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                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

    We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Selected
Combined Financial Information of Staples.com," "Selected Consolidated Financial
Information of Staples, Inc.," and "Experts" and to the use of our report dated
September 21, 1999, in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related
Prospectus of Staples, Inc. dated February 18, 2000 for the registration of
shares of Staples.com common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein
of our report dated March 4, 1999, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements of Staples, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the
year ended January 30, 1999, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Boston, Massachusetts
February 17, 2000
