Store Rules

Last updated October 21, 2026

These rules keep Tell A Tail Book Center a place people trust. They're part of our Terms of Service, and they apply to everyone: shoppers, authors, resellers, and us.

For everyone

• Be kind. No harassment, threats, hate, or bullying, in chats, messages, offers, or anywhere else.
• Keep it clean. No sexual content in chats or messages. Adult books are allowed only in the adults-only (18+) section.
• No spam or scams. Don't advertise other businesses in chats, send repeated messages, or ask anyone to pay outside the store.
• Respect privacy. Don't share anyone's personal information, and don't use a buyer's address or email for anything except their order.
• Be honest. Don't pretend to be someone else, post fake reviews, or bid against yourself.
• Don't break the store. No hacking, scraping, automated buying, overloading the site, or getting around fees, limits or reviews.

For authors

• Only list books you wrote, or have the rights to sell, and use covers and trailers you have permission to use.
• Describe your books honestly, including the genre, the right section (adult, kids, or 18+), and content warnings where they'd help a reader decide.
• Signed copies: write the dedication exactly as the buyer asked, and ship within 5 business days with tracking. If you can't, tell the buyer right away and offer a refund. Keep your stock number up to date.
• Live in the store: only open your line when you're really there to chat. Take a break or close the line when you step away. Stick to the chat length you set, and be friendly with every guest.
• Answer questions from buyers within 2 business days.

For resellers

• Only list items you own and have in hand, ready to ship.
• Use photos of the actual copy you're selling: front cover, back cover, and any flaws. Stock photos aren't allowed.
• Grade the condition honestly using the condition guide below, and list flaws in the description: writing, highlighting, library stamps, missing dust jacket, water damage, smells, and so on.
• Say if it's a book club edition, ex-library, a reprint, or a facsimile. "First edition" and "signed" claims must be true. Be ready to back them up.
• Ship within 3 business days with tracking, packed so it arrives in the same condition.
• Offers: when you accept an offer or a buyer accepts your counter-offer, honor that price for 48 hours. Don't raise the price to dodge an accepted offer.
• Mark a book sold or remove it as soon as it sells somewhere else.

Condition guide

Antique and rare books should also note binding, foxing, and any repairs.

Spotlight and blog posts

Spotlight posts go to everyone on our email list, including families, and stay on the store blog. They must be clean enough for anyone to read.

Your views are welcome. We don't turn posts down for the opinions, beliefs, faith or politics in an author's life or books. We judge how a post is written, not what side it's on. The rules below apply the same way to everyone.

• No sexual content of any kind. No pornography, nudity, sexual descriptions or innuendo, and no links to adult websites. This applies even if your book is for adults.
• No bad language. No swearing, crude jokes or vulgar words, even with letters starred out.
• No hate, harassment or attacks on any person or group, and no graphic violence or gore.
• About your book. Every post is about one of your books in the store: the story, why you wrote it, the history or research behind it, or the characters. A little about yourself is fine when it ties back to the book. No campaigning for candidates or ballot measures (writing about your book's history or ideas is fine), and no ads for other businesses, other stores, giveaways that cost money, or "get rich" schemes.
• Be honest. No made-up reviews, awards, sales numbers or endorsements, and no misleading prices or claims.
• Your own words. Only quote others briefly and give credit. Don't share anyone's private information.
• Written with care. Readable sentences, checked for spelling, no ALL CAPS shouting or rows of !!!!, and something a reader would be glad to get. Posts that read as spam, nonsense or a rant may be sent back to fix.
• Links: up to 3, and only to your own website, your books, or this store.

Every post is read by the store owner before it goes out, and the store checks automatically for adult words and too many links. We may decline a post, or take down one that's already published. Breaking these rules can end your Newsletter spotlight (the current month isn't refunded), and serious or repeated problems can close your account.

When we send a post back or take one down, we always tell you why in plain words. You can fix it and send it again, or reply to that email if you think we got it wrong. A different person's opinion of your post is never the reason.

Not allowed in the store

• Pirated, counterfeit, bootleg, or unauthorized copies, including printed copies of e-books.
• Advance reader copies or review copies marked "not for resale."
• Stolen items, including library books that weren't properly withdrawn.
• Anything sexual involving minors, in any form. We report it to the authorities.
• Material that promotes violence, terrorism, or hatred against people for who they are.
• Items that are illegal to sell or ship where you or the buyer are.
• Things that aren't books, comics, magazines, or closely related paper items like maps and prints, unless we approve them.

If someone breaks the rules

Report it through our contact page. Include where it happened (a book, a booth, a chat) and what you saw. We read every report.

Depending on how serious it is, we may give a warning, remove a listing or content, pause a member's line or chats, hide their listings, or suspend or close the account. Illegal activity may be reported to the police. If we take action on your account, you can reply to our email to explain or appeal.