Staples Changed Their Binder Rings?

For my Ukraine collection, I have been using Staples Better Binders. Some people think they're a little too flexible. But I like them.

I haven't needed to buy a Better Binder in a while. But with 2019 stamp album supplement done, and my stamps mounted, I needed a new binder. Placed a curbside pickup for a yellow 1 1/2" binder and discovered that they changed the rings on the binder.

My old binder had these rings:



These are nice rings with a ball and socket connector. Pages almost never get snagged on these connectors.

The new binder has these rings:



These are the kind of rings that were in every binder when I was a kid. They will let papers get snagged on them and are just inferior to ball and socket closures.

I'm taking this binder back to Staples tomorrow and looking to see if they have the old style anywhere in stock.

I fear it may be time to switch binder brands.

Checking on their website, the images still show the old ball and socket connections.

I'm not sure where these new rings came from. If this is a cost cutting move, it sucks.

Unfortunate -- I agree that the newer model is built for frustration and heartache.

A whole lot cheaper to make the new type for sure. Made in China?

Yes. The original ones were made in China also. I may have to go back to Avery binders. I would just prefer not to. I really like some of the craft binders they sell in Michaels. But they ALL use the cheapest rings possible. Sounds like a lunchtime trip to Staples is in order.

I am using yellow binders because the the Ukrainian flag is blue and yellow. Maybe I need to buy a blue binder and alternate the colors.

Thanks for the "heads-up"--- I was going to order binders this weekend. Those claps will never hold on large-wide binders.

Bindertek brand binders have the ball and socket ring ends. You can find them on Amazon, at Staples etc..

My latest 3-ring binder is a Cardinal Premier Easy Open Locking Binder, which I bought at Staples several months ago. It has the ball and socket feature as shown in the original posting. Seems to work nicely; it is made in Mexico.

Those Cardinal Premiere binders are nice!

Bindertek binders are VERY nice. I've used them before.

So, Apastuszak, did you get a chance to return them to Staples? If so, what did they say?

I returned it for a blue binder. All the yellow ones had the new rings. The guys in the store had no idea what I was talking about. I may call their customer service number and see if this is a permanent change.

Just a heads up. Bindertek 1" binders no longer have the ball and socket rings. Their 2" and 3" binders do. And they seem to have discontinued their 1 1/2" binders. I wonder if whoever made the 1" and 1 1/2" binder rings for everyone discontinued their ball and socket rings and this is the fallout from that.

I learned that I REALLY prefer 1" binders for my collection. It's more binders, but it's much easier to deal with. One of the things I really liked about White Ace was the binders. They were durable and they were 1" thick I believe. Made handling the album a whole lot easier.

White Ace Binders were some of the best. Kind of tough to find them anymore be it on Ebay or anywhere else. And you don't really see any of them at stamp shows either. Been looking for a couple of the White Ace Vatican City binders for years. Just the binders - no pages. No luck.

White Ace Vatican

https://www.ebay.com/itm/White-Ace-...AOSwKINesYmv