Shopping FAQ
Q) I placed an order to pick up in-store. When should I come down to Blue Willow to get it?
A) After you have received a second confirmation email from us. You will receive two emails after placing your order. The first email confirms that we received your order. The second email confirms that we have processed your order and it’s ready to pick up. If you are unsure whether or not your order is ready, feel free to give us a call (281) 497-8675 or shoot us email (orders@bluewillowbookshop.com). It may also help to include orders@bluewillowbookshop.com in your address book so our messages don't end up in your spam folder!
Q) I placed an order to be mailed. When will it ship?
A) When you receive a second confirmation email from us, usually within 24-48 hours of when you placed the order. You will receive two emails after placing your order. The first email confirms that we received your order. The second email confirms that we have processed and shipped your order. If you are unsure whether or not your order has been shipped, feel free to give us a call (281) 497-8675 or shoot us email (orders@bluewillowbookshop.com). It may also help to include orders@ bluewillowbookshop.com in your address book so our messages don't end up in your spam folder!
Q) I just ordered a book last night and would like to pick up the book in the store this morning. Is that possible?
A) Only if we have sent you the second order confirmation email stating that the order has been processed. Real humans process all the orders we receive on our website, and, depending on how many orders there are, it may take us several minutes to get to yours. As soon as your book is ready to pick up, you will receive an email stating so. If you arrive before this email is sent, your order may not have been processed yet. If you are unsure, feel free to call (281) 497-8675 and ask us, or email orders@bluewillowbookshop.com. It may also help to include orders@bluewillowbookshop.com in your address book, so our messages don't end up in your spam folder!
Q) The book is listed on your website, so that means you have it in-stock on your physical shelf, right?
A) Not necessarily. The books that show up on our website are a mix of what’s on our shelves now, what we’ve carried in the past, and what our distributor has carried over the course of its history. For each item listed, there is a description of its availability. Some are on our shelves now, some will need to be ordered for you, and some may be out of print. If you see a book listed on our site and would like to come down to the store to get it, please call to confirm it’s here before making the trip: 281-497-8675.
Q) Your site said you had a book in stock, but then I got an email saying you didn’t. What gives?
A) Our in-store inventory system is connected to our online web store, but it does not update in real time. If it is important that you have a book right away, the best way to ensure we have it in stock before you order is to call us at 281-497-8675 or email orders@bluewillowbookshop.com.
Q) What happens if the book I order is not in stock?
A) In most cases we can order the book from our distributor and it will arrive in 3-5 business days, if our distributor has the book in stock. Our internet order team will make every effort to fulfill your order from the most efficient resource available to us. If there are any special circumstances or delays, we will email you to let you know. Please make sure orders@bluewillowbookshop.com is in your address book, otherwise our emails could end up in your spam folder and you’ll never know we tried to contact you!
Q) What happens if the book is not in stock and you can’t get it from the distributor or publisher or anywhere in the world?
A) We will notify you via email and cancel your order. You will not be charged.
Q) Can someone else come pick up my book for me?
A) That’s okay with us! You can include this information in the order comments, email us at orders (at) bluewillowbookshop.com or call us at 281-497-8675 to let us know the name of the person picking up your book. To avoid any confusion, the person picking up your book must be able to provide the name the book was ordered under, as well as the order number.
Q) Is there a limit to how long you’ll hold a book I bought via bluewillowbookshop.com in the store for me to pick up?
A) Yes, there is. We will hold books ordered online for up to 30 DAYS. Due to limited storage space, we cannot hold pre-paid books indefinitely. We understand that sometimes people forget about their online orders, and that’s okay. We will make every effort to contact you to remind you that you have a book waiting for you so that you can either come pick it up or make arrangements for us to ship it to you. If 30 days have passed and we have not heard from you, we will cease to hold the book.