Refund Policy

Effective Date: July 1st, 2025

At Paper Trails Publishing, our mission is to deliver quality books and publishing services that inspire, uplift, and reflect the values of creativity and imagination. Your satisfaction matters to us, and we take every order and service engagement seriously. This policy explains our approach to refunds across physical books, digital products, and publishing services—while also protecting our business from misuse.

Please Note: This refund policy applies only to purchases made directly through our official website (www.PaperTrailsPublishing.com).

For purchases made through third-party retailers or distributors (e.g., Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org), please refer to their respective return and refund policies.

1. Physical Book Orders

We take pride in the quality of our books and packaging. If your order arrives damaged, defective, or incorrect:

• Returns Accepted For: Damaged, misprinted, or incorrect items
• Notification Window: Must be reported within 7 days of delivery
• Return Eligibility: Item must be unused and in original condition
• Resolution Options: Replacement, store credit, or refund

Please contact us at customerservice@papertrailspublishing.com with your order number and a clear photo of the issue to begin the return process.

Not Eligible for Refunds:

• Buyer’s remorse or change of mind
• Orders placed with incorrect shipping information
• Delays caused by mail carriers outside of our control

2. Digital Products (eBooks & Downloads)

Due to the immediate nature of access:

• All digital product sales are final
• No refunds will be issued after download or delivery
• If you experience trouble accessing your digital file, we will assist promptly to resolve the issue

Digital Product Integrity & Abuse Prevention

We monitor download behavior to prevent unauthorized sharing or abuse. Excessive or repeated download attempts may result in restricted access. Refund requests submitted after full access to content may be denied.

3. Publishing Services (for Authors)

Our publishing services are customized, creative, and labor-intensive. Because of this:

• Before Project Start: 100% refund
• After Initial Consultation (up to 25% complete): 75% refund
• During Editing/Design/Setup Phases (25–75% complete): 25–50% refund
• After Substantial Completion (over 75%): No refund available

Administrative fees, third-party vendor costs, and time-based labor are non-refundable once incurred. Documentation of project status is available upon request.

4. Preorders

Preorders may be canceled for a full refund only before the item has shipped. Once the order is fulfilled and tracking is issued, it will be treated as a standard physical book order.

5. Chargebacks & Unauthorized Disputes

Initiating a chargeback or payment dispute without first contacting us to resolve the issue is a violation of our policy. We reserve the right to:

• Dispute false claims with payment providers
• Ban customer accounts from future purchases
• Seek reimbursement for fees and losses incurred

If you believe an error occurred, please email us directly—we’re here to help resolve it quickly and professionally.

6. Refund Fraud & Abuse

To protect our business, we monitor for misuse. We may deny refund requests if:

• A customer exhibits a pattern of excessive or baseless refund requests
• Claims are made without adequate documentation (e.g., photo evidence for damaged items)
• Digital products are accessed before a refund is requested
• Publishing services are substantially completed and delivered
• Customer engages in chargeback abuse or threats

Accounts may be flagged and purchasing privileges revoked for policy violations.

7. Non-Delivery of Physical Products

If you believe your order has not arrived:

• Notify us within 14 days of shipment confirmation
• We will confirm the tracking status and investigate with the carrier
• If tracking shows delivery, no refund will be issued unless substantial proof of non-receipt is provided (e.g., theft report or affidavit)

8. Limitation of Liability

Paper Trails Publishing is not liable for:

• Postal delays or errors beyond our control
• Minor print variations due to standard production tolerances
• Color discrepancies between screen previews and printed materials
• Lost opportunities, emotional distress, or indirect damages tied to publishing timelines

We are committed to doing our part with care and professionalism, but cannot guarantee outcomes beyond our control.

9. How to Request a Refund

To request a return or refund, please email customerservice@papertrailspublishing.com with the following:

• Full name and order number
• Description of the issue
• Clear photo(s), if applicable
• Preferred resolution (refund, replacement, or store credit)

Our team will respond within 3–5 business days.

10. Contact Us

We’re here to help and stand behind the quality of our work.

Email: customerservice@papertrailspublishing.com

Powered By Creativity, Fueled By Imagination

— The Paper Trails Publishing Team