PAYMENT, REFUND, SHIPPING AND BOOK GRADING POLICIES
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Payment, Refund, Shipping and Book Grading policies
Refunds
DAMAGED & MISDESCRIBED BOOKS. We will refund the cost of your purchase including the postage element, if your order is not as described. We will not refund any costs, if the damage has been caused AFTER delivery, for whatever reason. YOUR RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR MIND: If you notify us straight away, we will cancel any order before shipping and refund all of your money. If you change your mind after the goods have been dispatched, then we will ONLY refund the cost of the goods on safe return if within 14 days of receipt. We cannot refund any postage and packing costs. GOODS MUST BE RETURNED IN THE SAME CONDITION AS SOLD.
Tax
Recent legislation has most State Sales Tax collected by bookselling platforms like Abebooks. Where Top Shelf Books does collect Sales Tax is for books "goods" sold to California addresses for delivery. For those sales, we collect 8.25% Sales Tax.
Shipping Rates - Domestic (USA), Canada & International
Oversized books for Priority shipping are shipped by weight following notification to the Customer.
International shipments to Japan, Australia and selected countries in the European Union for International Priority Mail (6 to10 business day delivery). Multiple books can be shipped either Priority or International 1st Class Mail. We do not guarantee International 1st Class Mail shipments, but we include tracking information and shipments can be insured at Buyer's expense. A copy of the mailing confirmation with tracking is emailed to the Buyer.
|
Destination |
Delivery Time |
For One Item |
Each Additional Item |
|
Canada Only - 1st Class Mail |
2 - 3 weeks |
22.00 |
12.00 |
|
Canada Only - Priority Mail (1 Book only) |
6 -10 days |
29.00 |
N/A |
|
EU - Int'l 1st Class Mail (1 - 3 Books) |
3 to 8 weeks |
26.00 |
13.00 |
|
EU - Int'l Priority Mail (1 Book only) |
6 to 10 Business Days |
36.00 |
N/A |
|
EU - Int'l Priority Mail Box (2 - 3 Books) |
6 to 10 Business Days |
72.00 |
N/A |
|
US only - Express Mail (1 Book only) |
1 to 2 Days |
26.00 |
N/A |
|
US only - Priority Mail (2-3 Books) |
1 to 2 Days |
18.00 |
N/A |
|
US only - Media Mail |
7 to 10 Business days |
5.00 |
3.00 |
|
US only - Priority Mail (1 Book only) |
1 to 3 Business Days |
9.00 |
N/A |
Book Grading
"Always bear in mind that a bookseller's reputation and credibility are his most valuable assets, and accurate description preserves that credibility." -AB Bookman's Weekly
Top Shelf Books adheres to the traditional bookseller's grading terms originally propounded in the periodical AB Bookman's Weekly. AB Bookman's Weekly was described as "the leading trade publication in the antiquarian world" with books for sale, trade news, reference lists, conference announcements, and special features concerning the book trade, librarianship, and book collecting. Publication ceased in 1999 with the advent of the Internet book portals such as Amazon. After TSB went online in 1996, we expanded the classic grading terms to include terms more searchable on the Internet and compatible with book portal websites.
Very Fine/As New: Book and jacket are without defects. Essentially a new and/or unread book in crisp condition.
Fine: Book and jacket show light handling and/or shelfwear, but pages are clean, crisp, boards are straight and jacket is without defects. A book can be an unread copy but still graded as Fine only in that it's an older book with age-related shelfwear. (Minor defects, if any, are noted.)
Near Fine/Very Good: Moderate handling, normal shelfwear and any defects are noted.
Good: Wear with any one or all defects including jacket tears, textblock dents or stains, spine leaned, etc., are noted.
Fair: Heavy handling, damage and wear, all defects noted.
Poor: Usually an ex-library copy with paste-downs, damage, stains, etc. and usually reserved as a reading copy only. All defects noted. Book and jacket are without defects. Essentially a new and/or unread book in crisp condition. Book and jacket show light handling and/or shelfwear, but pages are clean, crisp, boards are straight and jacket is without defects. A book can be an unread copy but still graded as Fine only in that it's an older book with age-related shelfwear. (Minor defects, if any, are noted.) Moderate handling, normal shelfwear and any defects are noted. Wear with any one or all defects including jacket tears, textblock dents or stains, spine leaned, etc., are noted. Heavy handling, damage and wear, all defects noted. Usually an ex-library copy with paste-downs, damage, stains, etc. and usually reserved as a reading copy only. All defects noted.