Help – Ordering

How to search for books

You can browse our entire selection of books by visiting the categories to the left of every page. Once in a category, you can also filter and sort your results, as well as chose how to display the books on the page. More about filtering, sorting and display.

You will find our search box on the top of every page. You can search by entering the author, book title, book code (from our printed catalogue) or keyword into the search box. If there are no results found, you will be presented with tips to aid with your search.

The word(s) you have searched for will be highlighted to show whether they are found in the book title or description. As our great value collections are so popular, search results will include titles that fit your search criteria, but are part of a set.

Once you have a list of search results, you can use  to refine your search to view books by price, age, format and category. If you are still unable to find the book you are looking for, this means that we do not currently hold the book in stock. Some titles may be re-advertised in the coming months, so please check back regularly.

Filtering, sorting and display

Filtering
Once you have a list of products within a category, or a list of search results, you can filter the books by age range, format and category.

Choosing the ‘All book categories’ category will list all books available on the website. You can then filter these to find what you are looking for.

Age range: To filter the results found within a category or search results, choose from the drop-down containing various ages (the number of products contained within each age range is displayed next to each option). Once selected, the page will update to only include books suitable for the age range selected.

Format: As above with age ranges, you can choose to only view books with a particular format. This works in the same way as age ranges, with the number of results for each format shown alongside each option. Cards, Gift Wrap, Games and other formats not listed can be found in the format option ‘Other’.

Category: If you choose ‘All Book Categories’, the category drop down will give you the option to refine this search to display books from any of the other categories or sub-categories on the site. Once you have chosen a category from the list on the left of the page, the only options available will be the sub-categories contained within the category selected. Once you have chosen to view a sub-category, choose the main category again in order to be able to select a different sub-category, or visit ‘All book categories’ to view the entire category list.

These selections will not be saved as you navigate away by choosing another category or performing another search.

 

Display Views
You can chose to view the books in one of three ways –

• One column
• Two column
• List

One column: When you first visit a category or perform a search, the products will initially be displayed in a single column (this view provides you with the most information about each product and is the only view that displays the age range, product code and a short description of the product).

Two column: Displays books in two column with no age range, product code or short descripton.

List: Hides the images and presents the books as a list, with the most limited information (only book title, author and price).

Whichever display options you choose will remain selected as you browse through other categories or perform further searches.

Display Options
You can choose the to display your results using the following options.

Number of results: You can decide how many results per page you would like displayed. Choose from 10, 20 or 30 from the drop down.

Only display book sets: Checking this box will mean that the only products returned are book sets (great for those of you who really like our great value collections).

Sort by:
You can also choose the order in which you would like the results displayed. Choosing Price will automatically sort results by our selling price – with the lowest price first. Saving brings results in with the largest saving at the top. The ‘Newest’ option will sort results by showing the most recently added products.

Book Points

What are Book Points?
Book Points are the Book People's way of rewarding our loyal customers. Earn Book Points on every book you buy from us, then redeem them for free books! Find out more in our Book Points section.

How do I collect Book Points?
Whenever you make a purchase from the Book People, you will earn Book Points to redeem against books of your choice. Book Points are automatically added to your account every time you place an order - whether online, by post or on the phone.

How do I know how many Book Points I have?
View your Book Points at any time by logging in to your account. Whilst browsing the site your Book Points are displayed at the top of every page. This figure will include points held on your account and any earned on books you have added to the basket.

How do I buy books using my Book Points?
If you are shopping online and would like to redeem a book with Book Points, simply add it to your basket. When you view your basket, there is the option to redeem your Book Points against a book you have added.

Which books can I get free using my Book Points?
When browsing the site, view the full description of a book to see the number of Book Points required to get it free.

How many Book Points do I need to get a free book?
Please see our Book Point redemption values and Book Points Terms and Conditions within the help section.

 

Age ranges on childrens books

All children's titles from the Book People have a recommended reading age in order to help you choose appropriate books for your child. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the age group selection is accurate, parental discretion may be required to ensure suitability for individual children.

We will, of course, be happy to adjust an age range if it becomes clear that the original recommendation is unsuitable.

If you receive books you believe to be inappropriate for the age of your child, then you are entitles to return them by following our returns procedure.

Using the basket

Adding books to the basket
Click the ‘add to basket’ button against the item you would like to purchase. If viewing the full description of a book, you can also select the quantity to add to the basket.

As you browse the site and make your selections, the total cost and quantity of books in the basket is displayed on the top right hand side of every page. To view the contents of your basket in detail, click on the basket link or the checkout button.

Once in the basket and are happy with your selections, click proceed. You will be prompted to log in or register if you not already done so.

Important information
Any books placed in your shopping basket whilst you are logged in will be held for a short period of time if you choose to leave the site before placing your order. This means that if you return to the site and log in, your previous selections will appear in the shopping basket (provided there is still stock of each item), along with any other books you have added to the basket before logging in.

Once in the main basket it is possible to view full details of all items you have chosen to purchase, and to make any necessary amendments before submitting the order, (including redeeming items using Book Points, deleting items, changing quantities and applying promotions/discounts).

How to redeem Book Points in the basket
Once logged in, click the ‘redeem’ button next to the book you wish to purchase using your stored Book Points. Find out more about Book Points.

Note: To see your true Book Point total, you must be registered/ logged in. If you do not have sufficient Book Points to redeem against your selected book, you must click the ‘undo’ button in order to proceed.

How to delete an item
Click on the cross to the left of the item you wish to remove.

How to change quantity
To adjust the quantity of an item, select the number required from the drop-down box.

Promotion codes
If you have received a promotion code, enter it into the box provided and click ‘submit’ to claim. Product discounts will display against each item. Order discounts will appear in the totals box at the bottom of the basket.

Promotions

Tips on using promotion codes

• Please ensure that you have entered the code exactly as it appears on the offer letter or advertisement.
• Most promotion codes are advertised with an expiry date, so please ensure that the code is still valid.
• Some promotion codes cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions you have already claimed.
• If the code was accepted, but you are not seeing the promotion applied, please check the details of the promotion, as you may have to spend a certain amount before you are eligible for some delivery or free gift promotions.
• If you have found a promotion code on a discount code website, you may not have been given the correct qualifying information (e.g. the offer may only apply to certain products or over a specific total order value).

Free Gifts

If you are entitled to a free gift as part of a promotion we are running, it will automatically be added to your basket once you qualify.

We will occasionally offer several free gifts for you to choose from. In this case, you will be presented with a page enabling you to make your selection once you have chosen your delivery address in the checkout.

Making a purchase

When you are happy with the contents of your basket click on the ‘proceed’ button. You will be prompted to log in if you have not already done so. If you do not have an account with the Book People, enter your password into the relevant box to register as you proceed through the checkout.

Choose a delivery address
When you register, your billing address automatically becomes your default delivery address. If you would like your order delivered elsewhere, choose from the drop-down list an additional delivery address you have previously added to your account. If you have no additional addresses, use the ‘add a delivery address’ link.

Choose a delivery method
Once you have chosen a delivery address, you will be presented with all delivery methods that are available in your area, along with an estimation of how long each delivery method takes. Choose your delivery method and then enter any special delivery instructions into the box provided (special instructions will not appear for Next Day Delivery, as a signature is required on delivery).

Choosing a free gift
We will occasionally offer several free gifts for you to choose from. If you qualify, you will automatically be presented with a page enabling you to make your selection once you proceed from the delivery address page. (Free gifts that do not offer a selection to choose from will automatically be added to your basket).

Payment
On the payment page, you can review the details of your order. Your billing and delivery addresses appear on the right of the page and can be edited if required. A summary of your order appears at the bottom of the page, listing the books you have chosen, any free gifts and the order total, including delivery costs. Once you are satisfied everything is correct, enter your card details and click ‘place order now’ to complete your purchase.

Now sit back and wait for your books to arrive!

Using Quick Shop

Quick shop can be found in the basket. The quick shop facility is aimed at customers who have a copy of our catalogue, but prefer to place their order online. It allows you to use the product codes provided in the catalogue to purchase books quickly and easily.

 

Codes can be found next to every product in the catalogue.

 

There are two boxes that make up quick shop. Enter the prefix (three numbers at the beginning of each product code) into the first box if you have it – don't worry, if you don't have the prefix to hand, you can ignore this box and just enter the product code into the second box. Click ‘add to basket’ after each code and the book will automatically be added to your basket.

How to track your order

Once you have placed an order with the Book People, it is possible to check the progress of your order through your account. You can see view and track all of your orders here, including any placed by post or on the telephone too.

Simply register and log in, go to the ‘Account’ tab found at the top of every page and click on ‘Your Orders’. Here, you will see full details of your most recent order, showing the status of each book, including which titles are still on order, on pre-order, have been despatched and the date they left the warehouse. Once an order is showing as despatched, select ‘Track this order’ to be taken to the relevant courier's website, where you will be able to track the progress of your delivery.

You can also view full details of previous orders by clicking on the ‘Order details and tracking link’ next to each order.

Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information.

If your order is overdue and your account doesn't state that the order has been despatched, please contact Customer Services by calling 0845 602 30 30 or using our enquiry form and we will be happy to help trace your order for you.

Cancelling your order

We're very sorry, but we are unable to cancel an order once it has been submitted. Should you no longer require an order that has been placed, please refer to our ordering policy.

Our ordering restrictions on books

The Book People Ltd sells directly to the public only. We do not offer any books for third party re-sale. For this reason, there are restrictions on ordering. You cannot order more than 20 of the same book online. If you would like to make a purchase of more than 20 of the same title, please telephone our Order line on 0845 602 40 40 and an operator will review your order.

Book Point Terms & Conditions
You may only purchase one item per order using Book Points.

Some sale items or promotional items are not available to purchase using Book Points.

The maximum Book Points available on any book is 20.

We retain the right to amend Book Point values at any time.