outback books

This is a one–person show so you receive personal service. However during particularly busy periods such as the weeks leading up to Christmas, I don’t have the resources to efficiently handle large numbers of phone enquiries. So if you have any questions please refer first to the information contained here and in related pages, then please do contact me if you have queries that are still unanswered. Email is best, otherwise please ring during the hours mentioned below.

Will I get a discount if I put in a big order?

There are good discounts for purchases of 3 or more books and 4 or more packets of cards. These discounts are calculated automatically when you place your order.

If you are purchasing full boxes of books (16 per box) or 10 or more packets of cards, please email me for a quote as there are further discounts for these larger orders.

What does ‘signed’ book mean?

This is one of the prime advantages of buying your book direct – you can have it signed by the author. Signed books are more highly valued by collectors and they make a gift more special.

I usually write ‘best wishes’ with my signature and date on the first blank page inside the book. Indicate ‘yes’ on the order form if you’d like me to sign your books for you. Please bear in mind that personal messages are much better if handwritten into the book by the person who is giving it.

When will my order be delivered?

Your order will normally be sent out within a few days. Orders are sent by express post and airmail so usually only take 3–10 days to deliver anywhere in the world.

During the peak mustering season (April to November) I have to be away occasionally for 1–2 week periods taking photographs etc. Sometimes I have to be away on other business, for example, organising exhibitions. Orders are sent out as soon as I return, in the order they were received. If you have a particular deadline please email or telephone me.

Due to the volume of orders received before Christmas, all Christmas orders should be made by early December or even earlier. Especially if they are being sent overseas.

I work very long hours 6–7 days/week for most of the dry season so please note that the office is usually shut a few days before Christmas until early or mid January, and over Easter. Each year exact Christmas closure dates are posted up the top of the home page. Normally if I am away for more than 7 days there will be a notice up the top of the home page.

When the office reopens orders are sent out in the exact order they are received in.

I’m in a burning hurry to receive my order, how can I make sure it arrives asap?

If you wish to make sure your order is received and processed as soon as possible then order online. Online orders are often processed on the same day they are received as much less administration is involved. Sometimes people who order online receive their order in the next morning’s mail, when they have a quick local delivery.

Online ordering is also the most secure way of paying with a credit card. If you pay online you are taken directly to the National Australia Bank secure payment website (NSIPS) which uses the industry standard Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. All your card details go direct to the bank so I don’t get to see these numbers at all and they are encrypted so that hackers (people illegally intercepting electronic information) can’t decipher the numbers either. The bank just sends me a message to let me know whether the payment has been accepted or declined. Paying a reputable retailer via a secure online website like this is actually safer than handing your card over to staff in shops.

When do I pay for my order?

For administrative reasons all orders must be paid in full before they are sent. Otherwise I’d spend half my life matching up payments.

What payment methods are accepted?

You may pay with a credit card, or if within Australia, a cheque or money order. Sorry I do not have the administrative resources to handle other payment methods, such as direct bank transfers.

Credit card payments:
MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Payment can either be made online, by mail or by fax. Please remember that credit card numbers should not be emailed, as emails are not secure enough.

For fraud prevention reasons, only the actual owner of a credit card can make a purchase using that card. If someone else is paying for your order with their credit card, then they must place the order for you. For security reasons I cannot accept orders that are paid for with someone else’s card.

Cheque and money order payments:
Cheques and money orders are accepted for Australian orders. Please make them payable to Fiona Lake. Bank clearance of cheques usually takes several business days and orders cannot be sent until the transaction is finalised. Unfortunately cheques and money orders cannot be accepted from residents in other countries due to exchange rate complications and bank clearance delays, so MasterCard or Visa card are the only payment options.

Who is charged the Australian Goods & Services Tax (GST)?

GST is not charged on postage or goods that I mail direct to an overseas address.

10% GST is charged on postage and goods mailed to an Australian address. If the purchase is a legitimate business expense then the purchaser can claim the GST back from the Australian Tax Office through their next Business Activity Statement.

Overseas Orders — Import Duties

Some countries do charge import duty on books and gifts however most do not. So if your purchase is a gift then please let me know on the order form so that your parcel is clearly marked as a gift on the customs declaration form. However please note that any import duties levied by the destination country are the responsibility of the person that the freight is addressed to.

Can I pick up cards and signed books in person?

Customers living near Townsville (north Queensland) and Deniliquin (southern NSW) can obtain cards and signed books but avoid paying postage by picking their purchases up in person. All book orders that are picked up in person in Townsville come with a free screen–printed calico carry bag, while stocks last.

Townsville (Queensland):

Orders can be picked up from my husband’s place of work in the middle of town.

How do you arrange this?

• Print out the order form. Ignore the postage amount when filling it in and write a message on the order form saying you’d like to pick your books up in person.
• Mail or fax the order to me and I’ll let you know by email (or phone) when your order is waiting for collection.

Deniliquin (NSW):

One of my brothers, Graeme Mckindlay, is a partner in Fleming Partners accounting practice, 591 George Street, Deniliquin. Cards and signed books may be purchased at reception and paid for by cash, cheque or credit card. Hours are 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Can you help keep my gift a surprise?

If your purchase is a gift, please tick ‘gift’ so that I know not to let the cat out of the bag if I have to ring up with a query.

Sorry I can’t do gift wrapping, but I can save you time and money by sending your neatly packed purchase direct to the recipient/s. Just fill in their names and addresses in the ‘gifts’ section of the order form.

If you want a particularly personal message written inside the book I recommend that you do this yourself, or mail a card direct to them with your personal message inside it. They can then keep your personal card inside the book.

Receipts are emailed direct to you, they are not sent with the books. However please note that by law the value of all goods being sent out of Australia must be clearly stated on the accompanying documents. This means that if Uncle Cyril in downtown London reads the fine print on the customs declaration form he’ll know how much you spent on him.

How do I get a receipt?

Online orders:

An automated order confirmation notice will be sent to you within minutes. When your order has been sent or is just about to be, you will be emailed a tax receipt.

Orders by mail and fax:

If you have paid by credit card and include an email address on your order form you will know as soon as your order is on it’s way, because you’ll emailed a receipt when your order has been sent or is just about to be.

If you have paid by cheque and would like to receive an emailed receipt/notification that your order has been sent, please write your email address on the order form.

Can I return my purchase for a refund?

If you are dissatisfied with your purchase for any reason whatsoever you may return the books or cards to me for a refund, providing they are in perfect condition and sent back within 5 days. The cost of the books or cards will be returned to you immediately however because the refund is due to a change of mind the cost of postage either way cannot be refunded.

In order to receive an immediate, cost–free replacement of goods damaged in transit, damaged goods must be returned with the original packaging material within 5 days.

Everything leaves here in good condition and fortunately I’ve had very few items damaged in transit over the years. But of course accidents are always possible so if your purchase is damaged then I will make every effort to rectify the situation as quickly and easily as possible.

Tips to ensure your order is delivered as soon as possible:

• If ordering online, when you have typed your credit card details into the bank payment form, please do wait a moment until the bank processes the payment request. If you wander off elsewhere before the bank has sent a message to my website to advise your payment has been accepted, then your payment has to be matched up manually. This is no great drama but it does add processing time on, particularly during extra busy times (such as before Christmas).
• If your credit card payment is declined by the bank please contact me to let me know what you’d like to do, eg pay by another method.
• Use the speediest payment method. Apart from extra busy times and when I am away, the following processing times apply:

  Online Orders

  The order can be mailed the next business day, or even on the same day.

  Faxed Orders — Paid by Credit Card

  The order will usually go within a couple of business days

  Mailed Orders

  A letter may take 7 or more days to arrive here from southern or western Australia. Credit card payments will only take a couple of days to process however if you’ve mailed a cheque you will need to wait a few more days until it has been banked and then cleared, plus the time it takes for the order to reach you. All up an order paid for by a cheque in the mail may take a couple of weeks to reach you.