FAQs
- Any item that you put in your cart will stay there until you remove it or make a purchase. (Note that if you are not signed in and your idle time is over 15 minutes, you may lose what’s in your cart. Please don’t forget to sign in!)
- The next time you order, checkout is faster because your shipping address is stored in our system. (Note that we do not store payment information of any kind.)
- You can quickly and easily see any orders you have previously placed from your store account.
We always offer free shipping on orders of $200 or more if we are shipping in the continental United States. Be sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter as there are also free shipping coupons provided from time to time.
- $200 order or more – We will ship to you via USPS Media Mail.
- $500 order or more -We will ship to you via UPS Ground.
We always offer free shipping on orders of $200 or more if we are shipping in the continental United States. Be sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter as there are also free shipping coupons provided from time to time.
- $200 order or more – We will ship to you via USPS Media Mail.
- $500 order or more -We will ship to you via UPS Ground.
After we ship your order, you will receive a tracking number via email. How long it takes varies depending on the shipping method and if a pandemic or other emergency is taking place. We urge you to order as much ahead of time as possible in case shipping is slow.
Shipping Choices:
| Type | Price Range | Time Period |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Media Mail | Less expensive, but most unpredictable | Often, anywhere from 2-4 weeks |
| USPS Priority Mail | More expensive, but more reliable | Typically, 3-5 business days |
| UPS Ground | Similar in price to USPS Priority Mail, but more dependable and insured | Typically, 3-5 business days |
| Other UPS options | More expensive, but most dependable, especially if you are in a hurry | Typically, 1-2 business days |
| USPS International Priority | If you live overseas, we typically ship via this method as there are fewer problems at the border. | Varies depending on the country |
Most orders shipped within the past six months qualify for a return. All orders shipped outside of the past 6 month window do not qualify for a return, but may be considered for Used Book Submission. Please call 888-623-7888, open a chat, or contact us to request a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA). If a return is shipped without an RMA, it will be ineligible for a full refund.
Time Since Purchase
If requested within 30 days of the date of shipment, the order qualifies for a 100% refund, less our cost of initial shipment. If requested outside of the initial 30-day period, the order will incur a 15% restocking fee.
Condition of Merchandise
If books were damaged in transit to the customer, the damage must be described during the return request. Bookshelf Central has the discretion to reduce the refund if other, unnoted damages are found upon receipt.
The customer is responsible for return shipping costs and for carefully packaging the order.
(Please note that because of shipping charges, this policy applies to United States and APO customers only. We will cancel all out-of-stock books from international orders, unless otherwise requested.)
We do our best to keep all books in stock, or linked via Amazon, but sometimes a book will be on backorder from the publisher, or for some reason has not arrived yet at our warehouse. This is especially true during the pandemic.
If something is out of stock when we ship your order, we will automatically send you your backordered title(s) within 30 days. The backordered item(s) will typically be sent via USPS First Class or Media Mail. We will contact you if a backorder falls outside of this time frame.
If you have special instructions, please note that in the comments section at checkout.
Yes, you can. If our website shows that not enough are available, please contact us.
Most of the time, yes. Depending on our agreement with a given publisher, we are generally able to special order almost anything, provided it is in print. Depending on the title and quantity to purchase, we may require prepayment.
We urge you to double-check what you need from your curriculum source. While we try our best to stay on top of their booklists, they do have the freedom to adjust their titles without notifying us.
Additionally, please read the book descriptions as they will also tell you if a book is in an older version of curriculum or is our choice for a substitute.
Yes, we have a Buy Back Books Program. Complete the form provided, and we will send you a quote for your books that is typically paid to you in store credit.
Yes, from time to time, we offer each of these. Be sure to follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter so that you don’t miss out!
Yes, Bookshelf Central offers aid for educational books to needy families. To see if you qualify, please contact us. Purchasing used books from our website will also help you stay within a tighter budget.
Simply put…we recycle! We frequent the recycle businesses in Kingsport, as well as get cardboard, paper/bubble wrap, and packing boxes from our friends. We believe it’s an excellent way to be good stewards.