The Fellowes FAQ We Actually Needed: Shredders, Standing Desks, and a Few Search Detours

I'm a quality manager at Fellowes. I review all office products before they ship—roughly 250 unique items annually. After four years of this, I've learned to expect the unexpected. In 2024, I rejected about 8% of first production samples due to cut tolerance or finish issues. This FAQ answers the searches that actually land here, including a few we never saw coming.

My Fellowes paper shredder jammed. What should I do first?

Unplug it before you do anything. In my first year, I tried to clear a jammed shredder while it was still plugged in. The cutter didn't do major damage, but my thumb still remembers how stupid that was. For everyone searching 'Fellowes paper shredder jammed': this is the first step.

Once it's unplugged, switch the shredder to reverse and hold it for a few seconds. If it doesn't clear, gently pull the paper from the top—not through the opening—and alternate forward and reverse. To be fair, no shredder is jam-proof. Most jams happen when you feed more than the rated sheet capacity, or when paper is wadded, folded, or has a sticky label. If your model won't clear, the manual is on our support page.

What should I actually look for in an electric standing desk?

Start with stability, not the motor count. An electric standing desk that wobbles at standing height will annoy everyone in the office. Test the frame at 42-45 inches with your weight on it, and ask about warranty terms before you compare prices.

Then ask what's not included. This is the question I still kick myself for not asking years ago. Some desks are quoted without a cable tray, mounting screws, or grommet covers—extra parts can add $75 to $150 after the order. I get why people go for the cheapest desk; budgets are real. But when you add missing pieces, the cheap desk isn't cheap anymore. A quote that lists every part upfront, even if it looks higher, usually costs less in the end.

How do I connect an Epson printer to my computer?

I'm not a printer technician, but I've connected enough Epson printers to know most problems follow the same path. This is for everyone whose search was 'how to connect epson printer to computer' and ended up on an office supply site.

1. Install the full driver package from Epson's support site before connecting the USB cable.
2. For Wi-Fi, make sure the printer and computer are on the same network. A 5 GHz printer won't see a 2.4 GHz computer.
3. If the computer says 'printer offline,' check the print queue first. A stuck document can block everything.

As of January 2025, Epson's compatibility tool at epson.com is the most reliable way to verify your OS. Take this with a grain of salt—setup varies by model. But nine times out of ten, it's the driver or the network.

What's the best way to bind a proposal and get it through the mail?

If the proposal has to look professional, skip the folder with loose pages. At Fellowes we make the machines and supplies for that. The question is whether it can go as a USPS large envelope or becomes a parcel.

According to USPS Business Mail 101 (pe.usps.com/businessmail101), a large envelope, what USPS calls a 'flat,' can be up to 12 in. x 15 in. and 0.75 in. thick. A standard 3-ring binder is usually too thick, so use comb binding or spiral binding if you want flat mail. As of January 2025, First-Class Mail large envelope (1 oz) is $1.50, with additional ounces at $0.28. Verify rates at usps.com because they change throughout the year.

Separately, I once found a vendor proposal held together with a rubber band. It wasn't terrible, but it told me the person had better things to do than proofread. A simple binding system costs a few cents per page and leaves a different impression.

What does 'professional grade' actually mean on office equipment?

Ask the vendor to put it in writing. Under FTC advertising guidelines (ftc.gov), product claims need to be truthful and substantiated. 'Professional grade' should mean a spec for duty cycle, daily usage, or materials. If a sales rep says it's 'high volume' but can't give you a recommended sheets-per-day number, that's a red flag.

This matters because pricing isn't always transparent. I still kick myself for approving a 'fully equipped' laminator package that didn't include starter pouches. It was a $60 add-on after the order. The surprise wasn't the price difference; it was how much hidden value came with the option that listed everything upfront. My rule now: ask 'what's NOT included?' before asking the price.

Is Fellowes related to Julian Fellowes? What about his education?

No. Fellowes is an office products company founded in 1917. Julian Fellowes is a British actor and writer, best known for Downton Abbey. His education is well documented—Ampleforth College and Magdalene College, Cambridge—but it has nothing to do with shredders.

If you landed here searching 'julian fellowes education,' you're on the wrong Fellowes. That said, since you're here: we don't make costume dramas, but we do make standing desks that are easier to live with than, say, a servant's bell.

Do you have a Palworld breeding calculator?

No. We don't have one, and I'm not going to pretend I know how to build it. In Q4 2024, a surprising number of people searched 'palworld breeding calculator' and landed on our site. The surprise wasn't the game's popularity; it was how many people ended up on a shredder page afterward.

If you need actual Palworld breeding calculators, dedicated fan sites have them. We're not one of them. But when you're done hatching eggs, our shredders are good for getting rid of printed spreadsheets of failed combinations.