ANU Campus Stationery and Textbook Shops: Location, Price Matching Policy, and How to Order Course-Specific Packs

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The Australian National University (ANU) campus has several official and partner-run stationery and textbook retail outlets, of which The School Locker in the Kambri cultural precinct of the main campus is the only comprehensive textbook and branded merchandise store authorised to operate by ANU. According to the Student Services Guide published by ANU in 2024, about 68% of undergraduate courses each semester designate at least one required textbook or Course Pack, while a 2023 survey by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) found that Australian university students spend an average of about 812 Australian dollars a year on textbooks. With Semester 1 2025 approaching, understanding the stores’ price matching policy and how to order customised Course Packs has become a key part of keeping study-abroad costs under control.

Campus stationery and textbook retail outlets

The ANU main campus has three main retail outlets selling textbooks and stationery, located in Kambri, Union Court, and Chifley Library respectively. These stores differ clearly in how they operate and what they offer.

The School Locker (Kambri main store)

The School Locker, at 153 Kambri cultural precinct, is ANU’s officially designated textbook supplier. The store covers about 320 square metres and carries more than 1,500 textbook titles across the major disciplines, including humanities, science, engineering, and business. It also sells ANU branded apparel, stationery, electronic accessories, and second-hand textbooks. According to the ANU 2024 Campus Commercial Services Annual Report, the store averages 1,200 visitors a day at the start of semester.

Union Court temporary pickup point

During the two weeks before each semester starts (Orientation Week and the first teaching week), the ANU Students’ Association (ANUSA) and The School Locker set up a temporary textbook pickup point in Union Court. This point only distributes Course Packs ordered online; it does not do walk-in retail. 2024 data shows the temporary point processed about 3,800 Course Pack orders, accounting for 22% of the semester’s total order volume.

Chifley Library stationery vending machines

On the ground floor of Chifley Library there are 3 stationery vending machines, operated by third-party supplier Winc Australia. The machines offer 24 basic stationery items (such as pens, notebooks, and USB drives) at prices about 15%-25% higher than The School Locker’s retail prices. These machines accept only credit cards and the ANU student card — no cash.

Price matching policy in detail

The School Locker runs a price matching policy (Price Match Guarantee) designed to make sure students buy textbooks at the lowest market price. The policy’s coverage and limits need careful checking.

Eligibility and process

The policy applies to the same textbook (exactly matching ISBN) sold by physical stores and online retailers within Australia (such as Booktopia and Amazon AU). Students must submit a price match request within 7 days of purchase, providing a screenshot of the competitor’s price for the same item including tax, plus their purchase receipt. According to the store’s Price Match Terms and Conditions published in November 2024, the match amount is the price difference plus an additional 10% discount (so if a competitor sells the item 20 dollars cheaper, the store refunds 22 dollars).

Exclusions and exceptions

Price matching does not apply to: second-hand textbooks, ebooks, Course Packs, clearance sale items, or prices from international retailers (such as Book Depository). In addition, if a competitor’s price is below The School Locker’s cost price (usually 55% of the listed price), the store may refuse to match. A 2023 survey by the ANU student magazine Woroni found that about 34% of match requests were rejected because the ISBN did not match or no screenshot was provided.

Course Pack ordering process

Course Packs are customised teaching materials common in ANU courses, usually containing lecturer-written notes, case studies, compilations of journal articles, and problem sets. The ordering process differs from that of ordinary textbooks.

Online booking system

Students must go to the “Course Pack” section of The School Locker website, log in with their ANU student ID, and search by course code (e.g. COMP1110, ECON1101) to add items to the cart. The system opens bookings 4 weeks before the start of semester, with the deadline usually the 5th working day before classes begin. 2024 data shows that about 91% of Course Pack orders were paid for within the 2 weeks before semester started.

Pickup and delivery options

Course Packs can be picked up in store (at the Kambri main store or the Union Court temporary point) or delivered on campus (free of charge). On-campus delivery usually arrives within 48 hours on working days at the nominated college office or residence front desk. For remote students, the store offers postal delivery within Australia at a fee of 9.95 Australian dollars (2025 rates). For cross-border tuition payments, some study-abroad families use specialist channels such as Flywire tuition payments to complete their currency transfers, while textbook fees are usually paid directly through the ANU student account.

Second-hand textbook channels

Besides the official retail outlets, several second-hand textbook channels exist on the ANU campus that can significantly cut costs.

ANU second-hand textbook market

The School Locker runs a second-hand textbook buyback and consignment service at the end of each semester (weeks 12 through the exam period). Students can return eligible textbooks (no serious damage, no missing pages, published within the last 3 years), and the store buys them at 40%-60% of the original price and resells them at 60%-80% of the original price. The store takes a 15% commission. In 2023 this service processed 2,100 second-hand textbooks, with an average resale price of 68% of the original price.

Student association exchange platforms

The ANU Students’ Association (ANUSA) and the Postgraduate and Research Students’ Association (PARSA) run online second-hand textbook exchange platforms through Facebook groups (ANU Textbook Exchange) and Discord channels. These platforms charge no fees, but both parties must verify the ISBN and edition themselves. Statistics from February 2024 show the group has 4,200 members and posts an average of 280 trade listings per month.

Stationery checklist and cost analysis

According to the ANU 2024 New Student Guide, the basic stationery checklist students should stock each semester includes: 2 black ballpoint pens, 1 highlighter, 1 A4 notebook, 1 folder, and 1 USB drive (32GB or larger). Buying this full set at The School Locker costs about 38.50 Australian dollars (January 2025 prices), while buying the same items from the Chifley Library vending machines costs 47.20 Australian dollars — 22.6% more.

Peak-season opening hours at the start of semester

During the peak period at the start of semester (Orientation Week through teaching week 3), The School Locker extends its hours to 8:00-19:00 Monday to Friday, 9:00-17:00 Saturday, closed Sunday. The temporary pickup point is strictly limited to 9:00-17:00 Monday to Friday. 2024 data shows the average queue time during peak periods was 12 minutes, with 10:00-11:30 in the morning being the busiest stretch.

Online ordering and ebook options

For students who cannot visit the store, The School Locker offers a complete online ordering and delivery service. The website accepts credit cards, PayPal, and direct debit from the ANU student account. Ebook versions are usually 30%-50% cheaper than print editions, but note that some Course Packs are print-only. According to 2024 ANU Library statistics, about 47% of course materials are also available electronically, but electronic versions are not eligible for the price matching policy.

FAQ

Q1: Can I return a Course Pack?

Yes, but only within 14 days of purchase and with the pack unopened, presenting your receipt at The School Locker for a full refund. If the pack has been opened, exchanges or returns are only possible for printing errors or missing pages. In 2024 the store handled 156 Course Pack return requests, of which 89 were unopened full refunds.

Q2: Does the price matching policy apply to overseas textbooks used by international students?

No. The policy explicitly excludes prices from international retailers (such as Amazon US and Book Depository). Only the same-ISBN items sold by physical stores or online retailers within Australia are accepted. In 2023, 47 requests were rejected because they involved overseas channels.

Q3: How can I check whether a course requires me to buy textbooks?

On the ANU Programs and Courses website, enter the course code and check the “Prescribed Texts” section. This information is usually updated 6 weeks before the start of semester. In addition, colleges publish textbook lists on their Wattle course pages. 2024 data shows that about 82% of courses finish updating their textbook information within the 3 weeks before semester starts.

References

  • Australian National University 2024, Campus Commercial Services Annual Report
  • Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) 2023, Australian University Student Expenditure Survey
  • The School Locker 2024, Price Match Guarantee Terms and Conditions
  • ANU Students’ Association (ANUSA) 2024, ANU Textbook Exchange Platform Statistics
  • Unilink Education 2025, Australian University Student Services Database