Help & Information

 
 
 

Accepted Payment Methods

We accept most major credit and debit cards. We do not accept cheques, postal orders or PayPal (or any other internet-based payment).

We accept the following debit and credit cards:

Accepted Credit and Debit Cards

Please note: your credit or debit card will be charged at the point of sale during the final stages of the checkout process.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Shipping Charges

All shipping charges shown are inclusive of VAT.

United Kingdom
(Mainland Only)

1 item:
£4.99 per order

2, 3 or 4 items:
£6.99 per order

5 or more items:
£7.50 per order

Europe
N. Ireland
Isle of Wight

£9.99 per order

International

£10.00 per item

Please bear in mind that these postal charges reflect the nature of the product being dispatched; whilst individually light, audio cassettes and CDs in bulk can lead to a heavy and expensive package to ship.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Delivery Information

Delivery Time

After placing an order with us please allow up to 28 days for your goods to arrive.

We aim to ship your order as quickly as possible and under normal circumstances most orders are dispatched and delivered within a week of receiving an order.

However, at peak times (typically November through to February) please allow 4 weeks from the time of ordering.

Delivery by Courier

Your order will be dispatched by express courier service. As such, there will need to be someone at the delivery address during the day to receive and sign for the consignment.

Please consider using your work address or the address of a family member for delivery if there will be no one at your home address during the day.

Delivery Restrictions

Due to the complex nature of copyrights on published works we can only supply our titles to countries where we have the legal right to do so.

All of our titles are eligible for purchase in the UK and within the EU.

At this time we can not ship goods to the United States of America.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Website and Ordering Information

Payment and Delivery

Refund, Exchange and Replacement Policies

General Questions

What is an audio book?

An audio book is a recorded narration of a standard printed book or novel. Audio books are sometimes referred to as 'spoken word' or 'talking books'.

What is the difference between an abridged and an unabridged audio book?

An abridged audio book is comprised of selected chapters or excerpts of a book, where as an unabridged audio book contains the complete text of the book, read in full, as the author intended. All of our audio books are complete and unabridged.

What do I need to play an audio book?

Audio books work just like music CDs. If you have access to a CD player then you can play an audio book (many of our customers listen to audio books using personal stereos or their in-car audio system).

How do I look after and maintain my audio books?

We recommend you keep your audio books in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight; place the individual CDs in their cases when not in use.

How do I send you my comments/questions/complaints?

Please consult our Contact Information page for our telephone, fax, email and postal details.

Website and Ordering Information

Is ordering online safe?

Ordering and paying online is safer than placing an order over the telephone. When your information is submitted to us via the website it is encoded using strong 256-bit encryption. The credit or debit card transaction itself is performed by Secure Trading, a specialist in secure online payment solutions.

When entering any personal information into a website look for the padlock icon in your browser and make sure the website's URL begins with HTTPS://. This shows that the information exchanged between your computer and the website is being encrypted, thus making it incredibly hard to intercept and virtually impossible to decrypt.

Also, we strongly recommend that you virus check your computer regularly to prevent being compromised. Popular anti virus programs include Norton, McAfee and the free alternatives AVG and AntiVir.

Are there methods of ordering, other than online?

The Whole Story Audio Books website is designed to perform as an online ordering process. However, if you are experiencing problems with the online ordering process please contact our Customer Helpline where a member of the Whole Story Audio Books team will be happy to take you through the online ordering process.

Once I've submitted an order to you, can I cancel it if I change my mind?

We offer our customers the chance to cancel immediately after order submission. There may also be a grace period before your order enters the 'Processing' stage, but this is largely dependent on the time that you place your order and should not be relied upon or expected. We ask that you carefully consider your order before you submit it to us.

If you need to cancel an order urgently you can do so by telephoning us using our Customer Helpline. However, this can only be done before the goods have been dispatched.

How do I know that you have received my order?

After successfully completing and submitting an order to us you will receive a confirmation email at the email address you supplied (please ensure that you have entered your email address accurately.) If at any time during the ordering process you want to check the status of your order, please contact us.

Payment and Delivery

Can I specify a delivery date?

At this time we cannot offer any guarantee as to when you will receive your order. After we have dispatched your order the delivery of your goods is the responsibility of the carrier or postal service in your area. Within the UK this is normally 1-2 working days after dispatch, 7-10 for international customers.

Can I collect?

Sorry, we do not offer the option for you to collect your order.

Can I arrange special delivery options, such as a courier?

All orders are now dispatched via courier as standard. As such they are tracked, insured and will require a signature upon delivery.

How do I know when you have dispatched my order?

Typically orders are dispatched within 2-3 working days of us receiving your order, however please allow 28 days for delivery. If there is a problem with your order or if there are going to be delays you will be informed.

Do you deliver outside of the UK?

We deliver internationally, however we can not currently dispatch items to the United States. Postage is calculated during the Checkout process.

However, some shipping restrictions apply to certain titles in our catalogue. Please consult each product's information page for it's shipping eligibility details.

When will my credit/debit card be charged?

Your card will be charged at the point of sale, during the final stages of the checkout process.

Refund, Exchange and Replacement Policies

Can I get a refund/exchange if...

...my book is damaged during delivery?

If the goods are damaged during transit please contact us immediately and arrange for a replacement. Keep all the packaging and goods for return to us.

...I've damaged my audio book?

It is your responsibility to keep your audio books in good condition once purchased. Unfortunately we can not offer replacements for individual CDs, free or paid-for.

...I don't like the book?

Books are very personal and subjective, as such we cannot guarantee you will like any book your purchase and will not offer a refund if the books you order are not to your tastes. We recommend you read all available literature and reviews about the titles you intend to order before purchasing them so you can make an informed decision whether to buy or not.

Can I get a replacement copy if the goods are faulty?

If the audio books you have received from us are faulty, for example, there is a manufacturing defect or the sound is of poor quality, then we will happily replace these items for free pending inspection of the faulty media. Please return faulty items with a description of the faults you've encountered to the address show on the Contact Information page so we can identify and confirm any errors.

Should I return broken CDs to you?

You only need to return broken media to us if you have found a fault and wish to claim a replacement.

 
 
 

If your questions still haven't been answered then feel free to contact us
using the details on our Contact Information page. We're always happy to help.