Store and Shipping Policies
Please read the following policies carefully!
Golden Spike sells BRAND NEW books and some USED books (when we can get them) in the small, niche market of transportation books. Please take the time to read these few sentences about this cottage industry it will help you understand why all titles are not in stock always and why there will be delays in shipment or why a title listed is no longer available.
1. Most publishers are mom-and-pop operations and therefore communication is usually poor, meaning titles will go out-of-print without notice and it will not be known that this has happened until the box of an order is received.
2. When a vendor goes on vacation or for any other reason is unable to ship, usually there is no one else to ship the orders until he returns.
3. Many vendors still can't figure out how to pack a box for shipment so there is no damage to the contents. Golden Spike often has to refuse damaged boxes or return damaged titles which further adds to delay in shipping to our customers.
4. Some publishers are now having a third party do their shipping for them. This is common in the publishing industry but it also delays shipment as the third party has other customers and they will ship when they can get to it.
For these reasons all titles will not be in stock always and some titles listed on Golden Spike's website will go out-of-print before the site is updated. This will affect availability, shipping and transit times. Please read the Shipping Policies next.
Shipping Policies
Most book and video titles are in stock, but because of the factors listed above, when a title will finally arrive is just too difficult to know. It is frustrating and costly to ship a partial order. It is also frustrating to wait on a title, which usually has already been ordered from the vendor, when the customer has chosen Priority Mail or Airmail shipping. In exchange for the occasional delay in shipment of orders prices will be lowered but the following terms and conditions will now apply and be strictly enforced:
1. Orders will ship as soon as possible but occasionally there will be delays. All monies for titles unavailable (back ordered indefinitely or out-of-print) will be refunded along with their share of the shipping costs. All items in stock or expected with the next 14 days will be shipped as soon as possible.
2. There will be no shipping of partial orders. When a number of titles have been ordered, especially from many different publishers, one or two titles not in stock but on their way will delay shipment.
3. Media Mail (formerly Book Rate) transit times are usually only 2-3 days slower than UPS Ground. Because Golden Spike uses bar-coded delivery confirmation labels shipments are handled more quickly than average. Expect delivery in 3-12 days from date of shipment in the lower 48 states. Alaska and Hawaii should expect delivery in 2-4 weeks from date of shipment. There will be exceptions in this service (both faster and slower) but generally Golden Spike's experience with Media Mail has been very good.
4. Because of the possible delays in shipment stated above and because Golden Spike has lowered our prices on many titles, do not inquire "Where's my order " until after 30 days from payment of order for 48-state USA customers. International customers should add the normal Surface Mail transit time (4-7 weeks) and their country's Customs delay to the 14 day period (which will be 50+ days) for their shipment to arrive. The above times are based on worst case scenarios - most orders will ship sooner.
5. If the delay is greater than the times stated above and you do need to inquire about your order, please attach a copy of your order email or your order number or at least provide your full name.
6. Priority Mail and Airmail will be offered as shipping options but keep in mind the nature of this business and that your order may not ship promptly. With the occasional delay of getting product in as stated above, there's not much reason to offer expedited delivery service. Some Golden Spike customers have requested we continue to offer these shipping options anyways. Therefore we will do so.
7. Reduced Media Mail shipping for orders over $150.00 or orders from Arizona will no longer be offered. With lower prices and therefore lower margins Golden Spike cannot afford to subsidize shipping.
8. All orders must be placed over the Internet through Golden Spike's web store. No phone orders will be accepted. In exchange for lower prices Golden Spike will not manually take orders which is too time consuming and therefore costly.
9. Defective items will be replaced with the same item if that item is still available. All items are shipped sealed in plastic. Broken plastic packaging on a video is not acceptable as a return unless the item is defective in playing. A defective book must have mis-printing or missing pages to be defective. For all other returns where the plastic has been broken or removed, the customer will be charged a 25 percent re-stocking fee and will be responsible for the item(s) return to Golden Spike in new condition before a refund is issued. This policy is the way it is as some customers have tried to use Golden Spike as a library and check out items and them return them after their use then expecting a refund.
10. If you make a mistake in ordering (for example you ordered an item you already have) and the plastic wrap is not broken, you will be responsible for shipping charges from and to Golden Spike but will otherwise receive a full refund.
11. If you have placed an order without reading this page Golden Spike will accept no responsibility for your ignorance of these terms. Any refund(s) made will be less any credit card or PayPal fees Golden Spike has incurred because you did not read these conditions. Placing an order with Golden Spike will be an acknowledgment you have read and accepted these terms and conditions.
12. I am not an attorney. If you are one or would like to be one and can find fault or holes within these conditions so you can try to get around being an honest customer, do not shop with Golden Spike!
13. These terms and conditions may change without notice and if they do, they will be posted on this page of Golden Spike's website.
14. Golden Spike is not trying to be unreasonable but explain what to expect and why orders may be delayed.
Experience in this cottage industry over the past 5 years has shown that publishers and vendors will provide cottage industry service and there's nothing anyone can do about it (believe me - we've tried!). This hinders Golden Spike's ability to provide prompt shipping and fast receipt of orders.
If we've overlooked something that is not a fair business practice given the above limitations please let us know.
Payment Methods Accepted
We accept Master Card, Visa, Money Order, Cashiers Check, and PayPal. For PayPal your browser must allow pop-ups as the PayPal website will open in a new window. Personal checks are no longer accepted as my bank takes 3 weeks to clear them.
Orders outside the United States must pay with PayPal, Visa, Master Card or International Money Order in US Dollars.
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