Onecorp. VS Twocorp, which holds everything else.

Hmmmm...... I see prices going up.

Within reasonable walking distance (yes, I'm an avid >5 mile/daily walker), I have an Office Max, an Office Depot and a Staples and if I kept going toward a 10 mile round trip, I'd see yet another Office Max/Office Depot.

So, now how many empty, ugly, big box store fronts will my community now have to deal with?

Ironically though, with 5 ink pens that I use regularly (3 rollerball , one ballpoint, and one cartridge-type fountain pen), I've yet to find refills at any of the three big office supply stores for more than one of them--and that, only sporadically and only black ink and not even available online from any of the three. I remember neighborhood stationary/business office supply stores that always stocked what I needed. Now, it is Amazon.com, some online pen store, or one of the last remaining art supply type stores 60 miles away--even with all these damned big box office supply stores nearby.

And I can't remember seeing one in use by any of my peers around the office.

Not disparaging the value that such pens might have for their advocates, but given the apparently low demand, I can see why big-box stores might not be inclined to carry the refills.

Are the refills standardized, or do they vary from pen to pen?

Not to mention, how much nicer the refillable quality pens write.

And while most large workplaces I've had affiliation with in the past twenty years have likewise offered cheap bics, the ones that were more progressive with recycling policies and energy reductions have long ago encouraged refillable pen use, though usually only with reimbursement for the refills rather than trying to stock (and I surely know why).

If nothing else, I'd be surprised if you haven't encountered at least a few using the ubiquitous RETRO51 pens. That is they one I tend to see most often.

While the computer has taken over a large part of my daily "writing", I still do some medical charting. updates and some personal notes, at least partially hand-written. Having a decent-writing pen that doesn't skip and leave glops of gelatinous ink everywhere (nor leak in my purse or pocket) makes that much more enjoyable (and my writing far more legible).

Good point.

I have to say that I misplace so many pens already that I'd hate to have to keep track of one that's worth keeping.

I suppose that the management-types I've worked with over the years might have invested in/received nicer pens, but the grunts and cube-rats have just about universally made do with Bics and Papermates.

Not sure at all what you found offensive, but, ok.... I'm sure I'll survive.

Since we do not.....

Until about 30 seconds ago I would have bet money that they were the same company already.

I'm pretty sure that if you dropped the average customer into the middle of either store, they wouldn't be able to tell them apart anyway.

aka firings.

As this new monopoly is allowed, there will be formerly over lapping competitive territories that will need to be "realigned". Which means closes stores and firing people.

Get rid of competition raise prices, lower wages....the American way.

Indeed...

Source: New York Times

A merger between Office Depot and OfficeMax has been years in the making. But it appears the deal may have been announced too hastily.

A press release announcing the merger of the two office supply retailers briefly surfaced Wednesday on Office Depot's Web site. Since then, the announcement has disappeared.

The deal negotiations are ongoing, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. As of Wednesday morning, the company's bankers and lawyers were still attempting to finalize an agreement.

Read more: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/office-depots-deal-officemax-said-134806304.html

I know there is one two miles from my house, and another one four miles from my house, but I can't for the life of me tell you which one is which.

Will they be called:
Office Depot? or
Office Max? or
Depot Max? or
Office Office? or
Staples Remover?

Is there a bit of difference between those three chains?

That's millions of dollars worth a year. The contract gives us (I work in UC) huge discounts for purchasing with them. They deliver the next day.

UC is definitely undergoing changes that are very corporate in nature.