Does Officeworks Offer Price Matching?

By Thomas Bennett Financial expert at Priceva
Published on August 21, 2025
The Officeworks Price Match Guarantee is one of the most generous in Australian retail. Instead of just matching, they beat any eligible competitor’s price by 5%. This price beat guarantee (PBG) works in-store and covers both online and physical stores.

For consumers, that’s extra savings without hunting for coupons or waiting for a sale. For businesses, it’s a competitive lever — knowing how the policy works can improve buying decisions.

This article explains the exact terms and conditions, how to request the price beat, eligible items, exclusions, and real-world experiences. You’ll also learn how tools like Priceva help you track competitor prices and use Officeworks’ PBG to your advantage.

Understanding Officeworks Price Beat Guarantee Policy

The Officeworks price match guarantee is called the Price Beat Guarantee or PBG. If you find an identical stocked item at a cheaper price, Officeworks will match it and then beat it by 5%.

The PBG applies to both Officeworks store prices and their online store. The product must be identical in brand, model number, specifications, and warranty. The stock must be available at both Officeworks and the competitor at the time of the request.

To get a price beat, you must provide proof of the competitor’s advertised price. This can be a catalogue, website, or screenshot. The competitor must be an Australian retailer selling through authorized channels.

Unlike simple price matching, a price beat saves you more. For example, if a competitor’s item costs $100, Officeworks will apply the PBG and sell it for $95. That’s why this policy is popular with savvy shoppers — you save even if the difference is small.

Key Terms and Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the price beat conditions, your item must meet these rules:

  • Identical products: Same brand, model number, features, and warranty terms.

  • Stock availability: Both the competitor and Officeworks must have stock. No rainchecks or pre-orders.

  • Evidence: Competitor pricing must be current and verifiable. Staff can check websites or printed ads.

  • Reasonable quantity: The PBG is for personal or business use, not bulk commercial orders.

The officeworks price match policy is strict on these points to prevent abuse. Staff may check the competitor’s stock in real time, especially for high-value products like Apple devices or printers.

How to Request Officeworks Price Beat Guarantee

The Officeworks price match process is simple. There are three main steps:

  1. Record evidence of the competitor’s price. This could be a screenshot, catalogue clipping, or live web page. Make sure it includes delivery costs for online stores.
  2. Present it to Officeworks staff in-store or by phone. The staff will verify the details, including stock and delivery fees.
  3. Receive the 5% price beat. The discount is applied before purchase.

You can request the PBG in any Officeworks store or by calling 1300 OFFICE. There is no online application form — the process is manual to ensure verification.

The 5% saving may seem small, but on big-ticket items, it adds up. A $2,000 laptop with a $100 cheaper competitor price will net you $105 in savings under the beat it by 5 rule.

In-Store Price Beat Process

For the officeworks price beat in store, bring your evidence. This can be a printed catalogue, photo on your phone, or competitor website link.

At checkout, the staff will confirm the competitor’s price and stock. They may call the competitor or check the site live. A manager may need to authorise large discounts. The final amount is reduced immediately, and you pay the discounted total.

Phone-Based Price Beat Requests

You can also request the PBG by calling 1300 OFFICE. Provide the competitor’s name, model number, and price, along with proof via email or online link.

Phone requests are useful when you can’t visit a store. They’re also good for complex products or when the competitor is in another state. After approval, you can buy in-store or arrange delivery.

Price Matching with Major Online Retailers

Amazon

Does Officeworks price match Amazon? Yes, but only for Amazon Australia. Prices must include delivery fees for non-Prime customers. Amazon US or other regions are excluded. Prime shipping discounts count only if available to all customers.

Kogan

Officeworks will price match Kogan direct sales, not marketplace listings. The stock must be from an authorized distributor in Australia, not a grey import

eBay

Officeworks price matches eBay store prices only if the seller is a verified Australian retailer. Marketplace and overseas sellers are excluded. Delivery costs must be included in the comparison.

Customer stories show big wins — like $75 off an iPad from an amazon price match — but also denials when items came from overseas retailers.

Recent Policy Changes and Exclusions

Recently, Officeworks removed Costco from the PBG list. Does Officeworks price match Costco? No — membership-only stores are excluded. The reasoning is simple: membership pricing isn’t available to the general public.

Other exclusions include cashback offers, coupon codes, Apple education discounts, clearance sales, stock liquidations, and grey imports. These terms and conditions keep the policy sustainable while still offering strong value.

Grey Market and Import Restrictions

The grey import exclusions block products not sourced from authorized Australian distributors. This mainly affects electronics from sellers like Kogan’s marketplace. The condition ensures Australian warranty coverage and reliable returns. Staff are trained to verify if a product is a direct import before applying the PBG.

Maximizing Price Intelligence with Professional Monitoring Tools

Tracking competitor prices manually is slow. Competitive pricing intelligence tools like Priceva automate the process.

With retail price monitoring, you can watch prices across Officeworks, Amazon, eBay, and more. Automated price tracking sends alerts for price drops, helping you request a price beat before the competitor sells out.

Businesses use these insights to adjust pricing strategically. Consumers can spot the best offers instantly. With historical data, you can predict when prices will fall and plan purchases to save more.

Parents' Price Promise for School Supplies

The Parents Price Promise is Officeworks’ most generous program. Instead of the standard 5% price beat, it offers 20% off official school list items.

To qualify, bring your school’s official list and proof of a cheaper identical item elsewhere. The policy applies during the back-to-school season and is limited to the quantities on the list. Families can save hundreds on bulk stationery and supplies.

Educational and Student Benefits

Officeworks also runs student discounts during back-to-school promotions. Bulk pricing for schools and educational institutions is available year-round. The Parents Price Promise can be combined with these offers for maximum savings.

Customer Experiences and Success Stories

Customers share many officeworks price beat success stories online. Examples include $75 off an iPad against Amazon AU, $20 off a printer versus Harvey Norman, and price beats on networking gear.

Not every attempt succeeds. Some face staff resistance or policy misinterpretation. The most successful shoppers come prepared: evidence ready, polite approach, and knowledge of the PBG rules.

Common Challenges and Solutions

The most common price beat rejection reasons are incorrect model numbers, out-of-stock competitor items, or unauthorized sellers.

Solutions include double-checking model numbers, using different stores, or escalating to a manager. If rejected unfairly, calling customer service can sometimes resolve the issue.

Comparing Officeworks to Competitor Price Policies

A price beat comparison highlights why Officeworks’ price beat guarantee stands out in the Australian retail market. While Officeworks offers to beat it by 5 percent, Bunnings goes further with a 10% price beat, but their focus is on hardware and home improvement rather than tech or office products. JB Hi-Fi matches prices but does not apply any extra discount, which means you’ll pay exactly the competitor’s price without added savings. Harvey Norman and The Good Guys sometimes match competitor prices but rarely beat them, and often their terms and conditions include more restrictions on eligible items and stock availability.

The Officeworks 5% approach is effective in the office, technology, and education supply segments where margins are tight and identical stocked item comparisons are straightforward. This positions the brand strongly against both big-box competitors and online stores like Amazon or eBay, as the PBG adds a clear financial incentive to shop at an Officeworks store. By combining competitive pricing with wide product availability, Officeworks attracts customers who value both price and convenience.

Alternative Strategies When Price Beat Fails

If the PBG request is rejected, there are still ways to save. Cashback platforms can return a percentage of your purchase price, often stacking with sales. Gift card discounts — sometimes up to 10% off through third-party promotions — can bring your effective cost below the competitor’s offer even without a formal price match. Waiting for seasonal promotions, such as back-to-school or end-of-financial-year sales, can also yield better deals, especially on high-value products like laptops or printers. Using a combination of these tactics may beat the competitor’s price while still buying from an Officeworks store, keeping warranty and return rights intact.

Strategic Recommendations for Price Matching

To get the most out of the officeworks savings strategy, always prepare solid evidence before requesting a price beat. Screenshots, printed ads, and clear proof of stock availability at the competitor make it easier for staff to approve the discount. Time your request during major sales events, as competitors often drop prices then, and remember that the PBG applies to both in-store and phone requests. Knowing the policy exclusions — such as grey imports or membership-only retailers — prevents wasted effort. Above all, be polite and concise with staff; a positive interaction often makes the price match or price beat process smoother and quicker.

FAQ

What's the difference between Officeworks price match and price beat - do they really beat prices by 5%?

Price match equals competitor pricing. Price beat means Officeworks matches then discounts by 5%, giving you a better final price than the competitor’s offer.

Does Officeworks price match Amazon?

Yes, for Amazon AU only. Delivery costs are included in comparisons. Overseas Amazon listings are excluded from the Price Beat Guarantee.

Why doesn't Officeworks price match Costco anymore and what stores are excluded from the Price Beat Guarantee?

Membership-only stores like Costco are excluded, along with grey importers, clearance outlets, and sellers without Australian warranty or authorized distributor status.

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