I'm surprised that they even considered the price match. Usually it has to be the same item (SKU code). You wanted the five-pack, OD/OM had the four pack. Not the same item. Therefore, you really weren't entitled to get the special deal.

Many years ago (late 80's), I worked at Circuit City (remember them?) that had a price match guarantee +10%. If you brought in the ad from another store for the same item, we matched it, no questions.

One more comment about price matches... Many retailers have the manufacturers make special model numbers for 'their' product. You may see a printer at Walmart with a model number ending in WM (or W). The same printer at Best Buy may have either BB or B as the last letter(s). They generally won't match the price because it isn't the 'same' product. The mattress guys do this all the time, or "Your mattress is Freeeeeeee".

Edgar replies: Bob, I may not have been clear. In-store, Staples only had 5-packs. Online, however, they had the very same 4-packs that OM/OD offered. So it was a direct match.