SHIPPING INFORMATION

SHIPPING SCHEDULES
USPS REAL TIME LOOKUP SHIPPING RATES
INFORMATION ON MISSING OR LOST PACKAGES
POSTED INFORMATION
SHIPPING IN REFERENCE TO PAYMENT
UNDELIVERABLE SHIPMENTS
DOMESTIC (WITHIN THE US) SHIPPING OPTIONS
INTERNATIONAL (OUTSIDE THE US) SHIPPING OPTIONS
CUSTOMS/IMPORT DUTIES INFORMATION
POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR DELAY IN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

SHIPPING SCHEDULES
Orders normally ship from our Southern California warehouse the next business day after checkout is completed and payment clears. We ship Monday through Saturday. As always, if you have any questions please contact us.

USPS REAL-TIME LOOKUP SHIPPING RATES
We use real-time shipping rates from the United States Postal Service. Your order's destination and weight are used to automatically calculate actual, correct postage.

If you prefer, we also offer shipping via UPS. Choices and rates are displayed in our website's checkout.

We rely on USPS as our primary shipping provider, simply because its rates and service are the most competitive (especially worldwide). Plus it can can ship to a PO Box and deliver on a Saturday at no additional charge.

As with everything we try to do here, this is intended to improve your experience with us. We always appreciate your support, so if you have any questions please contact us and let us know.

MISSING OR LOST PACKAGES
Due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, occasionally a package comes up missing or lost. In that case, we will encourage you to first check with your local post office. Sometimes a package can be held up there for one reason or another.

Once we are notified, we will make every effort to locate the package through the USPS system. On domestic shipments, when we contact USPS to start a trace, they will check with the post office in the area of delivery and report back to us what they find out.

For international shipments, USPS will use the tracking number or customs form number to begin the research. Unfortunately, since the research is done from one country to another, the process can take two months or more before we hear anything. USPS will send us a letter with any updates.

POSTED INFORMATION
All information posted here is reflective of current USPS timelines and policies made available. Posted information is subject to change via USPS without notice. For the latest details, please visit their website at: http://www.usps.com/international/serviceupdates.htm.

SHIPPING IN REFERENCE TO PAYMENT
It is our goal to have 100% of our catalog in stock at all times and to ship within 24-48 hours of receiving payment. Occasionally, we may be temporarily out of a title, and there will sometimes be delays in receiving additional copies from the publisher. Weekends, holidays and severe weather may impact shipments.

UNDELIVERABLE SHIPMENTS
Occasionally orders are returned to us as undeliverable. Reasons for this can vary. As a standard policy, Shipping & Handling charges are non-refundable (complete details are available here).

However, on shipments returned as undeliverable, we offer some flexibility, depending on the reason the order was returned. If the order was returned as the fault of us or the USPS, we will reship at no additional cost. However, if the order is returned as a fault of the customer, we have no alternative but to pass the additional shipping charges incurred to the customer.

The table below lists common causes for an order being returned, along with a categorization of responsibility for subsequent shipping costs:

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact us. It is our goal to make your purchase with us as efficient and enjoyable as possible.

DOMESTIC (WITHIN THE US) SHIPPING OPTIONS
On domestic orders, our standard shipping methods are USPS (United States Postal Service) Media Mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express.

PRIORITY MAIL EXPRESS
Priority Mail Express is the fastest delivery service USPS offers, as well as the most expensive.
This service includes the following:

	Next day delivery by noon or by 3:00 pm to many destinations, 2nd Day delivery to all other locations.
	Delivery to most addresses in the United States - including PO Boxes and military addresses.
	Includes tracking #
	Signature proof of delivery is available upon request
	All orders automatically insured up to $100

PRIORITY MAIL
Priority Mail is the next fastest delivery service USPS offers.
This service includes the following:

	2-4 Business day delivery (not guaranteed)
	Delivery to most addresses in the United States - including PO Boxes and military addresses.
	Includes tracking #
	Signature proof of delivery is available upon request for orders over $200

MEDIA MAIL
Media Mail is the most cost-effective delivery service USPS offers.
This service includes the following:

	1-2 week delivery (not guaranteed).  NOTE: Media Mail WILL have a longer delivery time during the holidays.
	Delivery to most addresses in the United States - including PO Boxes and military addresses.
	Includes tracking #
	Signature proof of delivery is available upon request for all orders over $200

If you still have a question, contact us here.

INTERNATIONAL (OUTSIDE THE US) SHIPPING OPTIONS
We ship worldwide to all countries capable of receiving United States Postal Service deliveries. For a list of countries we have shipped to, click here.

Our standard shipping methods are First Class International Mail (for orders weighing 4 lbs or less), Priority Mail International and Priority Mail Express International. Delivery and rates vary depending on the country and region we are shipping to.

PRIORITY MAIL EXPRESS INTERNAIONAL
Express is the fastest delivery service USPS offers, as well as the most expensive.
This service includes the following:

	3-5 day delivery to most countries.  This is REQUIRED for orders going to Russia
	Includes tracking #
	Signature proof of delivery is available upon request
	All orders automatically insured up to $100

PRIORITY MAIL INTERNATIONAL
Priority Mail is the next fastest delivery service USPS offers.
This service includes the following:

	6-10 Business day delivery (not guaranteed) to most countries.
	Includes tracking #
	Signature proof of delivery is available upon request for all orders over $200

FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL MAIL
First Class International Mail is the most economical delivery service USPS offers for orders weighing less than 4lbs (which is usually a 2-title maximum).
This service includes the following:

	1-2 week delivery (not guaranteed).  NOTE: First Class International Mail WILL have a longer delivery time during the holidays.
	Includes tracking #
	Signature proof of delivery is available upon request for all orders over $200

We also offer UPS Worldwide shipping. Choices and rates are displayed in our website's checkout.

CUSTOMS/IMPORT DUTIES INFORMATION
Orders shipped to countries or territories outside of the United States may be subject to import duties and taxes. These duties are applied when the shipment reaches its destination. They are the responsibility of the recipient of the shipment and will vary from country to country. If you have any questions or concerns, we recommend you speak with your local customs office or postal service for details.

POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR DELAY IN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPINGS
These are the two main factors causing "delays":
1. Some packages are being pulled for a random customs examination at the destination

2. Some packages do not go on a direct flight to the country of destination and might get delayed either in the US or at the first airport of entry.

3. Sometimes USPS erroneously sorts airmail packages in with economy/surface mail and once packages are in the economy/surface stack, they will depart as surface mail.

If you still have a question, contact us here