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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)



about Gail's Books


What does ((gc#)) or ((ml#)), etc. mean?
What does w/dj or w/o dj mean?
What kinds of payment do you accept?
Do you accept orders via standard (snail) mail?
Do you provide tracking for your packages?
Do you accept phone orders?
I don't like using PayPal. Can I pay by check or money order?
How do you calculate shipping & handling?
I think the books I am ordering are lighter than average: do you offer weight-based postage discounts?
I think the books I am ordering are heavier and/or larger than average: will I be charged more for postage?
How long should it take my book order to arrive?
Do you have a walk-in book store I can visit?
I live in the Tri-Cities and don't want to pay s&h: do you offer local pickup?
Do you offer a dealer discount?
Can I get a refund?
You don't have the book I'm looking for: do you provide a search service?


What does ((gc#)) or ((ml#)), etc. mean?
This is my book id (also called an inventory code). I use this to track consignment sales, as well as to keep track of where the book is stored. If you have a question about one of my books or wish to order outside my PayPal shopping cart system, please refer to the appropriate book id to help speed up the process.
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What kinds of payment do you accept?
I can accept PayPal, checks, and money orders. You can use PayPal to pay by credit card. For checks and money orders, please make payment out to "Gail Sanders" and mail to:

Gail Sanders
c/o Gail's Books
PO Box 3081
Richland, WA 99354

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What does w/dj or w/o dj mean?
dj is short hand for dust jacket, which is also sometimes called dust wrapper or dust cover. w/dj means the book comes with a dust jacket; w/o dj means the book comes without a dust jacket.
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Do you accept orders via standard (snail) mail?
I am always pleasantly surprised to receive an order via standard mail that I was not expecting from my e-mail contacts; it adds an extra bit of spice to waiting for the mail to arrive. Because I am updating my catalogs regularly, however, occasionally you may find that a book you have ordered via a standard letter has already been sold/promised through an e-mail contact. It is always best to contact me first so I can set the book aside for you. I can not process my own credit cards, so payment by snail mail will need to be via check or money order. Please make payment out to "Gail Sanders" and mail to:

Gail Sanders
c/o Gail's Books
PO Box 3081
Richland, WA 99354

Be sure to include the total cost of the books, plus s&h. Please see How do you calculate shipping & handling? if you will be ordering via standard mail. You can also, of course, always contact me to get a shipping quote.
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Do you provide tracking for your packages?
I mail USPS, and as part of my normal service provide delivery confirmation (tracking) for the following domestic (US) orders: books mailed Priority and those books valued $30 or more. The USPS provides customs numbers for their international packages that can be used to provide limited (but inconsistent) tracking.
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Do you accept phone orders?
If you are a fan of the phone and like to talk to a real person, you can call me at (509) 946-0333. To speed things up, please know the book ids of the books you are interested in purchasing. (For more information see What does ((gc#)) or ((ml#)), etc. mean?) I can not process my own credit cards, however, so for a phone order we will need to make arrangements for me to send you a PayPal invoice over e-mail so you can pay by credit card, or you can send me a check or money order. (For more information see I don't like using PayPal. Can I pay by check or money order?) I keep irregular hours, so be aware that when you call you may end up chatting with my answering machine.
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I don't like using PayPal. Can I pay by check or money order?
I am always happy to receive a check or money order in payment. Please make payment out to "Gail Sanders" and mail to:

Gail Sanders
c/o Gail's Books
PO Box 3081
Richland, WA 99354

Be sure to include the total cost of the books, plus s&h. (For more information see How do you calculate shipping & handling?) You can also, of course, always contact me to get a shipping quote.
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How do you calculate shipping & handling?
I mail USPS. I use Media Mail for my standard domestic (US) shipping; this is the cheapest option for mailing books. I charge $4 for the first book, $2 each additional

I use Priority for my domestic expedited option. I assume the book will fit into a Priority Flat Rate envelope and charge accordingly. I charge $6 for the first book, $5 each additional. The two books would be mailed in a Priority Flat Rate Box.

For my international mailings I assume the book will fit into a Priority International Flat Rate envelope, and charge accordingly. For Canada and Mexico, I charge $11.50 per book, for all other countries I charge $13.50 for each book. For multiple volumes I will check to see if I can offer you a better postage option mailing First Class Mail International or by using a Priority International Flat Rate Box.

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I think the books I am ordering are lighter than average: do you offer weight-based postage discounts?
With postage costs going up and up, I am certainly open to negotiating on postage costs when books are lighter than average. This is particularly true with international shipping, whose costs have increased dramatically these last few years. I can't promise that I will automatically offer postage discounts on light books, but I will be happy to look into it for you, if you ask politely.
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I think the books I am ordering are heavier and/or larger than average: will I be charged more for postage?
My s&h charges in the shopping cart are set for the average size and weight book. Occasionally I will have to request extra funds to cover my basic postage costs. This is more likely with priority or international shipments. I will understand, of course, if you choose to cancel you order if you feel the s&h charges are more than you wanted to pay. With the loss of USPS surface mail, books which I used to be able to mail internationally for $12 now cost $37+ to mail. You can also, of course, always contact me to get a shipping quote.
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How long should it take my book order to arrive?
I mail USPS. I use Media Mail for my standard domestic (US) shipping; this is the cheapest option for mailing books, but it can be slow. A media mail package usually arrives within 10 days, but can take up to 3 weeks to arrive. If a media mail package has not arrived within a month, I will put in a lost claim through the post office.

I use Priority for my domestic expedited option. This usually arrives within 3 business days. If a priority package has not arrived within a week, I will put in a lost claim through the post office.

For my international mailings I use either First Class Mail International or Priority International; these usually arrive within 2 weeks. If an international package has not arrived within a month, I will put in a lost claim through the post office.

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Do you have a walk-in book store I can visit?
Gail's Books is an internet only book store, sorry!
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I live in the Tri-Cities and don't want to pay s&h: do you offer local pickup?
I can arrange to have your book order left at Adventures Underground, a local walk-in used bookstore in Uptown Richland. The cost for this service is $1 (which is then paid to Adventures Underground, for use of their store front). I will need to receive payment by PayPal, check, or money order before I will drop off the order.
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Do you offer a dealer discount?
I don't normally offer dealer discounts, sorry! Many of my books are on consignment and I do try to price competitively, as is.
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Can I get a refund?
Here are the four reasons I can see for a valid refund request:

1. The book never arrived. If the book has not arrived after a reasonable time, and a follow up with the post office has declared the package lost, you will receive a full refund, including s&h. (For more information see How long should it take my book order to arrive?)

2. The book doesn't match the description, but you want to keep it. I try my best to describe my books well, but sometimes things will slip through. If you receive a book and are disappointed in the condition, but still want to keep it, we can discuss a partial refund, for the inconvenience.

3. The book doesn't match the description and you don't want to keep it. You will receive a full refund, as well as s&h both ways.

4. The book matches the description, but you aren't happy with the content. If for some reason you are disappointed with the content of the book (ie. it wasn't quite what you thought it was), and you would like to return it, you may, with the understanding that you will receive only a refund for the cost of the book, not s&h. This is because I sold the book in good faith, assuming that you knew this was the book you wanted. If you have any questions about a book's content, please don't hesitate to ask before placing your order.

In the last two cases, the refund will be sent upon receipt of the returned book.

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You don't have the book I'm looking for: do you provide a search service?
I don't offer a search service, but if you drop me at note I can recommend some other book sites to visit.
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Last updated 6/9/08
Send questions or comments to: gail@gailsbooks.com