Shipping Costs

Pacific Northwest - Free Shipping

Free shipping on all book orders that meet our minimum purchase requirement:

• Washington State (all areas)
• Oregon (all areas)
• Northern California (select areas)

Rest of United States - $5 Flat Rate

$5 shipping for all other US states including Alaska and Hawaii:

• Applies to all orders regardless of size
• Added at checkout with clear disclosure
• No hidden fees

Why Tiered Shipping?

Our Pacific Northwest focus allows us to:

• Ship faster to our regional community (1-2 days)
• Support local readers with free shipping
• Reduce environmental impact with shorter distances
• Maintain affordable nationwide access with minimal surcharge

Shipping Speed

Pacific Northwest

• 1-2 business days for most locations

Rest of United States

• 3-5 business days via standard shipping
• Reliable tracking provided for all shipments

How We Ship Your Books

Our Reusable Box Program

Your books arrive in our branded reusable shipping boxes designed for multiple uses:

• Sturdy construction protects your books during shipping
• Easy to reuse when you're ready to trade books back to us
• Environmentally friendly – each box serves multiple shipments
• Branded with care instructions for maintaining book quality

Shipping Carriers

We use reliable carriers for trackable delivery to your address.

Order Processing Time

• 1-2 business days to process and ship your order
• Orders placed by 2 PM PST typically ship same day (Monday-Friday)
• Weekend orders ship the following Monday

Trade-In Shipping (Books to Us)

How to Ship Your Trade-Ins

• Submit your books for approval through our online form
• Receive a prepaid shipping label via email (Media Mail)
• Package your books securely in any box or our reusable box
• Drop off at any post office or schedule pickup
• We pay all shipping costs – no charge to you

Trade-In Requirements

• Minimum 5 books per trade-in shipment (for shipping efficiency)
• Good to excellent condition books only
• Package securely to prevent damage during transit
• Include printout of your trade-in confirmation email with book information (ISBN)

Processing Your Trade-In

• Books evaluated within 2-3 business days of receipt
• Points credited to your account immediately upon approval
• Email notification sent when points are available
• Rejected books donated to local literacy programs

Order Requirements & Restrictions

Minimum Order

Cash-only purchases: $45 minimum required Using points: $37+ minimum required

This dual structure:

• Encourages thoughtful book selection and better shipping value
• Helps you discover multiple books and build reading momentum
• Rewards platform engagement with lower minimum for point users

Maximum Order Size

• No maximum limit on order value
• Practical limit based on box capacity (typically 8-12 books per shipment)
• Large orders may be split into multiple shipments at no extra shipping charge

What We Ship

• Books only – we specialize in quality used books
• Good to excellent condition books that pass our quality standards
• No damaged, marked, or poor condition books

Delivery & Receiving Your Order

Delivery Method

• Standard delivery to your provided address
• No signature required for most orders
• Safe delivery to porches, mailboxes, or designated safe spaces
• Tracking information provided via email

Delivery Issues

If your order doesn't arrive or is damaged:

• Contact us within 7 days of expected delivery
• Provide order number and tracking information
• We'll investigate and provide replacement or refund
• No cost to you for verified shipping-related issues

Package Inspection

• Inspect your books upon delivery
• Report any damage within 48 hours
• Keep packaging if reporting damage or missing items

Returns & Exchanges

Return Shipping

• We cover return shipping for our error or damaged items
• Customer covers return shipping for change of mind returns
• Use our reusable box if available for eco-friendly returns

Exchange Process

• Contact us first before returning any items
• Include original packaging and order information
• Processing time of 3-5 business days once received

Return Policy

Returns accepted within 14 days for:

• Books damaged during shipping
• Books significantly different from our condition description
• Our shipping errors

Returns not accepted for:

• Change of mind after reading book descriptions
• Normal wear consistent with "good condition" rating
• Books you simply didn't enjoy

Service Area Limitations

Currently Not Available

We do not currently ship to:

• International locations
• US Territories

Future Expansion

• Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of service area expansion
• Additional regions planned based on customer demand
• Follow us on social media for expansion updates

Holiday & Peak Season Shipping

Busy Periods

During peak seasons (holidays, back-to-school), expect:

• Extended processing times of 2-4 business days
• Possible carrier delays beyond our control
• Early ordering recommended for gift purchases

Holiday Cutoff Dates

• December holiday orders: Check our homepage for current year cutoffs
• Gift messaging available for holiday orders
• Special packaging available during peak seasons

Contact Information

Shipping Questions

• Email: hello@poindexterbooks.com
• Text: 425-555-1212
• Response time: Within 1 business day

Track Your Order

• Tracking link provided in shipping confirmation email
• Order status available in your account dashboard
• Delivery updates sent via email and text (opt-in)

Policy Updates

This shipping policy is effective as of 10/22/25 and may be updated periodically. We'll notify customers of significant changes via email and website announcements.