Where do you buy your stationery?

downshifter

I am a volunteer for a small community organisation and responsible for communications etc. This means that I spend a fair bit on stationery, principally printer ink and paper, coloured paper, laminate pouches, envelopes and stamps. I wouldn't dream of charging any expenses but until more people get email I'm forking out for all these things every month. (speakers notes etc for distribution after meetings)

I found office stationery supplies to be quite expensive, or maybe I'm looking at the wrong ones. I tend to pick up paper etc in Wilko's, supermarkets and other similar places when I'm doing my normal household shopping. Doubt I can do anything about stamps and am no longer on the Royal Mail survey unfortunately which was great for free stamps.

I was just wondering if other people have found good suppliers for these sorts of items? If so, I'd be so grateful if you could please share! Thanks very much.

DS

spadoosh

Rymans ive found is one of the cheaper high street stationary shops. Although most shops seems quite expensive.

Business side we use monkeyoffice but a large part is the service. Pricing isnt too bad but not sure if theres discounts involved.

For ink your best bet will be on tinterweb, sorry no sources, can imagine ebay will have generic cheapo inks.


If youre in charge of communication, cant you just say that it costs the organisation too much and your only using email. We work with the elderly and the majority get their information through email. Alternatively maybe look at some form of subscription service for mailed correspondence where members can pay a small fee if they want to get things delivered.

Pennywise

We've not bought anything from High Street stationers for years. We use a mix of Amazon and Ebay which is where you can find the quality stuff at cheap prices. Tesco, Wilkinsons etc tend to be very poor quality and you end up paying through the nose at Ryman etc if you want the quality product rather than their cheap & cheerful bottom of the range stuff.

downshifter

Many thanks. Yes those who wish to come to talks do pay a small annual subscription with payment on the door for those who aren't members. This money tends to go on speakers' fees, hire of hall and refreshments. I live in a rather lovely but old-style very rural area, someone told me last week that they have absolutely no intention of ever getting email, and lots just aren't interested, it's a whole different world to them and they managed without it for the last two thousand years so don't need it now! So snailmail it is then. Frustrating but still. My predecessor used to say email or nothing but I prefer to be a bit more inclusive, it's not fair that those not on email are cut out of the loop, people living in isolated areas miss a lot as it is. So I'm prepared to pay out of my own pocket, but would still rather keep costs down.

Amazon and ebay it is then!! Hopefully the RM survey will take me back soon too. Thanks for your help.

kimplus8

I get paper from tesco/wilko/ poundland for the kids or for writing on but it always jams my printer as its not great quality so I use rymans or staples for printer paper, post it notes/ flash cards/ boxes of pens and pencils I get from wherever is on offer/ cheapest ( usually poundland or pound world) and printer ink I always get online as its so expensive everywhere else.

Aquamania

I would not disagree with others comments, but perhaps your answer lies in (a) the quantity you actually require and (b) the urgency involved.

The High Street is usually good for things you need urgently, but can be expensive especially in large quantities.

So taking your items in turn:

Printer Ink - particularly expensive from the High Street. I'm surprised you say office stationers are expensive (unless you mean the bricks & mortar ones). Take a look at people like Viking, particularly if you can find a code, and compare those to Amazon/ebay.
(Be careful of !!!!erfeits if wanting to buy OEM products)

Paper - best bought by the boxful (usually 5 reams), unless you don't use this amount in which case you may as well buy from the High Street.
Again the likes of Viking can offer good value if buying sufficient quantity

Coloured paper - presumably you use less than white paper, but check the same sources as your white paper.

Laminate pouches - probably Amazon/ebay

Envelopes - again, quatity dependent. I found that the likes of Tesco & Wilko usually sell in quantities of less than 100. If that is sufficient, then don't waste too much time looking around. Aldi/Lidl often have good quality envelope deals of similar quantity - stock up when they have a special buy on.
If you want larger quantities, then it's back to online from Viking/Amazon/Ebay etc

Stamps - you won't usually find much cheaper than your post office. Superdrug or Smiths sometimes have a deal on that may save a couple of pennies. Best bet is to stock up on fisrt & second class stamps so you don't pay extra when the prices go up.
(Of course there are people on ebay that sell used but unmarked stamps cheaper if you want to get into that malarky)

You may get discounts from the likes of ebay if you buy lots of stamps (I mean many 100s) but if you are using that amount of stamps, then postage stamps is not the most economical method of posting - consider looking at a franking machine and take advantage of the lower ccosts of postage they provide (but there is a cost too, so it only works for large volumes. Check the Royal Mail site for more info)

AbbieCadabra

only useful if you have access, but Costco is usually very good on price for branded items & their own brand, Kirkland, is very good quality. probably have to buy other stuff to make membership worthwhile, but there is plenty of choice. i don't buy them any more but they usually do discounted postage stamps too as they sell them in bulk.

DigForVictory

Costco for stamps every time. They undercut the post office. OK they charge a membership fee, but if you know someone with a costco card & its just stamps? A fairly simple arrangement can be reached.

Says she who'd text the school bursar with prices, buy the stamps to order & be refunded cash as I collected my children from school. Both of us thinking we had the sweet end of the deal - best way!

Savvy_Sue

downshifter wrote: »

I wouldn't dream of charging any expenses

Well why ever not?

Seriously, if it's a community organisation, then the costs shouldn't be falling on whichever [STRIKE]mug[/STRIKE] generous person happens to have accepted responsibility for that area of work.

You have a management committee of some sort? You have a treasurer? You have a budget? They must realise envelopes and stamps don't grow on trees.

downshifter wrote: »

(speakers notes etc for distribution after meetings)

Again, if those attending the talks want speakers notes afterwards, consider charging for them - either in the up front costs of attendance if everyone wants them, or after the event for those who choose to receive them.

Others have already said most of what I would have done re: the best places to buy these things, but I'd just add that I believe Superdrug often sell stamps cheaper in the run up to Christmas, and it may be worth seeing if you have a local service which would be better value, eg in Bristol Bath and Edinburgh we have Velopost.