Services

I’m trying to track down a book, can you help?

Abacus provides an obligation free price and availability service for everyone wishing to track down elusive titles or wishing to get a quote and delivery time for any book in print.

What happens if I can’t find a title on your website?

We only list a number of recently published and/or popular titles on our website so you can email or call us with information about the title you are looking for and we will let you know if we have it in stock. If we don’t have it in stock we can provide you with a obligation free price and availability report and order it in for you at no additional cost.

How many books do you stock/do you have a large range?

At any given time we hold small quantities of the most popular educational titles. So for bulk orders we do need to order in the books from the relevant publishers.

Do you just stock educational books?

As well as textbooks, work books and study guides we also stock general interest titles, adult and teenage fiction. On request we can source any title in print at no extra cost.

Do you have a showroom?

Yes. We are based in Albany at 45B William Pickering Drive. We are open to the public 6 days a week Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm. We accept Eftpos and Visa/Mastercard.

Do you have a catalogue I could browse?

Abacus represents all major local and international publishers and as such we don’t produce our own product catalogue. Instead we have stocks of publisher’s catalogues covering a broad range of subject areas. We are happy to provide these catalogues to schools and organisations free of charge.

I’m interested in a topic/subject area but unsure of which titles to buy –  what can you suggest?

At Abacus we are happy to make recommendations to schools, organisations and individuals regarding the selection of titles for courses and class sets. As an independently owned book distributor we are ideally placed to give impartial and relevant advice in this area when required.

As a head of department with responsibility for purchasing textbooks/educational titles can I meet with a representative and discuss my requirements?

We are more than happy to come and visit your school or department at a time that suits you to introduce ourselves and discuss your requirements.

I would like to see a range of educational titles first hand before I make a purchasing
decision – can you arrange this?

Absolutely. Quite apart from visiting our showroom, we can arrange for schools to receive a shipment of relevant titles on an inspection basis. Publisher warehouse visits can also be arranged for teachers and librarians who wish to evaluate a range of titles on required topics.

Can you source books for school libraries?

Yes we do. As well as school textbooks we source educational, general interest, fictional and non-fictional titles for school libraries. If your school is in the Auckland region we can arrange for our library consultant to bring you a selection of titles to view. Alternatively you can view a selection of recently published titles on our website. Nationwide, we can also arrange to send you a selection on an inspection basis.

To streamline costs our school has decided to choose one supplier for all our book requirements – can you help in this area?

We are always interested in discussing the many benefits of such an arrangement. Briefly, in addition to departmental orders we can also offer to quote for the requirements of all departmental orders within a school. This can lead to considerable cost and administrative efficiencies.

Policies

What are your trading hours?

Our showroom in Albany is open 6 days a week Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday 9:00am to 1:00pm. We also take orders and enquiries by email, fax or via our website at any time.

Can anyone order from you?

Yes, we accept orders from educational institutions, professionals, businesses and the public alike.

How do we go about ordering from you?

We accept orders by phone, fax, email and through our website. All our orders are acknowledged and processed immediately and, if required, we will inform you of approximate delivery times.

Are your prices wholesale?

All our prices are quoted in New Zealand dollars at the prevailing recommended retail price unless stated otherwise. If you have an ongoing discount structure with us it applies to these prices.

Do you offer discounts?

At Abacus we offer very competitive discount structures for schools, organizations and large orders in general.

Do you offer sale or return?

For book fairs and visiting author events we can offer sale or return facilities but only by prior arrangement.

What are your billing terms

We can invoice schools and organisations to their own specific requirements. Personal customers, or businesses and smaller institutions who do not hold a credit account with Abacus, may arrange payment by cheque, or credit card by supplying details via fax or phone.

Do you deliver anywhere in New Zealand?

Yes we do. If the freight cost is going to exceed $10.00, you will be advised before charging and shipping.

When will the books be delivered?

For titles in stock in New Zealand you can expect delivery within 3-7 days. Titles sourced from Australia may take up to 2 weeks. Although we endeavour to deliver titles not in stock in New Zealand or Australia within a 4-6 week period, sometimes it does take longer and we will inform you of delays.

How much do you charge for freight?

To cover delivery costs we add a minimum freight charge of $3.00, depending on the size of the order, and the delivery location in New Zealand. If the freight cost is going to exceed $10.00, you will be advised before charging and shipping. Orders of over $1000 nett invoice value are freight free. International orders are subject to actual freight charges depending on the destination and method requested. We always research to establish the most economical method.

What if my book arrives damaged?

Upon delivery any claims for shortages, damaged or misbound books should be made within 7 days of receipt whereupon replacements will be arranged free of charge.  Only misbound books will be accepted for replacement once books have been covered, stamped with school identification, or marked in any way.