General Ordering Information:

To reserve any item on this website, to place an order, make a comment or ask a question, either send an e-mail, a letter, or (if you prefer) give me a telephone call to the numbers listed on the bottom of this page.  We are in the Central Time Zone (USA).  If I am not available when you call, please leave a message.  I will return your call.  I will normally reply within 24 hours to all orders, questions, and/or inquiries (unless I am away on a book selling or buying trip).  In most instances it is best to place most, if not all, of your orders by email.  This will help insure that I have a typed copy of your shipping address.  I usually cut and paste it directly to shipping labels which avoids transcription errors and shipping to a wrong address.  Be sure to let me know if your shipping address changes so I can destroy your old shipping labels. 

Specific Ordering Information:

I like to keep it simple. 

A. Send an e-mail with the information of what item or items you are ordering:

>for books - please include the 1. catalog number and name you are ordering from, 2. the author, 3. the title, and 4. the price of the book

>for maps and/or software - please include the 1. catalog you are ordering from, 2. the state and number of the map or software program, 3. title, and 4. the price of the map or software

>for minerals, rocks, and ore samples - be sure to include both the 1. name of the mineral, 2. the size desired, and 3. the shape desired (if applicable), and 4. the price as listed for the size/quality you prefer  - I will contact you concerning availability and give you a list of choices prior to assembling your order

>for fossils - please include the 1. fossil name and 2. the fossil code number (i.e., Moll 35, etc.) and 3. the price as listed in the catalog -  I will contact you concerning availability and give you a list of choices prior to assembling your order

or B. If you prefer use a plain sheet of paper listing the same information and send your order by regular mail. 

Along with your order, be sure to insure a shipping address and a method of payment.

or C. pick up the phone and call your order in.

Most orders are placed completely by email with credit information enclosed.  If you wish, you can send your credit information in several emails.  Or, If you prefer, send your order e-mail and call with your credit information.  Or call your entire order in by phone.  90% of our orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours.  Exceptions:  when I am out of town on a book buying  trip, when you forgot to include your expiration date for your card, or when something is on backorder.

If you are a library within the United States and wish to make any purchase with a purchase order number, please send your order with a P.O. number.  We no longer accept purchase orders from outside the United States.

All prices listed are on this website are in United States Dollars.

I will drop ship items to anyone within the United States. You may order items for yourself and other drop ship items in the same order.  Please indicate what message you want me to place in the package(s) being drop shipped.

Orders from other Countries:

Purchases are the easiest to handle if you use a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover credit card.  Credit cards based on the Euro are not currently compatible with our banking system.  We do not accept Paypal payments.  I will ship items immediately when your credit information is confirmed.  You may also use a check for payment only if you have a checking account in the U.S. and the check is being drawn on that U.S. Bank.  International postal money orders are usually no problem, but they will delay shipment or your order until they can be converted into cash at the post office.  See the comments below about shipping to international locations. 

Payment Information:

If I have your credit information on file, I will ship immediately and include the exact shipping charges plus $ 2 for handling if shipment is made using the United States Post Office. A handling fee of $ 6 is charged for shipments by other carriers, i.e., Fedex, UPS, and others.  Any of the credit cards pictured here are accepted for payment.   We do not use PayPal.  I will keep your credit information on file thereby eliminating the need (or risk) of transmitting it again.  Do not transmit the three digit code on the back of your card as I will not need it.

Domestic orders: If you prefer to send a check or money order, please estimate the postage and include it with your order.    I will bill you for any additional postage charges, or credit you for any over payment.    An interest charge of 1.5% will be added each month to all unpaid accounts after 30 days until the balance is paid in full. 

International orders: Credit cards work the best for all international orders!  Euro credit cards will not work.  All payments must be in US funds drawn on a US bank.  This may be in the form of a check or money drawn on a U.S. Bank, i.e., if you live somewhere in Europe or Asia and have a checking account somewhere in the United States, your check is welcome.  International Postal Money Orders work well from many countries.

Purchase orders are accepted from domestic libraries and book stores when you provide the usual purchase order number and other pertinent information concerning the order.  International purchase orders are no longer accepted.

Shipping Charges:

I charge exact shipping costs.  I will not charge you $12 for postage if the actual shipping charges are $6.  I charge actual shipping charges plus a $2 or $6 handling charge per order.  The handling feeis added to each invoice to cover the costs of tape and packaging. 

DOMESTIC SHIPMENTS:  Unless you specify otherwise, all domestic shipments will now be shipped via the U.S. Post Office using the flat rate priority mail which is the fastest way to ship books in the U.S for a cost of approximately $12 for larger, heavy boxes.  If your package contains only 1 or 2 light-weight books regular priority mail will be used to keep the shipping costs in the $6 - $8 range.  If you prefer Media Mail (book rate) please let me know, but this method may been take 10 days for delivery.  For requested shipments by UPS or Fedex an additional $4 handling charge is added to the total making the total handling charge $6 to help defray the extra paperwork and 2 hours of travel time to reach these businesses here in Lake Charles.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS:  To all locations outside the United States shipping is now by air mail only.  Surface mail no longer exists.  I recommend air mail shipping via the United States Post Office for all designations outside the U.S. unless you prefer another courier like Fedex which will be faster, but is more costly.  The flat rate priority boxes mentioned above will hold approximately 5-6 medium size books and have a special flat airmail rate.  A regular priority box is available for light-weight shipments.  These priority boxes were previously used for domestic shipments only, but now can be used to ship overseas.  For large overseas shipments, M-Bag continues to be successful.  M-Bag is much less costly, but it carries no insurance.  Beginning on 5/14/07, M-Bags are now shipped via airmail only.  This is much less expensive than regular airmail, but again, it carries no insurance.  I can not be responsible for these packages once they leave our location.  To guarantee satisfactory results, I recommend adding insurance to all other types of international shipments. 

ESTIMATION OF SHIPPING CHARGES:

Service:

Please expect fast, friendly service.  I want you to be pleased with your purchases. Please return often and check on what new items what recently been posted. Regular inventory books are listed in black.  Rare books are listed in green.

"When will you ship that order?" is the question I am asked the most often.  Most orders are shipped within 24 hours after receiving the order.  If you place an order during a week when 300 books are being shipped, it may take me a little longer than usual to get your order shipped. 

Occasionally, I may be away on book buying trips.  If I do not respond as quickly as usual, it means I may be away for a week or two.  I will contact you immediately when I return.  Watch the message box on the home page of this website for announcements concerning travel <or> family emergencies <or> evacuation in case of another hurricane.  If you have books to sell, please let me know so I can schedule a stop in your area the next time I am in your area. 

Invoices and Receipts:

Invoices and receipts are sent by separate mail.  This allows me to ship your order without having to complete the usual paperwork first.  In many cases I will be able to have the materials you order delivered within 3 days after you place an order. During very busy weeks it may take about a week to get our receipt into the mail.  

Credit Information:

E-mail or telephone your credit card information for the fastest service.  If you wish to send your credit card information in an email, send several consecutive emails with part of the information in each email.  It is generally assumed that this greatly reduces the risks involved, although we do not know of any email security problems.  About 90% of my customers send credit information in single email from everywhere in the world.  And I have never had a problem reported.  

Sales / Discounts:

10 % off sale now in progress ($100US minimum please)

Mailing Address:

MS Book and Mineral Company, P.O. Box 6774, Lake Charles, Louisiana 70606-6774, USA

Telephone:

Office: (337) 478 - 0669.  This land-line service is now delivered by cable.  Should our cable be out of service for any reason, please use the cell phone number below.

Cell phone: (337) 292 - 6154.  The message box on the top of the home page will indicate when I am traveling; shipments may be delayed and you will only be able to reach me at this cell phone number.

Call any week day between the hours of 10am and 6pm Central Standard Time please.  If you do not get an answer, please leave a message --- I will return your call when I return to the office.  

For domestic and international orders, please call with your credit information if you prefer not to send it in one or several consecutive emails.

e-mail:

To send an order or to ask a question please click here: msbooks@booksgeology.com

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