Welcome

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I expect to receive my order?

We try to ship all orders within 4-5 working days under normal circumstances. However, you can expect the process to take longer during convention season when we travel heavily. That is why we tell people to “allow 4 weeks for delivery.” Occasionally orders are delayed due to supplier difficulties—i.e., backorders from the companies who sell us the products.

How do you handle backorders?

We don’t like backorders any more than you do, but sometimes they are a reality of life! If we do not have stock for the products you have ordered but expect to receive it from our suppliers within a week or so, we will hold you order until we can ship the complete package. If the supplier will take longer than that, we will send you a partial shipment of the items we have with a note about when the missing product(s) will be shipped. If the delay is unacceptable to you, please let us know and we will send a refund check to you.

What do you do with price changes, payment discrepancies, and discontinued items?

Publishers change prices or take books out of print according to their financial needs—and usually without notice. If we have discontinued a book that you’ve ordered, we will return your payment or send a refund check to you. If you have overpaid with a check, we will send a credit for amounts under $3.00 and provide a refund check for amounts greater than $3.00. If you have underpaid with a check, we will invoice you for amounts greater than $2.00. If you pay with a credit card, we will simply adjust the total to the proper amount before processing payment.

Can I return purchased items?

If you are not satisfied with a book, you may exchange it or return it for a refund within 60 days of your invoice date. You do not need to call for authorization to send products back; however, we must receive items in sellable condition in order to accept your return. Please wrap items carefully, and insure them against loss. Returns are credited at 85% of the purchase price, reflecting a 15% restocking charge.

Please note that you may not return or exchange any audio products (cassette,compact disc, DVD) or software. Of course, any defective materials will be cheerfully and promptly replaced.

Why do book prices vary so much?

It certainly can be frustrating to hold a 400-page book in one hand for $21.00 and a 300-page book in the other for $50, but the answer to this question is quite simple. Many factors enter into the pricing of books: [1] the size of the print run (huge quantities mean lower prices); [2] the amount of royalties owed for portions of the material (more contributors—photography, diagrams, articles, musical scores, poetry, anything—it all adds up); [3] the size of the company purchasing the materials at wholesale prices (smaller companies usually have less warehouse space and less capital to buy in large quantities—all this means higher costs); [4] hardback vs. paperback; [5] four-color printing vs. black/white; etc.

Do you provide personal and/or educational counseling?

We would love to do that, but we can’t. We do not have sufficient personnel on the payroll to give you the time that would be necessary to learn enough about your family situation that we can make appropriate suggestions. We also believe—as you do—that our family responsibilities should be fulfilled properly. Thus, we draw the line prohibiting telephone and website counsel.