pack of purple pens and 500 sheets of loose leaf paper. I will have to watch the store ads like a hawk, and hit each one up every week.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I received a letter from Staples last week stating that they are changing the way they are discounting the school supplies to teachers. Used to be that if something was a penny (or whatever the sale price was) and there was a limit of 3 items at that price, they'd let teachers get 25 of the said item for the advertised price. So I could go in and buy 25 folders for .25 cents, 25 packs of paper for 10 cents each, etc..

Well, from now on, anything teachers purchase over the limit will be charged at the full price and then given back in Staples rewards. So if a pack of pencils is 1 cent each, limit three, and I buy 25 packs, I now have to pay full price for 22 packs and would get the money back in rewards. Definitely not as good of a deal when purchasing for a whole class. That gets expensive!

I have a pull-out program and kids get added all year, so I never get schools supplies and end up just keeping a supply in my classroom. It's been great with Staples extending the limits for the sale prices, but now I'm not going to be able to spend that much OOP.

Just thought I'd give a heads-up to other teachers who buy supplies from their own funds for their classrooms.

A big BOO from me for Staples on this. All that I purchase there goes directly to needy students in my school. I gain nothing.

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

I am a total Crayola snob so you wouldn't hear any complaining from me! I honestly appreciate my kid's teachers asking for very specific items and brands because I know that one batch of supplies will last all year and we have exactly what the teacher wants/needs. But I also realize that while I can afford to be a supply snob that many parents can't for various reasons. So I always buy extras of everything and take them in for the teacher to give to the little ones that might need them.

Another thing that I like is when a teacher sends home a classroom wish list for the year. My kids have been blessed with great teachers and I love having a list of things that their teachers want and need so that we can buy useful things for them throughout the year.

Here the crayola crayons are only 25 cents and the Rose Art 10 around school time. We always buy a case and give them out as party favors or when the teachers need more. So parents really should complain that their teachers care their kids get the higher quality item. Its just 15 cents if you can find the sale. But hey maybe this is just me being a snob

 

[GavandGraciesMommy]

staples ad this week shows back to school sale already

 

[Chelley00]

But isn't 'putting out the back to school stuff' different from 'the back to school sales'?

Schools just barely gotten out here. I'd expect the back to school sales to be more around mid-August to very early Seotember.

Our kids go back to school August 1.

 

[Zhoen]

staples ad this week shows back to school sale already

Must be a regional thing, ours is still the usual stuff.

 

[MineMail]

I went to Staples and Office Depot today for something else today, but they have the floor displays up for Back to School. A woman exclaimed out loud about the aisle bins at Staples ("Back to School already?!?! They just got out!") and the floor clerk said "The year-round school parents are happy."

Not too many bargains in our stores except for last year's overpriced designer filing folders on clearance at Office Depot, but someone else upthread said the discounts start on 7/8.

I made note of a few things I want for my office/kids school stuff. I have to inventory the school supplies already in our supply closet. One year, I bought loose leaf without realizing I had already stocked up the prior year. I didn't have to buy the next year, but other things like pencils w/ erasers don't work well if they sit around too long.

 

[disneysnowflake]

I was at Staples on Saturday. At the checkout the cashier tried to sell me a card to save on back to school stuff. She said it would be worth it just because of the price of backpacks alone. I didn't ask how much the card was. I just declined to buy one. With all the upcoming sales stores usually have, I couldn't see myself buying a card in order to buy school supplies.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I was at Staples on Saturday. At the checkout the cashier tried to sell me a card to save on back to school stuff. She said it would be worth it just because of the price of backpacks alone. I didn't ask how much the card was. I just declined to buy one. With all the upcoming sales stores usually have, I couldn't see myself buying a card in order to buy school supplies.

The card is $10. I won't be buying one, either.

 

[QVCshopper]

Do you all buy new backpacks for your kids every year? I got my two LL Bean backpacks for $11 a few years ago. They are only in 1st and 2nd grade and the backpacks are still in good condition, so no new ones here unless I find another great deal and will save them for later.

I'm going to buy some extra supplies for the teaches like someone up thread said, since I can get a lot at these sales. That's a very nice idea.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Do you all buy new backpacks for your kids every year? I got my two LL Bean backpacks for $11 a few years ago. They are only in 1st and 2nd grade and the backpacks are still in good condition, so no new ones here unless I find another great deal and will save them for later.

I'm going to buy some extra supplies for the teaches like someone up thread said, since I can get a lot at these sales. That's a very nice idea.

I bought my kids' backpacks from Pottery Barn Kids before they started kindergarten, and I am hoping they last them through elementary school! They are good quality material, and I've been very happy with them. I don't mind buying them a new lunchbox every year. DS will need one. The zipper on his broke.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I don't buy news ones unless I need to.

 

[The Wise One]

I was at Wal-Mart yesterday and they were all ready putting everything out. Of course school starts here on August 1st so it makes sense I guess.

 

[Zhoen]

Do you all buy new backpacks for your kids every year? I got my two LL Bean backpacks for $11 a few years ago. They are only in 1st and 2nd grade and the backpacks are still in good condition, so no new ones here unless I find another great deal and will save them for later.

I'm going to buy some extra supplies for the teaches like someone up thread said, since I can get a lot at these sales. That's a very nice idea.

DD8 has gotten a new (cheapie) one every year so far, she likes the bright, pretty ones, and they get dirtied up over the course of the year and don't clean up very well. We threw one away yesterday morning before we saw the TRU ad . When the kids are older, I'd like to get them something really good quality that will last, but for now, it's fun to see the excitement of getting something new.

For my older niece and nephew, they have quality ones they re-use... for my younger niece, she got a cheapie, but kept it very pristine, so not sure if she'll want a replacement this year or not...

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Do you all buy new backpacks for your kids every year? I got my two LL Bean backpacks for $11 a few years ago. They are only in 1st and 2nd grade and the backpacks are still in good condition, so no new ones here unless I find another great deal and will save them for later.

I'm going to buy some extra supplies for the teaches like someone up thread said, since I can get a lot at these sales. That's a very nice idea.

I only get mine new backpacks as they need them. I've been finding that their LL Bean ones last through elementary school, then they need bigger ones for middle and high school.

 

[reginaastralis]

Our Target just started putting up the shelves for the Back to School Sales ... can't wait! Not that I'm super excited about sending my daughter back, but I love the smell of new crayons and stocking up ... maybe I'm just a nerd. All three of us will be starting school the 3rd week of August, so it'll be a little bit of a madhouse for us.

For the parent's who bought from Pottery Barn Kids, how have the lunch boxes held up? My dd is ROUGH on her lunchbox and backpack ... so I might take the idea and head to TRU this week ... but I need a lunchbox that is going to last all year, being used everyday. We had four in rotation last year, and all of them have had something broken on it in one place or another. It's kind of annoying.

Another thing I do is wait until they are half off, and I buy a new backpack and lunch box for the rotation. My dd is always spending the night at someone's house, so it's nice to have a back up. Plus, I washed a backpack one year, and it shredded in my washer.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

While we're on the lunchbox subject, does anyone know of any good thermos sales for back to school? I never seem to find them on sale and my DD likes to take a hot lunch. I need drink containers as well.