Sometimes, but never by default. Some Staples (Bureau en Gros) locations act as an authorized drop-off point for a carrier, but not all of them do, and which carrier varies store by store. The only reliable check is Purolator's official locator: if that specific store is listed, it accepts Purolator parcels; if it is not, it does not. The underlying rule never changes: the label decides the network, and a counter can only accept parcels carrying the label of the carrier it represents.
Can you drop off a Purolator package at Staples?
At some locations, yes. Staples (Bureau en Gros in Quebec) is one of the retail chains that hosts in-store shipping services, and a number of its stores are listed as authorized drop-off points. But there is no banner-wide guarantee: one store can offer the service while the branch across town does not, and an agreement can end without any notice to customers. Never assume a store accepts a carrier just because another store under the same sign does.
The check takes a minute. Open Purolator's official locator, enter your postal code, and see whether the store you have in mind appears in the results. A drop-off point that appears in a carrier's locator is under contract with that carrier and can scan your parcel into its system. A point that does not appear cannot, however willing the staff at the counter are to look at your box.
Authorized-agent agreements are commercial and they change: a chain can add or remove stores, or switch which carrier it partners with. Treat what follows as how the network works, not as today's store list. Always confirm in the carrier's own locator before you make the trip, and confirm the carrier you are actually buying at the rate step.
The rule that never changes: the label decides the network
Every special case follows from one principle. A drop-off counter is not a universal post box: it is an entry point into one specific carrier's network. The clerk scans your label's barcode into that carrier's system. If the label belongs to a different carrier, the barcode does not exist in that system, the scan fails, and the parcel has no way in. This is not about staff being unhelpful: the parcel simply has no mechanism to move forward.
The practical consequence: a parcel left at the wrong counter is not forwarded to the right carrier. It sits unscanned, and depending on the location it will be handed back to you, set aside, or refused at the door. It generates no tracking while that happens, which is the most common way shippers quietly lose three days on a shipment.
Which counter accepts which parcel
| Type of drop-off point | Takes Purolator parcels? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Purolator shipping centre | Yes | The carrier's own staffed counter |
| Purolator authorized drop-off point (pharmacy, convenience store, shipping shop, some retail branches) | Yes, if the point is listed in Purolator's locator | Status belongs to the individual store, not the chain |
| Purolator drop box | Yes, for small parcels that are already labelled | One pickup per business day |
| Canada Post retail counter | No | Separate networks despite the ownership link |
| The UPS Store location | No, unless the locator says otherwise | A franchise network built around UPS |
| Retail counter with no shipping agreement | No | No access to any carrier's system |
The Canada Post row surprises people, because Canada Post holds a majority stake in Purolator. The two still run as separate networks day to day: separate depots, drivers, labels and tracking. We cover that question in full in our article on the relationship between Canada Post and Purolator.
What if I do not have a label yet?
This is the real difference between location types. A drop box only receives: your parcel has to be labelled and sealed already. A staffed counter can usually do more, and some retail points can print a label on the spot, typically at the posted retail rate rather than the commercial rate you get by buying the label in advance.
- Buy and print the label before you leave: it is almost always cheaper than the counter rate, and it opens up drop boxes and authorized points.
- Check the location's cut-off time, not just its closing time: a parcel dropped after the last pickup leaves the next business day.
- Keep the drop-off receipt where the location offers one: it is the only document tying your parcel to the network before the first scan.
Choosing the carrier around the drop-off point
If the most convenient counter near you is not a Purolator point, the right move is not to force the drop-off: it is to compare before you buy the label. Canada Post, UPS, FedEx, Purolator and the regional carriers have very different drop-off networks, and for a given shipment the best choice often depends as much on counter location as on the rate. With a free MesColis account and no contract, you see those rates side by side, each with its estimated delivery date, before you decide which counter you are walking to. We do not claim to be cheapest on every lane: the point is seeing the options together instead of just one.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drop off a Purolator package at Staples?
At branches that are authorized drop-off points, yes; elsewhere, no. Status is checked store by store in Purolator's official locator, never at the level of the chain.
Can I drop off a Purolator package at The UPS Store?
As a general rule no: it is a franchise network built around UPS, and its staff scan UPS labels. If a location did accept another carrier, it would appear in that carrier's locator. Absent that, assume it does not.
What happens if I drop a parcel at the wrong counter?
It is not forwarded to the right carrier. With no scan possible, it will be handed back, set aside, or refused, generating no tracking in the meantime. That is the most common way to lose several days on a shipment.