Terms & Policies

YOUR DEPOSIT

When you place an order, I'll ask for a deposit that covers the full cost of your materials. This deposit is non-refundable because I order your materials right away (usually within 1-2 days) so I can start your project as soon as possible. You'll pay the remaining balance when your book is finished and ready to ship.

Payment methods: Online payments, check, or cash by mail
When orders ship: Only after full payment is received

SPECIAL MATERIALS

Sometimes I need to order materials specifically for your project. When this happens, there's a $15 sourcing fee to cover the time and effort to find and order these materials.

For really specialized materials that come in large quantities (like unique leathers or custom plates), you'll pay for the full minimum order. Since you're paying for it all anyway, you can have any leftover materials if you want them!

LATE PAYMENTS

If you don't pay the final balance within 7 days of me letting you know your book is ready, I'll charge $5 per day for storage. If 30 days go by without payment, I'll consider the order abandoned and keep the materials.

HOW LONG IT TAKES

Most projects take 6-10 weeks from when I receive your deposit and you approve the design. This depends on how busy I am and how complex your project is. I'll give you an estimated completion date when we start, and I'll update you if anything changes.

I order materials quickly, but they usually take about a week to arrive (Montana shipping, you know how it is!). The actual binding work happens when I have studio time available.

CANCELLATIONS

You can cancel for a full refund if you change your mind within 24 hours of paying your deposit, before I've ordered your materials. After that, cancellations fall under the refund policy below since I've already invested in your project.

SHIPPING

I ship everything via USPS with tracking and insurance. You pay for shipping unless we agree otherwise. Once I hand it over to USPS, any shipping delays or damage are between you and them (though I'm happy to help with paperwork if needed).

APPROVING YOUR DESIGN

Before I start cutting materials, you need to approve your design in writing (email is fine). If you don't respond within 7 business days, your project might get delayed while I wait to hear from you.

MAKING CHANGES

Once I've ordered your materials, changes get tricky and expensive:

• Small changes (thread color, minor text edits): $25

• Medium changes (different cover material, layout tweaks): $50-100

• Big changes (complete redesign): Cost of new materials plus 50% of the original price

I'll always tell you the cost before making any changes. Email me at jess@jestercatbinding.co with change requests.

FINAL CHECK

I'll send you photos of your finished book before shipping. If something looks wrong, you have 48 hours to let me know.

CHOOSING MATERIALS

I'll pick appropriate materials unless you request something specific and we agree on it in writing. Sometimes materials aren't available and I might need to substitute something similar - I'll let you know if this happens.

HANDMADE VARIATIONS

Since everything is handmade, your book might have slight variations in color, texture, or appearance compared to digital mockups. These aren't defects - they're part of the handcraft charm! Small imperfections that come with traditional bookbinding techniques are normal.

MY LIFETIME WARRANTY

I stand behind my work with a lifetime warranty that covers:

• Cover fabric tears, rips, or fraying

• Structural problems with the spine or cover

• Pages coming loose

• Broken stitches

• Glue failures

• Other defects (just ask!)

What's NOT covered: Damage from misuse, abuse, or if someone else modifies the book.

If your book is totaled: For books that are beyond repair (water damage, fire, etc.), I can recreate it for $100.

How to get warranty service: Email me with photos and a description. I'll cover return shipping for repairs. As long as I made the book originally, I'll fix it - even if you bought it secondhand!

Full warranty details: jestercatbinding.co/warranty-information

SHIPPING YOUR BOOK TO ME

• You pay shipping both ways and should insure the package

• I recommend USPS Priority Mail with signature confirmation

• Your book needs to be in decent shape, but I can help with some restoration

ASSESSMENT & BASIC RESTORATION

When I receive your book, I'll check what condition it's in and what I can do to help. I offer basic restoration services for books with:

• Loose or detached pages

• Minor tears in text pages

• Separated sections

• Somewhat brittle or fragile paper

What I can't do: I'm a bookbinder, not a conservator. I can't preserve original covers, do chemical treatments, or restore severely damaged materials. Books needing museum-level work should see a professional conservator.

If your book is determined to be too damaged to restore after assessment, I'll send it back and charge a $25 assessment fee for my time evaluating and working on it.

MY RESPONSIBILITY

I'll be careful with your book and try basic restoration if needed, but rebinding requires taking apart the original binding. I will not be responsible for:

• Books that are too fragile even with restoration help

• Shipping damage (that's why you need insurance)

• Hidden damage I find when taking it apart

  • Important: The original covers and binding materials can't be saved or returned once rebinding has started

RETURNS

Since everything is custom-made for you, I can't accept returns. I might consider exchanges case-by-case, but there would likely be extra costs.

WHEN YOU CAN GET MONEY BACK

Full refunds:

• You cancel within 24 hours before I order materials

• I can't complete your project due to circumstances beyond my control

• The rebind had unforeseen damage that renders the project incompletable

  • You will receive a full refund minus a $25 mid-project reassessment fee

Partial refunds (labor only, you don't get material costs back):

• Your package gets lost or damaged in shipping (after filing claims with USPS)

• I've remade your book at least once but it still doesn't meet our agreed specifications

No refunds:

• Your book meets the specifications we agreed on

• You changed your mind or misunderstood something that was clearly explained

• Normal handcraft variations or minor imperfections

• You don't contact me within 7 days about problems

• You damaged the book after receiving it

• You're late paying and owe storage fees

GETTING A REFUND

Email me within 7 days of the problem occurring. If approved, I'll process refunds within 5 business days using your original payment method.

YOUR CONTENT RIGHTS

If you give me text, images, or designs, you're promising you own the rights to them and won't get me in trouble for using them.

MY DESIGN RIGHTS

Custom designs I create remain my intellectual property. You can use your book however you want, but you can't sell copies of my design without permission.

COMMUNICATION

All important stuff (specifications, changes, approvals) needs to be in writing. Email counts, but verbal agreements don't.

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

If there's a problem, let's talk it out like reasonable people before involving lawyers or arbitrators.

My total responsibility for any issues is limited to what you paid me for that specific project. I'm not responsible for things like lost profits if your book is delayed.

UNEXPECTED EVENTS

If something crazy happens (natural disasters, supply shortages, zombie apocalypse), I might need to extend timelines or cancel orders. I'll refund deposits if I can't complete your project due to these circumstances.

LOCATION & LAWS

I'm in Montana, so Montana law applies. If we end up in court, it'll be in Gallatin County, Montana.