TitleWave Books Frequently Asked Questions

We are developing a new inventory database which will allow us to list our extensive and ever-changing selection of books and other items online, so customers can browse and purchase our titles over the Internet. Until the new system has been finished and tested, our inventory is not listed online.

Can I check my trade credit account balance online?

This is another feature we hope to incorporate into our new system, which is currently in development. For right now, you may check your credit balance in person at any of Title Wave's service counters, or you can call us and speak with someone at the Book Intake Counter.

How many different subject headings do you have?

It can fun to lose yourself in a bookstore, but when you're looking for something in particular, we want to make it easy to find your way around. At Title Wave you will find over 1600 individual subject headings, with each shelf clearly labeled so you can quickly spot the section you need. Click here to see a list of all the individually categorized sections you'll find on our shelves.

Do you ship books?

Customers are welcome to call us for specific titles, and we're happy to ship books anywhere in the world. If you're visiting Anchorage and would like to make your selections at Title Wave in person, we're glad to ship them home for you - just ask a bookseller for details!

What is your price structure for used books and other items?

Nearly all of our used books and other items are priced at LEAST 50% off the publisher's price for the same item, and most of our prices are discounted 60% to 90% off the new price.

What's your return policy?

Books purchased in the store are returnable for in-store credit only (not cash) within 30 days of purchase, accompanied by your receipt. Music CDs and all DVDs are returnable only if they don't play correctly, and must be returned within 2 days of purchase. Please note that "Dollar Disc" bargain CDs and DVDs are sold "as-is" and are not returnable.

I represent a nonprofit organization. How do you handle donation requests?

Title Wave is committed to promoting literacy and reading in our community, and we want to donate our books and gift certificates to groups with the same goals. We support organizations that include:

Children's charities
Groups that promote reading and literacy
Local arts groups
People who would not normally have access to books

We are NOT able to consider donation requests for the following:

Activities or programs not directly related to the above causes
For-profit organizations of any kind
Religious groups or churches, except for very literacy-specific purposes
Sponsorships of teams or individuals (sports, travel, uniforms, study abroad, etc.)
Third-party fundraising or solicitation

Please submit a completed Donation Request Form to us at least 3 weeks in advance of your donation deadline. We will be in touch with your contact person ONLY if we are interested in making a donation. You can download it here and either fax, mail, or drop off the request form at our Northern Lights location.

I'm a teacher or school librarian. Do you offer an educational discount?

At Title Wave Books, our everyday prices are so low that EVERYBODY gets a chance to buy great used books, music and movies at discounts far below prices offered by new bookstore, even AFTER subtracting an educational discount. As a result, our low prices are the same for everybody.

Do you sell gift certificates?

Title Wave offers attractive paper gift certificates in any amount you'd like! They make the perfect gift for birthdays, holidays, graduations, and special occasions for readers and book-lovers of all kinds. Gift certificates are available in the store, or call us - we're happy to mail gift certificates directly to the lucky recipient.

I'm an author. Can I do a reading or signing at Title Wave?

Title Wave has returned to our roots as a used bookstore, and we stock very few titles that are brand-new. As a result, we no longer schedule readings, signings, or other author events.

Do you still carry new books?

Very, very, very few. These are mostly classic titles that we never want to be without, but which do not come in often enough as used books to stock our shelves. Although we often have used copies of recent bestsellers and new releases (and at a 50% discount!) we no longer carry a selection of new books in general subject categories.

I heard you offer hardback bestsellers at just $3.99. Could that be true?

About two years ago, Title Wave Books pioneered the "What a Deal!" bargain bestseller concept and our customers love it! These are popular titles (hardcover and paperback alike) that we see in such large quantities we can buy 'em cheap and sell 'em cheap. We offer hundreds of bargain bestsellers at just $3.99 and we put out stacks of new titles every week!

What are "Dollar Discs"?

Dollar Discs are a lot like our "What a Deal!" bargain bestsellers. They are CDs and DVDs that we're overstocked on, or which may not meet our strict condition standards for our regular inventory. We sell hundreds of full-length albums on CD for an amazing 99¢ each - that's like getting the entire album for the price of just one song as a music download! DVD Dollar Discs start at just $1.99 and unlike those annoying rentals, you can keep these movies forever!

Are you hiring?

	Although our staff turnover is incredibly low, we do have openings from time to time. When we are hiring, the first place we look is our applications file, so if you're interested in a career at Title Wave the best way to get started is to submit a completed employment application, which you can download here and either fax, mail, or drop off at our Northern Lights location.
Remember - this is retail! That means this is not a sit-down job, and weekend availability is a must. Above-average written and communication skills are required (and yes, spelling counts). We offer a competitive starting wage for the book industry. Pay raises are merit and knowledge-based, so hardworking employees are rewarded quickly and well.

Do you still have a location in Downtown Anchorage?

It was a lot of fun spreading our unique atmosphere and selection "around the world" to the many out-of-town visitors who came through Title Wave Books - Downtown over the past few years, but the tourist business wasn't enough to sustain the operation through the lean winter months. As of September 15, 2010 the downtown location has been permanently closed, but the original Northern Lights location is bigger and better than ever!

Can I leave a request for a specific item I'm looking for?

When our new inventory software and web interface is completed, Title Wave will offer a "Wish List" service where you can sign up to be notified whenever a specific title you're seeking enters our inventory. Until then, there are just too many items coming and going for our human brains to possibly match a particular title with a specific customer.

Does my Title Wave trade credit ever expire?

When you bring in books and other items we can use, and you accept Title Wave trade credit, you can save that credit and use it anytime over the next two years. Whenever you spend your credit, our system applies the OLDEST credit first. That means as long as you're adding credit and spending credit on a regular basis, none of your credit should be more than two years old. However, if you leave credit on account for more than two calendar years without spending it, your trade credit will expire and can no longer be redeemed.

I'm moving, or I changed my mind. Can I turn my trade credit back into cash?

We'll happily give you the option of accepting either trade credit or cash on the day you bring your items to our Book Intake Counter. However, once you've selected trade credit and it's been placed on your account, you can no longer "exchange" it for cash. If you have credit on account that you won't be able to spend for whatever reason, you can transfer all or part of that credit to a gift certificate for a friend or family member, or you can donate credit to one of the schools or nonprofit organizations that maintain accounts at Title Wave for their use in purchasing books.

Is Title Wave Books a national chain?

Nope! Our first and only location is right here in Anchorage, although there are other, unrelated stores in several cities around the country which share some variation of our name. Title Wave Books opened in January of 1991 in a small space in a crowded strip mall. We expanded twice, and in 1996 we moved to the former McKay Hardware building on Fireweed Lane. We quickly outgrew that space, which had seemed so enormous just a few years before. In 2002 Title Wave moved to our present Northern Lights Center location with more than 30,000 square feet of used books, movies and CDs, plus the fabulous Marty's New York Bagel Deli right next door!

How come you don't take more of my books when I bring them in?

We'd like nothing better than to accept every single item from every single customer, but the fact is there are just too many great books in the world! Even with our enormous store and incredible turnover, some titles are offered to us faster than we can sell them, and we become overstocked. Sometimes, the copies folks bring in just aren't up to the condition standards we set for the benefit of the customers who will ultimately select the books from our shelves, and we have to say "Sorry, but no thanks."

Whenever we can, our buyers will accept even marginal items at a lower "courtesy price" just to keep you from having to haul unwanted items back home. We also donate tens of thousands of books every year to the Friends of the Library and other nonprofit book-related organizations, helping make sure that almost everything gets to somebody who can use it, even if we can't.

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