Caltech Online Bookstore
Help Desk Information
Placing Your Order
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We want it to be as easy as possible to find the books you'll need for your classes! Follow the simple instructions below to get started.
1. Click Shop By Course on your school's storefront
2. Select Your Courses - choose the correct term/session in the drop-down menu.
3. Match classes to your student schedule and choose Select next to each of your courses.
4. Choose View Textbooks on the right of the screen to see the list of items needed by class.
If your instructor has any special notes, requirements or additional materials that are needed, they are listed with your course information. You may also see notes when needed to explain the options you have if more than one version of an item is offered.
We also indicate if the instructor has told us there is no textbook required or if the decisions for the course are still pending.
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- Buy Used
A used item often contains highlighting, writing or margin notes throughout, but not to excess.
Supplements such as access cards or CDs, even if listed in the book's title, are usually not included with a used copy.
If upon delivery you are not satisfied with the condition of your used book, please contact our customer service department. We will work with you to find a satisfactory resolution.
- Buy New
If you are purchasing a textbook that is packaged with supplements such as online access cards or codes, CDs or software access, purchasing the package New ensures that you receive all of the supplements listed in the package.
If the item is required in "new-only" condition by your school, there will be a note notifying you of this requirement.
- eTextbooks
eBooks are available as online or downloadable versions; this varies based on the publisher. These eBooks contain the same content as a print textbook. Please select carefully as returns and refunds are subject to strict limitations. Please refer to the return policy in the After You Order section of the Help Desk.
Supplementary content that might be included with a new textbook purchase such as DVDs, CD ROMs, links to alternate websites, etc, is usually not part of your eTextbook.
eBooks for online viewing are usually offered for a specific subscription time frame, in some cases offering lifetime access. In most cases, you will have access to your eBook within one hour in the Digital Bookshelf section of your My Account.
For more information on eBooks please click here.
- Rent
Rented books must be returned to our company at the end of the rental period. By renting a book, you agree that you are responsible for remembering the rental return date and returning the rental to us within the time frame specified.
To avoid additional charges to replace the book if it is not returned on time, your return shipments must be tracking in the UPS system by the rental return date using the FREE UPS label we provide through your account. Charges also apply if the book is returned to us in a non-saleable condition.
The due dates we show are based on when classes and finals are over per the school. Sometimes there may be more than one due date on an order if your courses have different due dates.
If you decide you need the book for a few more days or the next semester, extensions are available from 15 to 130 days after the original due date for an additional fee. Or you may purchase the rental book if you decide you'd like to keep it. This is available by logging in to the My Account section of your Online Bookstore, and choosing Manage Rentals/Returns.
- Marketplace
Some Online Bookstores allow third-party individuals and volume sellers to list their inventory through our Marketplace. Customers are able to purchase directly from the Marketplace as well as through the Online Bookstore. Payment is processed by the Online Bookstore so your banking information is never made available to our Marketplace sellers. Book vouchers can be used for Marketplace orders if funds are available.
For more information on purchasing from our Marketplace, please click here.
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Many of the Online Bookstore sites for colleges (higher education schools) will show the availabilities for you when you order. Most K-12 schools do not show this information as books will ship all together before the start of classes.
The availability of an item will be shown beneath the condition of the book (new, used, etc.), and are provided as an estimate of the time it will take for a book order to process in our system before shipping.
Our item availability descriptions are:
- In Stock
Item ships the next business day or is held for you if your order is marked to ship when Complete/all items are available.
- Usually Ships in XXXX Business Days
This refers to the amount of time we need to get the item from the publisher or distributor so we can then ship it to you. Examples: 2-3, 3-5, 5-7, 8-10.
- Special Order
This may be an out of print or hard to find book. We will do our best to find it for you but cannot guarantee that we will be able to find a copy or how long it might take.
Please remember this is the time we estimate it will take for us to have the item ready for shipment. The time in transit to you would be in ADDITION to the availability estimate.
Availability + shipping time = Estimated delivery time.
NOTE: Choosing expedited shipping does not impact the stated availability, it only affects the time it takes to reach you once it is shipped from our warehouse.
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- Log-In
If you have not ordered with us before, you will set up an account during the checkout process. If you have school funds or financial aid funds, then you may already have an account. This is usually your school email or the email addressed used to apply for the funds.
- Designation
This window appears if you have selected any electronic products/ebooks. This will allow you to link the item to the email address of the person who will use it.
- Shipping Address
This step asks for your address and offers a drop-down menu that shows any addresses you may have used before. Some schools offer a Ship to School option that is shown if it applies to your school. Please double check that the address is correct and complete - it's quite easy to switch a couple of numbers in the street address - 1936 when you meant to type 1963 - and be sure an apt. or suite number is included if needed. If shipping to you at a business address, include the business name as well as your name.
- Shipping Method
This step details the options you have based on price and time in transit. For Economy and Standard these are estimates, not guarantees, and refer to Business Days, not weekends or holidays. Two Day and One Day shipping reaches you in the specified timeframe - so a Two Business Day order for example that ships on Tuesday should deliver to you by End of Day Thursday.
Orders placed after 11 AM Eastern Time will not process until the next business day.
Some customers may see a choice of Fastest or Complete shipping - Fastest is usually more expensive as we ship the items as they become available which usually results in more than one shipment. Complete means we ship the order when all the items are available to ship together.
- Payment Method
This step shows any credits you have available - Book Vouchers/Financial Aid, buyback credit and instore credit. It also allows you to input credit/debit card information for Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Your card's billing address is needed - check Same as Shipping Address if appropriate or fill in if different. Some schools also offer Apple Pay, PayPal and PayPal Credit (for payments over time).
Rental books - a credit or debit card is required as collateral even if you are not paying for the order with one. It is only charged if the books are not returned on time and in re-saleable condition. The expiration date on the card must be past the rental due date.
- Secure Checkout Review
This step provides a final opportunity to double-check your order and make any corrections needed. It shows the total charge that will go to your card or if a credit/Financial Aid is being used.
By placing the order, you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions that apply to your transaction and, if you have chosen rentals, that program as well. Click on Place Order if everything is correct. Do not click this button more than once.
- Confirmation screen
This page shows your order confirmation number. An Order Confirmation email will also be sent to the email address you provided.
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- StandardShipping
• $6.25 per shipment + $1.75 per item
• 4 to 8 business days in 48 contiguous states.
• Any free shipping promotions do not include items ordered from the Marketplace.
• Items may be shipped to APO/FPO and PO Box addresses, but may take up to six weeks for delivery.
• Shipments via USPS to Alaska and Hawaii and some US Territories may take up to six weeks for delivery.
• USPS may deliver on Saturday.
USPS shipping does not include tracking and/or insurance. By choosing USPS shipping you acknowledge that your Online Bookstore does not guarantee replacement or reimbursement in the event of a lost or misdelivered shipment. Once shipped these packages are the responsibility of the United States Postal Service.
- Expedited Shipping
• $11.99 per shipment + $1.99 per item
•1 to 5 business days - method of shipment is determined by number of items in each shipment (not total items on the order) and distance/expected transit time.
• Shipments of 1 or 2 items may go USPS or UPS Mail Innovations (UPS ships the package and partners with USPS for final delivery to your address) depending on expected transit time.
• Shipments of 3 items or more ship UPS Ground.
USPS shipping does not include tracking and/or insurance. By choosing USPS shipping you acknowledge that your Online Bookstore does not guarantee replacement or reimbursement in the event of a lost or misdelivered shipment. Once shipped these packages are the responsibility of the United States Postal Service.
- Two Day Shipping
• $27.99 per shipment + $5.99 per item.
• 2 business days (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are not counted as business days) - No weekend delivery.
• No PO Boxes or APO/FPO or shipments to US Territories (Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico).
• Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii - additional $10.00 per shipment.
• Not available for most Marketplace items, varies by seller.
- One Day Shipping
• $45.99 per shipment + $7.99 per item.
• 1 business day (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are not counted as business days) - No weekend delivery.
• No PO Boxes or APO/FPO or shipments to US Territories (Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico).
• Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii - additional $15.00 per shipment.
• Not available for most Marketplace items, varies by seller.
- UPS Express (Canada)
• $43.99 per shipment + $5.99 per item.
• 2-3 business days (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are not counted as business days).
• International shipments are held and shipped as one complete shipment. Recipient is responsible for import fees due upon delivery (taxes, duties, tariffs, etc) in addition to these shipping charges.
- UPS Express (All Countries except US and Canada*)
• $49.99 per shipment + $5.99 per item.
• 3-5 business days (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are not counted as business days). International shipments are held and shipped as one complete shipment.
• Recipient is responsible for all import fees due upon delivery (taxes, duties, tariffs, etc) in addition to these shipping charges.
•Shipments outside the 48 contiguous states will take longer.
*If a country is not offered in the drop-down box on the Address screen, we are not able to offer service to that country.
Shipping Groups
- Fastest Shipping (does not apply to international shipments)
Using the Fastest Shipping option, if available, authorizes your Online Bookstore to ship your books as they become available. This option may cause more than one shipment to complete the order. There is an increased cost when more than one shipment is used.
- Ship Complete
Using this option means your entire order will be held until all items are ready/available for shipping. This shipment type is not recommended for time-sensitive deliveries.
