Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why don't I get the "Secure Server" notification from my browser when I place an order?

A. You are using the Microsoft Internet Explorer and it has turned off its notification option. This is a bug in the Microsoft Internet Explorer. To turn it back on first click on "Tools" at the top of your browser window. Select "Internet Options" from the menu that pops up. This brings up a dialog box. Click on the "Advanced" tab in the dialog box. Scroll down to the "Security" section and put a checkmark in the box that says "Warn if changing between secure and not secure mode". Also be sure the boxes for "Use SSL 2.0" and "Use SSL 3.0" are both checked. You will now see Secure Server notification from this Website and other Websites that use SSL connections. Due to the bug, MSIE may turn this option off again in the future, seemingly at random, and you will have to go through this procedure again. Note: the Secure Server is only used on the last page of the "Checkout" screens, where Credit Card information is entered. You will not see the Secure Server notification on any of the other pages on the Website.

Q. How do I use the "Title/Author Search" option?

A. First click on the radio button under the portrait of Shakespeare. Then type your search query in the "Title/Author Search" box and click on the "Browse" button at the bottom of the page. Generally speaking, your search query should be shorter rather than longer. For example, if searching for "The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions", first search on just "Oxford", or on just "Allusions". You may get a few titles displayed that you weren't looking for this way, but the database is not so large that this should be a problem for most searches. When searching for books by a particular author, first try searching on the Author's last name only.

Q. Why are "Shipping Options" on the main catalog page?

A. Many online catalogs like to hit you with the shipping costs when you check out. We would rather you have this information available to you as you browse, every time you select the "View Shopcart" option.

Q. What about shipments to countries outside the USA?

A. We ship to most countries outside the United States. However, additional shipping charges will probably apply. You can go ahead and place your order and we will notify you of any additional charges and get your okay before we send your order.

Q. What are the different "lists" and how do I use them?

A. You can refine your browsing session by selecting from any of the five lists shown on the main catalog page. To use a list, click on the radio buttons under the list you want to use. The "Everything" list makes all the titles in the database available to you when you browse the catalog. The "Featured" list consists of mostly newer titles that we think you will want to see. The "Sale" list will show only the titles that we have marked down for clearance. The "Just In" list has the newest titles available now. The "Forthcoming" list has titles that have just been announced by publishers and will be available shortly. For general browsing, we recommend the "Featured" list, and this is the default list that is active when you first log on to our catalog.

Note: the "Title/Author" search option overrides your list selection and searches through the entire database.

Q. How do I use the Category Selections?

You can further refine your browsing session to view only titles from categories of interest to you. If you put a check mark in the box next to any of the categories shown in the bottom half of the main catalog page, the system will show only titles from the categories you have selected when you click on the "Browse" button.

To see titles from all categories, leave all the category boxes unchecked. This is the default setting when you first log on to our page.

Note: the "Title/Author" search option overrides your category selection(s) and searches through the entire database.

Q. What is your policy relative to new books that are received with manufacturing defects?

New books received with manufacturing defects may be returned (within ten days) for a replacement copy of the same book.