The details behind every order.
How we choose the books, pack the parcels, take the payment, answer the emails and handle returns — described the way we actually do the work.
A short shelf we've actually read.
We keep a tight catalogue on purpose. Every listing is a real copy on a shelf at our storefront in Wichita, KS.
Sourcing. Titles are ordered directly from established US publishers and recognised trade distributors (Penguin Random House, Ingram, Baker & Taylor and similar). We don't resell third-party marketplace inventory and we don't drop-ship from unknown suppliers.
Condition standards. Every book we list is described as it exists on our shelf. Almost all inventory is new: shrink-wrapped or publisher-fresh, with straight spines and clean pages. If a copy is a store display, a remainder or the last of a print run, that's noted on the product page — never hidden.
Editorial review. Before a title goes live, someone on the team confirms the ISBN, edition, format (paperback / hardcover), page count and publication date against the publisher record, and writes the short description in our own words. We don't paste marketing copy or auto-generate summaries.
- Exact title & author
- Format (paperback / hardcover)
- ISBN, publisher & publication date
- Cover image matching the edition
Packed by hand in Wichita, tracked to your door.
Every order is fulfilled in-house at 369 N Meridian Ave. We don't route parcels through third-party warehouses.
Packing method. Softcovers are sleeved in a poly bag and packed into a rigid corrugated book mailer with a peel-and-seal closure. Hardcovers and heavier art books are wrapped in kraft paper, cushioned with recycled paper fill, and shipped in a double-walled box sized to the order so the book can't slide in transit. Corners are protected on any book over one inch thick.
Carriers. We ship domestic US orders via USPS (Ground Advantage or Media Mail depending on weight and destination) and UPS Ground for larger multi-book orders. Every shipment is fully tracked and the tracking number is emailed automatically once the label is created.
Timing. Orders received before 2:00 PM Central Time on a business day are usually packed the same day; orders placed later or on weekends are packed on the next business day. Handling time is 1–2 business days, transit is typically 2–5 business days, so most US orders arrive within 3–7 business days of purchase.
You choose how to pay — we never touch your card details.
Checkout is designed so that no sensitive payment data ever hits our servers.
Card payments. Card transactions are processed by Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment provider. Your card number, expiry and CVC are entered inside Stripe's hosted fields and tokenised in the browser — Redwood Books receives only a payment confirmation, never the raw card data.
Cash on Delivery. For customers who prefer not to pay online, Cash on Delivery is available on eligible US addresses. You pay the carrier in cash when the parcel is handed to you; no card details are stored on our side at any point in the order.
Site security. The entire site is served over HTTPS with a valid TLS certificate. Session data is minimal (a cart identifier and your language / theme preferences); we don't store passwords or payment credentials because we don't need to.
Full Payment Policy & accepted methodsA person from the shop reads and answers your message.
Support isn't outsourced. The same small team that runs the store handles every enquiry.
Channels. You can reach us by email at support@redwoodbooks.store, by phone at +1 (316) 294-3906, or via the form on the Contact page. In-person questions are always welcome at the storefront during opening hours.
Response commitment. Emails are answered by a human, usually within one business day. Any message received during Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Central Time typically gets a reply the same day; messages sent overnight or on weekends are handled the following morning.
What we can help with. Order status, address changes before shipment, damaged or incorrect items, return authorisation, invoice reissue, and questions about a title before you buy. If we can't help directly we'll tell you where to look, not spin in circles.
Contact the storeA short, human process — not a maze of forms.
You have 14 days from delivery to request a return. Here's exactly how it works.
- 1Email us at support@redwoodbooks.storeInclude your order number and a brief note about which item you want to return and why. A photo helps if the book arrived damaged.
- 2We reply with a return authorisation and a free prepaid labelUsually within one business day. Return shipping is completely free — there is no cost to you. We email you a prepaid return shipping label at no charge, regardless of the reason for the return.
- 3Ship the book back in its original packagingBooks should be in the same condition you received them — unmarked and unread if the return is a change of mind.
- 4Refund issued within 14 days of receiptRefunds are sent back to the original payment method. Cash-on-Delivery orders are refunded by store credit or check, whichever you prefer.
Ready to browse?
To read the story behind the store, see the About Us page.
Redwood Books
Independent bookstore · Wichita, KS
- Address369 N Meridian AveWichita, KS 67203United States
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