FAQ

What are remainder books?

Remainders are publishers' overstocks and book store returns, also known as Bargain Books. When a publisher has returns from a bookstore, or they have overprinted a title, they "remainder" the stock to make room for their newer titles. The books are then sold to wholesalers like ourselves, who in turn redistribute the books at greatly reduced prices.

Are your books remainder marked?

Yes, they are. Not all publishers mark their books, but it is best to assume that the product you receive is marked. Some publishers will put a small black line on the bottom edge, and others will use just a small dot. We do not mark the books ourselves. Publishers mark the books so as to ensure they can not be returned as "new" stock.

Do you sell newly published books?

We sell publishers' overstocks, remainders and store returns. You may find newly published books (even some best-sellers occasionally) in our assortment. Our New Arrivals list is updated between 8:45pm - 9:00pm EST.

What is My Favorites?

My Favorites is a new feature. Using this new feature you can add books to a list that you create. You can add books by ISBN or you can add a previous order all at once. The My Favorites list allows you to quickly see which books are in stock and if a favorite book of yours is on the New Arrivals list. You can add books directly from My Favorites to your shopping cart. You can even categorize your favorites into folders like "Christmas", "Top Sellers" or anything else you can imagine.

Using the My Favorites feature is easy! Follow these instructions and you'll be a pro in no time.

What qualifies me for wholesale buying?

First, your order must equal $250.00 (pre-tax and shipping) to qualify as a wholesale purchase. Secondly, you must be a registered business or non-profit organization (i.e. library, hospital, educational facility, etc.). If you represent a U.S. business we require you to provide us with your Federal Tax ID number.

Can I place an order if I do not reach the $250.00 minimum?

No. The ordering system will not allow you to proceed with a purchase unless you meet the $250.00 minimum requirement.

Are there a minimum number of copies per title that I must order?

Most items are available for single item purchase. There may be exceptions made for special or promotional items. If a minimum copy purchase is required, this will be noted on the item page.

Do you accept International orders?

We ship to customers around the globe. For more information on international shipping, please click here.

What price structure do you use? Are there additional discounts available for multiple copies?

Our web site displays the publisher's list price, and the Net Price. The Net Price is the wholesale price. Typically it will be 25% or less of the publisher's list price. The only exceptions are "Value Priced" books. These books are reprinted editions of books by value priced publishers (Smithmark, Crescent, Random House Value, etc), and are unmarked copies (no remainder mark). These books are typically priced at 50% or less of the publisher's list price.

For information on volume copy purchasing, please click here.

I prefer not to purchase over the Internet. Can you please send me a catalog?

We do not publish a product catalog. Due to the often quick turnover of our product, we found listing our inventory on the Internet to the most accurate way of providing inventory information to our customers. For information on specific product categories, you can call us (1-800-801-7193 or 905-641-4581) or email us at info@bookdepot.com and request a custom catalogue. These lists are text only, and are subject to change based on price or availability of titles. For most accurate information and shopping, please use the online search feature.

If I place a book in my order basket, is it reserved for me?

No. Our inventory is "dynamic," which means that quantities will change automatically when orders are completed or when new inventory arrives. If you place items in your cart and leave them there for a period of time without placing the order, it is possible that some products may sell out. Sold out items are noted each time your cart is updated. You then have the option of adding that item to your favorites list to flag it for notification if it arrives in our inventory again.

How do I know I successfully added an item to my cart?

There are many indicators that will help you determine your successful cart updates:

1. The cart summary area located in the top right hand corner of the page will update
2. A text indicator will fade in and out underneath the "ADD TO CART" button you just pushed
3. If you place your mouse cursor anywhere over the cart summary area a popup will indicate the items & quantity in your cart

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express on our 100% Secure Ordering System.

When is my Credit Card billed?

Your card is charged only after your order is confirmed, packed, and ready to ship. When you place an order we pre-authorize the card for the order total, including estimated shipping, and when the order is fulfilled we settle the charge for the total including final shipping charges. You will receive e-mailed order and shipping confirmations informing you of the charges.

Is your ordering system secure?

Absolutely. We use the latest and most secure techniques available to ensure your information is kept secure and confidential. We use Verisign's latest 128 bit encryption to ensure your information is securely transmitted over the Internet. When you enter your payment information, the browser you are using goes into a "secure-mode" and encrypts all data sent to us. Your account is also protected by a username and password that you select. We take security very seriously and will never let your information be passed on to any other organizations.

How do you ship my order and how long will it take to receive?

For information on our shipping options please click here. The shipping choices vary based on the order's destination. Most orders are picked and packaged within 5-7 business days of confirmation. Order shipping times are based on the method chosen and the destination. More information on shipping can be found here.

Can you break-up my order and drop ship it to different customers?

No. You can however have multiple "ship to" locations associated with your account and can flag each order to a different address. When you register as a customer on you can add or modify shipping destinations in your profile or in the check out screens.

What if I have damaged or defective books in my order?

We will refund the portion of the order for the damaged or defective book(s). If the amount is less than or equal to $50.00, an electronic coupon will be issued to be used against a future order. If the amount is over $50.00 we will give you the option of a purchase coupon, credit back to your credit card or apply a credit against your account for OAC customers.