Special Orders

Though we have 15,000 titles in the store, we sometimes don't have
what you need right on the shelf, but special ordering a book with us is
very simple.

Here are some things to know about special orders:

• Most books will arrive in the store in just 1 or 2 days (some have
  to come from a distant warehouse, but that only takes 7 to 10
  days).  
• There is never a charge for a special order unless it is an out-of-print/hard-to-find title, or a title that is non-returnable. These titles are rare.
• If you place an order online and choose the "In-Store Pick-Up" option, there's no need to pre-pay and no shipping charge. Simply wait for a phone call from us letting you know that the book is in. Please do not rush down to the store expecting your book to be here (we have to either find it in the store or order it for you after all! We aren't wizards!)
• We hold your special order for up to two weeks. We give you a weekly
  call to remind you it's here. We can always hold books longer, just let
  us know what you need.
• We're happy to place pre-orders for books that aren't out yet. Then we'll call you when the book is released.
• If a title is out of stock with our distributor (maybe it's a small
  press, or maybe Oprah or the New York Times mentioned it), we can place
  a Backorder for you. When the book is back in stock, we'll get one in
  right away and call you.
• Sometimes titles are self-published by authors and are harder for us to acquire. Be assured that every title gets our complete efforts in locating it.

If you prefer the old fashioned way, you can always call the bookstore
to order a book. To check our in-store inventory for a book, please email us
or call us at 503-472-7786 during business hours. If we do not have
the book you are looking for, we are always happy to get it.