Ithaca's cooperatively-owned independent bookstore since 2011
215 N Cayuga Street Dewitt Mall · Ithaca, NY · 607-273-8246
Ithaca's cooperatively-owned independent bookstore since 2011
215 N Cayuga Street Dewitt Mall · Ithaca, NY · 607-273-8246
Like so many things, that depends! Typically it takes us 1–3 business days to process online orders, depending on the volume of orders we're receiving at that time (particularly busy times, like the winter holidays, might cause additional delays). Orders placed over the weekend are usually processed the following Tuesday or Wednesday. If we have your book in stock, it will be available as soon as the order is processed. If the book is available only via our distributor (Ingram), it will take on average another 7-10 days to arrive in the store. If you've chosen to have your books shipped to you, they will usually ship directly from the warehouse. Backordered items, some pre-orders, and certain larger orders will have to be shipped from the store.
If the book is indeed available in the store, you can always give us a call after placing your order, and we'll do our very best to expedite our processing.
We'll email you! If your order contains multiple books, we'll email you as they become available.
Just step inside the front door; your book(s) will be waiting for you on the shelf to your left. Books are arranged alphabetically by customer surname. You can pick up anytime during our regular business hours.
We want to accommodate everyone! If concern for your safety prevents you from entering the store, we will be more than happy to coordinate a curbside pick up. Just include a note in your order or give us a call.
We will hold your orders for up to six months, after which point we will put them back on the shelf or return them to our distributor. You will receive two courtesy emails reminding you of your order before we get rid of it.
The availability status of any book is given underneath the "Add to Cart" button. "On Our Shelves Now" means we have the book in stock, and "Available via Warehouse" means we will have to special order the book from our distributor (Ingram). "Backordered" means the title is currently out of stock our distributor's two warehouses—call us for more information.
Unfortunately, our online inventory can only be updated 2–3 times a week. This sometimes causes discrepancies in stocking information! Also, we fulfill online orders in the order that they're placed, so it's always possible another customer might snag a book you had your eyes on. If you were hoping to get your book ASAP, call or email us for more information.
Unfortunately, our online ordering system doesn't currently recognize gift cards. You will need to provide a valid credit card number for the order to go through. However, if you include your gift card number in a note with the order, we can apply the gift card to the order on our end, and your credit will not ultimately be charged (or, if there is a remaining balance on the order, your card will be charged the balance).
If that seems like too much of a headache, you can always place the order over the phone. We will then be able to process the gift card directly.
We at Buffalo Street Books are committed to inclusivity and racial justice, and this commitment extends to our buying practices. We will not honor orders for any book that directly contradicts our values and mission. Our distributor, Ingram, carries countless titles, some of which we would never consider carrying in store. Just because a book is available from Ingram and appears in a search, does not mean we will order it for you. If you have specific concerns about a book on our website, please let us know.