Product Review: inPOWER Staplers
Over the time I've been writing this blog, I've reviewed a couple of different staplers - and I'm about to do it again. Why? Because the stapler that is my topic today comes from a company whose products I have not liked. I tried PaperPro staplers when they first hit the market years ago and they were touting their products as the greatest new invention since sliced bread. I had continuing problems with them jamming - and jam-free stapling was one of their marketing points in their ad campaign back then! I finally gave up and threw the stapler in the trash. So, when the manufacturer rep gave me samples to try recently, I was intrigued to see if the newest model was an improvement over my last experience.
This is my first "team" review. I was given several samples of the PaperPro inPOWER+ staplers, so I distributed them to my coworkers and we've all been testing them for several weeks now. There are several different models - we tested both the 28 sheet capacity and the 20 sheet capacity and today we are pleased to present our findings to you.
First, let me tell you about some of the features. As you can see by the pictures above, this stapler can either sit on the desk like a traditional stapler, or stand up, which can be a space saver as well as being convenient to grab. It has a rubber grip on the top as well as a non-slip rubber base. It can open for tacking. A couple of unique features are the staple storage compartment on the bottom and the built-in staple remover.
Storage compartment
Built-in stapler remover
Aside from having a storage compartment for staples on the bottom, it also loads from the bottom. When you open it into the tacking position, the staple compartment automatically opens. The staples load upside down, which took a little getting used to.
Loading compartment
Of course, PaperPro's main selling point is still the "one-finger stapling." So how did it fare with our panel?
Co-Worker # 1 really likes this stapler. She had no problems with any jams, likes the storage compartment for the extra staples and just really loves it overall. She is one happy camper.
Co-Worker #2 also likes it overall and also had no problems with jamming. She said that it is easier to staple thicker batches of paper than with a traditional stapler, but she did have a couple of things she wasn't all that fond of. This stapler doesn't have the feel of a traditional stapler. As she describes it, it "snaps" and she didn't care for the snap. She also doesn't like the staple loading mechanism. Or more to the point, she doesn't like that the loading compartment flies open automatically when you open the stapler fully. When she opened it in front of me, the staple compartment opened quickly and the staples flew out all over her desk. I didn't have that problem with mine and I'm wondering if it had anything to do with the fact that she was testing the half-strip and I was testing a full-strip model. Maybe the power of the spring is too strong for the half-strip size - I don't know.
Now we come to me. My big problem with previous models was the jamming. I have been testing the inPOWER+28 model that is supposed to be able to staple up to 28 sheets. And it does. I tried the full 28 pages and had no problem at all. And no jamming. Off to a good start! As I just mentioned, I didn't have any issues with my staples flying out when I opened it, however, I don't like the fact that the compartment opens automatically. If I'm opening the stapler to use it for tacking, I have to close the compartment first and then tack. My 2 main issues are that, like Co-Worker #2, I don't like the feel of it. What she calls "snap," I call "stiff." Yes, I can do it with one finger, but I have to push a lot harder than I want to or than I think I should have to and I can't use it at all by picking it up and using it in my hands - I have to use it with it sitting on the desk because I have problems with my hands and I can't squeeze it easily if I'm using it off the desk. My second issue is that the staple remover, although a really cool feature, doesn't work well. I had a difficult time getting the blade under the staple (it's a bit too thick) and, when I finally did get it under and tried to pull the staple from the paper, the remover bent downward and wouldn't pull it out.
The staple remover folds away when not in use. When you need it, you pull it out into position and it extends straight out as you saw in some of the pictures earlier in the article. However, you can see in this picture that the blade is on a downward angle. There is no locking mechanism to the remover, so the pressure of you pulling upward on the stapler makes the blade buckle. If PaperPro can fix that, it'll be a great little tool.
So there you have it. Overall, we all liked the stapler. It's not perfect, but it's shortcomings are things that I think could be easily fixed. ( PaperPro, are you listening?)
We give the inPOWER+ staplers 4 paperclips!