We are a small, independent bookstore. Some of what we sell sits on our own shelves in Washington State; much of it we order for you from the publisher or maker, so we can offer a far larger selection than our shelves could hold. This page explains how each kind of order travels to you, what it costs, and what to do if something isn’t right.
Orders within the United States
Flat-rate shipping, charged at the highest rate in your order:
| What’s in your order | Flat rate |
|---|---|
| Books (including Advent calendar cards) | $8 |
| Other items: gifts, art supplies, remedies, body care, coffee, pottery | $10 |
| Advent calendars (any number; they ship flat in their own box) | $12 |
| Art prints shipped on their own (rolled in a tube). A print ordered with other items adds nothing: it ships with your books or in the calendar box. | $14 |
- Orders that ship in more than one package: some books come straight from the publisher, and Advent calendars ship flat in their own box. When your order needs a second package from us or the publisher, each additional package is $4. For example, books from our shelves plus a book from the publisher: $8 + $4 = $12. A calendar with books: $12 + $4 = $16.
- Items from our Marketplace makers (remedies, body care, coffee, pottery) are sent directly by the maker in their own package, at no extra shipping charge beyond the flat rate.
- An Advent calendar card travels with your books, or inside the calendar box. It never adds a package.
- Checkout shows “ships in 2 packages” (or more) whenever this applies. USPS Priority Mail is also offered at checkout, priced for your order.
- Items from our shelves usually ship within 1–2 business days. Items marked “ships in 2–3 business days” are sent directly by the publisher or maker; your order confirmation shows which item ships from where.
- Alaska, Hawaii and US Territories are served at the same rates.
International orders
Every international order is packed and shipped by us. Items that come from a publisher or maker are first sent to our store, then sent on to you together with the rest of your order.
Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand
International Standard (tracked, duties & taxes prepaid). The shipping price you pay at checkout already includes import duties and taxes. Nothing more is due when your parcel arrives. Your parcel is tracked door to door.
| Destination | First item | Each additional item |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $20 | $4 |
| United Kingdom | $20 | $6 |
| European Union | $27 | $9 |
| Australia | $28 | $9 |
| New Zealand | $36 | $13 |
International Express by UPS is also offered at checkout. It is faster once shipped (about 2–5 business days), but duties, taxes and any carrier fees are paid by the recipient on delivery.
All other countries
We ship by USPS international mail or by UPS, priced for your order at checkout. Import duties, taxes and any carrier handling fees are paid by the recipient when the parcel arrives, as set by your country’s customs office.
How long it takes
- Items from our shelves usually leave us within 1–2 business days.
- Items from a publisher or maker take about 5–7 business days to reach us before we send them on. Your whole order ships together once everything has arrived.
- In transit: International Standard usually takes 5–8 business days once shipped; UPS Express about 2–5 business days. Customs can occasionally add time that is outside our control.
Items we can ship only to the United States and Canada
Advent calendars, art prints, remedies from Uriel Pharmacy and pottery from Voice of Clay can be shipped only to addresses in the United States and Canada. Their product pages say so, and for any other country no shipping option is offered for an order that includes them.
Large orders
For international orders of more than 8 items or over 12 lb, please email [email protected] with your cart and address, and we will send you a shipping quote.
If an item can’t be supplied
Publishers occasionally run out of a title or let it go out of print. If that happens, we will try to find a copy elsewhere or let you know when it is expected back. If we cannot get it for you, we refund that item in full.
Returns and refunds
We want you to be happy with what you receive. If something isn’t right, please write to us first at [email protected] and we will tell you how to send it back.
- Time limit: please contact us within 14 days of delivery.
- Condition: books and items should come back in the condition you received them.
- Damaged, defective or wrong item: tell us within 7 days of delivery, with a photo if you can. We will send a replacement or a full refund, including your original shipping, and we cover the return postage.
- Change of mind: we refund the item price once it is back with us. The original shipping and the return postage are not refunded.
- International returns: return postage is paid by the customer, and the original shipping, including prepaid duties and taxes, is not refundable. A parcel that is refused or left unclaimed is refunded less the shipping, duties and return charges we incur.
- Not returnable or refundable: remedies and body-care products, food and coffee, gift cards, and eBooks (see our eBook Terms & Conditions).
- Cancellations: email us as soon as possible. Once an item has been ordered from the publisher or has shipped, it may no longer be possible to cancel it; it can then be returned as above.
- Refund timing: refunds go back to your original payment method, usually within 5 business days of the return reaching us.
Lost or delayed parcels
Every order is shipped with tracking. If your tracking has not moved for a while, or a parcel shows as delivered but hasn’t reached you, please let us know and we will take it up with the carrier for you. Please check that your shipping address is complete and correct at checkout; parcels returned because of an incorrect address can be re-sent at the cost of the new postage.
Contact us
Rudolf Steiner Bookstore · P.O. Box 251, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 · [email protected] · (425) 835-3887