In-FAQ – infrequently asked questions

Payment

All payments must be made within seven (7) days.

I accept payment by direct deposit, paypal, money order or cheque. The details will be sent out to you after your order has gone through.

To help me match up your payment with your order please use your order number as the reference number.

Direct Paypal payments to: sales@suzs-space.com

Direct deposits and personal cheques can take a few days to clear and I will not post until clearance is made.

Postage

Australia Post rates are used throughout.  Parcels over 453gm (1lb) going to the USA will incur an extra $9 surcharge.

Parcels over the value of $50 will be registered at no extra charge, if extra insurance is required that will also be added on at no extra charge. Should I consider the postage charge is too high and I can send it using a cheaper option I will do so and refund part of the postage charge to the buyer. This is obviously fairly easy when you’ve chosen to pay by Paypal, but if you’ve chosen money order or directly into my bank account you will receive an email asking for your bank details.

If your parcel hasn’t arrived two weeks after receiving email confirmation of posting from me your first step is to ring your local post office and see if they have it waiting for you. If it isn’t there then you should contact me and I’ll chase it up for you. Don’t use telepathy, I’m not a good receiver.

I use good quality recycled materials wherever possible to reduce waste.

If you’re unsure I can be contacted on email for a quote.

Where do you get your books from?

I mostly source my books from op shops and garage sales. Some of my books come from deceased estates and I occasionally buy through online auction sites. I have been known to buy books from fairs or fetes.

Do you accept donations?

Donations are lovely and are taken carefully in the manner in which they are donated.

Can I see you at any fairs or fetes?

You might spot me at fairs or fetes. I enjoy downtime with my family and you never know when you’ll find that book worth thousands of dollars. I generally won’t have a stall, unless a persuasive sister persuades me.

Are you only online?

Yes, I only sell online. I don’t have a physical shop. I work solely from home in order to keep the costs down and pass on the savings to my customers.

Do you sell at school fundraisers or markets?

No, I don’t sell at school fundraisers. I do occasionally sell at markets.

Do you use an online shop software like e.commerce?

I currently use Shopp which allows flexibility for the customer.

Do you keep your stock at home?

All of my business is kept at home, including all stock.

Do you manage and process all orders?

I manage and process all orders myself to ensure you get the best service and you get the books you’ve ordered.

How do you organise your orders and postage?

When an order has been paid for I print a copy of the invoice and write the storage place on that. I then find the books and organise them for posting.

Posting is an art and I’m still perfecting it. All books are sealed in a freezer bag with a Suz’s Space bookmark.  They are then sandwiched in cardboard, which is taped firmly to stop the books moving. Some parcels will also be wrapped in bubble wrap before having a final wrapping in brown paper or being placed in a pre-paid satchel or sturdy envelope. If the order is big enough I will pack them in a box with extra packing.

Do you get time to work with all those fabulous books around you?

Excellent question. I find I actually read less now I have so much to read. I’m far more choosy with the books I read, but I also read more books recommended by others than I used to. I do find I ‘read’ more audio books than I used to as I ‘read’ them while I’m working or doing housework. Except for shortish books such as those in the Chalet School series. I found myself reading two of them instead of listing them, but they did get listed later that day.

Are you inspired to write yourself?

I would love to be able to write, unfortunately, I’m not one of those people lucky enough to have the skills.

Do you help others to find specific books?

Yes! As well as circulating the names among my friends I also keep this list with me.

Do you repair damaged books?

I generally don’t repair damaged books. To do that successfully you need certain skills and training which I don’t have. If the book is cheap I will just throw it out. If the book is worth a substantial amount I will sell it as is at an appropriate amount, the damages will be listed.

Do you sell artwork?

No, I do not sell artwork. You would need to go to someone who appreciates art.

Do you sell audio books?

Yes, I sell audio books. As I only sell pre-loved books I ‘read’ all audio books prior to selling to check that they are in good enough condition for sale. It gives me a good excuse to listen to a new author.

I recently bought a box of audio books from the USA. Many of them were brand new and still sealed. I will be listing these ones without checking them.

Do you sell DVDs and VHS?

I will sell the occasional DVD. Suz’s Space is a family friendly site and therefore everything will be labelled with the rating. There will be no X rated movies on Suz’s Space. I’m even hesitant to list M rated movies so it will depend on the content of the movie.

Do you sell self help stuff?

I am happy to sell self help books and you will find a category devoted to it.