While the boxed staples sold in the store are ridiculously cheap, staples that are used in copy machines, which come in specially designed dispensers, different for each brand of copier, are not as cheap, and also not usually included in the copier maintenance programs that Staples surely has on each machine. Copier companies and their distribution channels generally markup the staples to the point where paying $0.02 each on the end product from the machine is not that unreasonable. It just seems that way at first glance.

Another factor to consider is that using the stapling feature of copy machines generally causes them to require service more often. While the required repairs are covered under maintenance contracts, the downtime isn't.

I'm not a big fan of Staples, but I can't fault them too much for this.