Shipping & Returns Policy
Last Updated: April 24, 2026
Thank you for shopping with Stories by C. L. Holden. We appreciate every reader who chooses to purchase books directly through our website. This Shipping & Returns Policy explains how we process orders, ship books, handle delivery questions, accept eligible returns, review refund requests, and support customers when a book arrives damaged, defective, delayed, or incorrect.
This policy applies only to purchases made directly through the Stories by C. L. Holden website. If you purchased a book through Amazon, another online marketplace, a bookstore, an event, or any other third-party retailer, please contact that retailer directly because their shipping, return, and refund policies will apply.
Order Processing Time
Most direct website orders are processed within 2 to 5 business days after payment is successfully received. Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding weekends, federal holidays, postal holidays, and any dates when fulfillment is temporarily paused.
Processing time is the time needed to prepare, package, and hand your order to the shipping carrier. It does not include the carrier’s delivery time. Once your order is shipped, delivery speed depends on the shipping method selected at checkout, the destination address, carrier volume, weather conditions, and other carrier-related factors.
If an item is temporarily out of stock, delayed, or unavailable, we will contact you using the email address provided at checkout. Under the Federal Trade Commission’s Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, sellers should have a reasonable basis for stated shipping times. If no shipping time is stated, the general default is shipment within 30 days after receiving a properly completed order. If shipment is delayed beyond the stated timeframe, customers should be offered a delay option or a prompt refund. You can review the FTC’s official business guidance here.
Shipping Rates and Delivery Estimates
Shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on the order details, shipping address, package weight, and available carrier options. Before completing your purchase, you will have the opportunity to review your order total, including shipping charges and any applicable taxes.
Estimated delivery times shown at checkout are estimates only. We do our best to ship orders promptly, but we cannot guarantee exact delivery dates once a package is in the carrier’s possession. Delivery times may vary due to carrier delays, seasonal volume, severe weather, holidays, address issues, or other circumstances outside our control.
For eligible book shipments, we may use standard U.S. shipping services, including USPS options when appropriate. USPS Media Mail may be available for qualifying book shipments, but eligibility depends on USPS rules. USPS states that Media Mail is an economy shipping solution for media items such as books, and Media Mail packages are subject to specific content requirements.
U.S. Shipping
Stories by C. L. Holden primarily support shipping within the United States. If shipping is available to your address at checkout, you may place your order directly through the website.
Please enter your shipping address carefully. We are not responsible for delivery issues caused by incorrect, incomplete, outdated, or undeliverable addresses provided by the customer. If you notice an address mistake after placing an order, contact us as soon as possible. We will do our best to help, but we cannot guarantee changes once an order has been processed or shipped.
If a package is returned to us because of an incorrect address, refused delivery, failed delivery attempt, or unclaimed package, we may contact you to arrange reshipment. Additional shipping charges may apply.
International Shipping
International shipping may not be available for all products or destinations. If international shipping options appear at checkout, the customer is responsible for reviewing all shipping costs before placing the order.
International customers may be responsible for customs duties, import taxes, VAT, brokerage fees, or other charges required by their country. These fees are not included in our product prices or shipping charges unless clearly stated at checkout. Stories by C. L. Holden is not responsible for customs delays or additional charges required by international authorities.
Tracking Your Order
When tracking is available, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking information after your order has been shipped. Please allow time for the carrier to scan and update the tracking number. Tracking updates may not appear immediately.
If your tracking number shows no movement for several business days, please check the carrier’s website first. Carrier systems sometimes update slowly, especially during holidays or high-volume shipping periods.
Lost, Delayed, or Delivered Packages
- Check the tracking number and delivery status.
- Confirm that the shipping address on your order confirmation is correct.
- Look around your porch, mailbox, building entrance, mailroom, front desk, or safe delivery location.
- Ask household members, neighbors, building staff, or office receptionists if they accepted the package.
- Contact the shipping carrier for delivery details.
Damaged, Defective, or Incorrect Books
We want your book to arrive in good condition. If your order arrives damaged, defective, misprinted, or incorrect, please contact us within 7 days of delivery.
To help us review the issue quickly, include the following:
- Your order number
- The name and email used for the order
- A brief description of the problem
- Clear photos of the damaged book, incorrect item, packaging, shipping label, or visible defect
- Whether you prefer a replacement or a refund review
Please do not discard the book or packaging until we complete our review. In some cases, packaging photos may be needed for carrier claims or internal review.
If we confirm that the wrong item was sent, the book arrived damaged due to packaging or fulfillment issues, or the book has a clear manufacturing defect, we may offer a replacement copy, refund, or another appropriate resolution at no additional cost to you.
Return Eligibility
We accept return requests for eligible physical books purchased directly from our website within 30 days of delivery. To qualify for a return, the book must be in original, unused, and resellable condition.
Eligible returns generally require:
- A return request within 30 days of delivery
- Proof of purchase or order number
- The book is in original condition
- No writing, highlighting, stains, tears, odors, or excessive handling marks
- Approval before shipping the item back
Returns sent without approval may not be accepted. Please contact us before mailing any item back.
Non-Returnable Items
Some items are final sale and cannot be returned unless they arrive damaged, defective, or incorrect. Non-returnable items may include:
- Digital downloads
- Ebooks
- Audiobooks
- Gift cards
- Personalized books
- Signed books
- Special order items
- Final sale items
- Books showing obvious signs of use
- Books were damaged after delivery by the customer
If your order includes a digital product, please review all details before purchasing. Digital products are generally delivered electronically and are not eligible for physical return.
How to Request a Return
To request a return, contact us through the website Contact page or email us at [insert customer support email].
Please include:
- Your full name
- Order number
- Email address used at checkout
- Book title
- Delivery date
- Reason for the return
- Photos, if the item is damaged, defective, or incorrect
After reviewing your request, we will let you know whether the return is approved. If approved, we will provide return instructions and the appropriate return mailing address. Please do not send items to any address until your return has been approved.
Return Shipping Costs
Unless the return is due to our error, a damaged item, a defective item, or an incorrect item, the customer is responsible for return shipping costs.
Original shipping charges are generally non-refundable unless the refund is related to our fulfillment error, a confirmed damaged item, a defective item, or an incorrect item. We recommend using a trackable shipping service for returns because we cannot issue a refund for a returned item that we do not receive.
Refunds
Once we receive and inspect your approved return, we will notify you whether the refund is approved. If approved, the refund will be issued to the original payment method used at checkout.
Refund processing times may vary depending on your bank, card issuer, payment processor, or financial institution. After we issue the refund, it may take several business days for the funds to appear in your account.
We reserve the right to deny a refund if the returned book is used, damaged after delivery, missing parts, not in resellable condition, returned after the approved return window, or returned without authorization.
Exchanges and Replacement Copies
We may offer a replacement copy when a book arrives damaged, defective, misprinted, or incorrect. Replacement approval depends on the issue details, available inventory, proof of purchase, and supporting photos.
If a replacement is approved, we will ship the replacement to the original shipping address unless you provide an updated address before the replacement is processed.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel an order, please contact us as soon as possible. We will try to cancel the order if it has not already been processed, packed, or shipped.
Once an order has shipped, it cannot be canceled. You may still request a return after delivery if the item qualifies under this policy.
Preorders and Backorders
If preorders or backorders are offered, the expected shipping timeframe will be listed on the product page or checkout page when available. If the expected date changes, we will contact customers using the email address provided at checkout.
If you do not wish to wait for a delayed preorder or backorder, you may request cancellation and a refund review before the item ships.
Orders Placed Through Amazon or Other Retailers
This Shipping & Returns Policy applies only to purchases made directly through the Stories by C. L. Holden website.
If you purchased a book through Amazon, please manage shipping, returns, replacements, or refunds through your Amazon account or Amazon Customer Service. Amazon’s official customer service guidance explains that customers can use the Customer Service Home Page to browse help topics, including returns and order support.
If you purchased through another bookstore, marketplace, event vendor, or third-party seller, please contact that seller directly. We cannot access, cancel, refund, or modify orders placed through third-party retailers.
Contact Us
If you have questions about shipping, delivery, returns, refunds, damaged books, incorrect items, or replacement copies, please contact us before sending anything back.
Stories by C. L. Holden
Customer Support Email: admin@sip-siphooray.com
Website: Stories by C. L. Holden Contact Page
Location: United States
When contacting us, please include your order number so we can help you faster.
Policy Updates
Stories by C. L. Holden may update this Shipping & Returns Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. The policy in effect at the time of your purchase will generally apply to that order.
Thank you for supporting Stories by C. L. Holden. We are grateful for your readership and will do our best to provide a smooth, respectful, and helpful order experience.