6. Shipping Orders

Successful and timely delivery of orders ensures repeat buyers. We recommend that booksellers process and ship all orders within 48 hours of receipt. Please note, AbeBooks may request proof of shipment from time to time for quality assurance purposes.

a. Choosing the Appropriate Shipping Method
Different jurisdictions use various terminologies to describe fast and slow shipping methods. Booksellers are required to ship books using a method that will deliver the book in the timeframe quoted to the buyer using their local equivalent of the method selected by the buyer. If an order requires extra funds for shipping, booksellers can request extra shipping on the order processing page. For seller direct orders, the buyer should be contacted directly to arrange for extra shipping.

We notify buyers that delays from Customs processing are not included in the shipping time estimates.

We recommend using a traceable method of shipping. By using a traceable shipping method, booksellers have a way of confirming delivery if the buyer claims they did not receive the item. If a bookseller uses a traceable method of shipping, they are responsible for entering this information onto our Web site before the buyer receives the item. If they do not, returns initiated for reason “Item did not arrive” may auto-complete.

b. Ensuring Safe Delivery of Orders
We recommend that booksellers package orders securely to avoid damage. The bookseller is responsible for the condition of the book when it is delivered to the buyer. Insuring orders protects the bookseller should an order fail to arrive or is damaged in transit. If an order requires insurance, booksellers may use the "Extra Shipping" status for e-commerce orders. For seller direct orders, the buyer should be contacted directly to arrange for insurance. Requesting extra shipping for insurance is not an option for Bookseller Programs.

c. International Shipping
AbeBooks offers a global service for listing and purchasing books online. Booksellers are expected to process all orders regardless of origin. Booksellers who reject orders based on their origin will see their fulfillment rate decline. The AbeBooks Performance Standards state that booksellers are required to maintain a fulfillment rate of 80%. Those booksellers who choose to reject international orders risk removal from the AbeBooks Web sites.

d. Multiple Ship-from Locations
Booksellers are permitted to have multiple ship-from locations for their account as long as the following conditions are met: All returns must be accepted at the address listed in the account information; the bookseller's Shipping Terms should list all of their ship-from locations; individual listings should indicate where the book will be shipped from; and the shipping matrix should reflect the longest possible shipping time from any of the shipping locations. Including tracking details on all orders is highly recommended, and in some cases AbeBooks may require a bookseller to use tracking for their shipments. Booksellers might also consider opening a unique account for each ship-from location.