Initially, it was reported on the SHAC website that activists had witnessed unmarked trucks delivering Staples supplies to Huntingdon Life Sciences in the UK. Since the campaign began, we have received reports of a number of different Staples responses.

Staples began by denying that they were supplying Huntingdon Life Sciences. Then they said that they were supplying Huntingdon Life Sciences in the USA but not the UK. Then they said they were supplying Huntingdon Life Sciences in the UK but not the USA. Then they claimed that they couldn't withhold supplies when they were ordered over the internet. Since then they have released statements saying that they will supply whomever orders from them.

As of April 27, 2008, their USA corporate headquarters was back to denying that they supply Huntingdon Life Sciences at all.

Apparently Staples is having a hard time keeping their stories straight. Typical for liars. Below you will find a sampling of letters that have been sent to Staples from concerned and compassionate consumers. Following those letters, you will see some of the responses from Staples.

Correspondence with Staples

Letters TO Staples:

Dear Ron Sargent:

I was profoundly disappointed to find out about STAPLES' relationship with Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) and the serious consequences of the latter's abuse of hundreds of animals for commercial purposes. It is inconceivable to me that an enterprise as large as your's could not use appropriate discretion when servicing clients and suggests that profits have no limit if this is the "price" exacted for your continuing relationship w/ HLS. This is not an enterprise I care to participate in and will now seek out alternative vendors until I am advised that STAPLES has severed its relationship to this company which continues to intentionally injure and kill animals for the sake of a pop-ulation's convenience [as opposed to their continued survivial].

If you and/or STAPLES decide to respond to this missive please spare me a boiler-plate, form reply. A personal, factual answer will be welcomed, but the aforementioned form reply will be summarily deleted.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely yours,

RE: STAPLES' TIES TO HUNTINGDON LIFE SCIENCES

Dear Sir:

As a customer who has patronized Staples for home office supplies such as ink jet cartridges, paper and desktop organizers, I was disgusted to learn Saturday from activists on the street at Lexington Avenue that Staples supplies office products to animal-contracting testing lab Huntingdon Life Sciences, which killed by poisoning 12,800 dogs, monkeys, and rabbits in product testing for "Splenda," a coffee sweetener! Do you know how horrible death by poisoning is? I've worked for products liability litigation attorneys, so I have a fair understanding of just how horrible this is. Testing on animals does not protect people as people still get sick or harmed, and the planet polluted.

Isn't it bad public relations for Staples to be seen indirectly participating in animal abuse by doing business with Huntingdon Life Sciences?

I understand that Staples does not care about the lack of moral standards of its corporate customers and chooses to continue doing business as usual with this lab. This is totally unacceptable to anyone with a functioning conscience. Accordingly, I am respectfully requesting that you sever Staples' ties with this lab and stop facilitating Huntingdon's business of harming and terrorizing animals and taking their lives for I can always get home office supplies elsewhere from other retailers, such as Airline Stationers.

Very truly yours,

Dear Mr. Sargent,

It has recently come to my attention that your business in the United Kingdom is supplying the puppy killers at Huntingdon Life Sciences. Are you aware of the fact that Huntingdon Life Sciences kills 500 animals every day including beagle puppies, infant monkey and scores of ferrets, cats and kittens, lab rats and mice, etc? Are you aware that they have been found in multiple undercover investigations to be guilty of animal cruelty and abuse? Surely, a company with the strong ethical stance that Staples has would not knowingly support a company guilty of torturing innocent animals.

I am a devoted and long standing Staples customer who is currently very disappointed. Please tell me when you have stopped delivering supplies to Huntingdon Life Sciences, so I can start shopping at Staples again.

Sincerely,

Letter FROM Staples:

Thank you for reaching out to Staples, XXXXXX.

All of our customers have open access to shop Staples' Web site and stores. We do not and cannot restrict anyone's ability to purchase products based upon the nature of their business or personal beliefs.

We certainly respect your opinion and look forward to continuing to serve you as a Staples' customer.

Thank you for your patience concerning this matter.

Steve
Staples Customer Service Supervisor

Letter TO Staples in Response to their CANNED Reply:

I appreciate that you responded to my email, but I'm a little insulted that I got a "canned" response.

Every business CAN and DOES decide who they do business with. It's one of the great things about this country. We have a choice. And if we don't want to support a business that tortures animals, WE HAVE THE RIGHT to cut our ties with that corporation. Citibank did it. HSBC did it. Wachovia did it. Bank of America... the list goes on.

Is Staples in such dire financial straits that they will go bankrupt without the HLS account?!? I urge you to get a backbone and be the "ethical" company that your website claims you to be.

I know that demonstrations are taking place outside of Staples stores around the country. I have personally spoken to activists who say that MANY people have been turned away from shopping at your stores. Your customers are DISGUSTED by your actions!!!

I'm not just complaining. I'm an activist. I urge you to cut your ties with HLS. Until you do, we will hold peaceful demonstrations and educate the public about the animal torture you support. Shame on you.

STILL HAVEN'T WRITTEN?

If you haven't written to Staples and would like to, here are some contacts:

Ron Sargent
Chairman and CEO
STAPLES World Headquarters
500 Staples Drive
Framingham, MA 01702
Telephone: 1.508.253.5000
Toll Free Number: 1.800.378.2753

e-mail: ron.sargent@staples.com

If you are a Staples Investor, you can contact:

Laurel Lefebvre
Vice President - Investor Relations
STAPLES World Headquarters
500 Staples Drive
Framingham, MA 01702
Telephone: 1.508.253-4080
Toll Free Number: 1.800.378.2753

e-mail: laurel.lefebvre@staples.com

For global and national community relations and corporate responsibility contact:

Joy Errico
STAPLES World Headquarters
500 Staples Drive
Framingham, MA 01702
Telephone: 1.508.253-4080 Direct Line: 1.508.253.7957 Toll Free Number: 1.800.378.2753

e-mail: joy.errico@staples.com

Please keep all correspondence with Mr. Sargent, Ms. Lefebvre, Ms. Errico or anyone else at Staples, polite and informative. A picture is worth a thousand words. Find pictures at:

SHAC PHOTO GALLERY