Purchases

All purchases are either cash or credit. Credit purchases are 30 days from date of invoice, e.g., goods bought on the 20th of the month is due on the 19th of the following month.

Invoice features:

• Date of Invoice
• Invoice Number
• Customer Number. (This is how your bookshop is identified.)
• Order Number (Orders are numbered consecutively each day.)
• Quantity Ordered
• Quantity Supplied
• Description of Goods - FSIS Pupils Book 3
• Published Price (suggested retail price or recommended retail price)
• Discount (All booksellers are eligible for a 30% discount on quantities exceeding 5 or more copies. Below 5 copies, a 20% discount is given. Other institutions such as schools, libraries, private and public sector companies, groups and churches may be eligible for a 20% discount. Conditions apply.)
• Extended Price. (This quantity represents x PP Less Discount.)
• Total at the bottom of the invoice
• Name, Signature and Date. (Please ensure that the Dispatcher signs your invoice.)
  

Credit Policies

Carlong has a Credit Committee, which meets to ascertain how much credit is given to a customer.

Committee members:

Carl Carby — Executive Chairman
Lorna Allen — Sales & Distribution Manager
Erpha Lewinson — Customer Service Supervisor
Jennifer Beckford — Sales & Distribution Supervisor

The committee meets the first week of May each year to set the credit limits for the season (July - October) and also the slow season, (November - June of the following year). A credit letter is sent to all credit customers informing them of their new limits for the upcoming season.

Variables used to set the limits:

• Largest invoice per month
  
• Highest balance per month
  
• Days taken to settle invoice(s)
  
• Number of returned cheques
  
• Total sales for the prior year
  
• Expansion - this information is sent in by the customer, i.e. additional store or expansion of original store.
  

Credit Limits:

A credit letter is sent to all credit customers informing them of their new limits for the upcoming season.

Variables used to set the limits:

• Largest invoice per month
• Highest balance per month
• Days to pay
• Number of returned cheques
• Total sales for the prior year
• Expansion — This information is sent in by the customer. Additional store or expansion of original store.
  

New Customers:

New customers are required to trade for two years before they are eligible for credit. Application for credit must be in writing. Conditions Apply. Method of payment - Manager's cheque or Cash.

New customers are required to fill out a Bookshop Data Form supplied by Carlong, giving information on they type of goods sold in store, type of management present at store, (full-time, part-time/absentee), credit references, etc.

Payment Method

Manager's Cheque or Cash accepted.

Bookshop Data Form

A Bookshop Data Form, supplied by Carlong, is required to be filled out, giving information on:

• type of goods sold in store
• type of management/ownership (full-time, part-time, absentee)
• credit references
• other information required.
  

Order Processing

Orders may be submitted by:

• Telephone - (876) 923-6505-7
• Fax - (876) 923-7003
• E-mail - sales.distrib@carlongpublishers.com.

When orders are submitted:

• An assessment is done to determine whether the order should be supplied or not.
• Your balance is checked to ascertain whether you are within your credit limit or if you have exceeded same.
• Should you exceed your credit limit you are given the chance to make good/rectify the situation, e.g. C/limit is $500,000, current balance $350,000, goods supplied in same month, present order $250,000. You are then asked to either pay difference of $100,000 or trim your order to $150,000.

Orders must be submitted at least a day in advance, in order to reduce turnaround time. We ask for your cooperation.

Deliveries

Check your orders:

In the interest of accuracy, please check your goods against your invoices and ensure that the invoice is signed by both our dispatcher and yourself, prior to leaving the warehouse with the order.

Pre-packed Orders:

Customers may request that their orders be packed and ready for pickup but without the benefit of check-off. This is done at the customer's risk. There may be errors with the supply of goods delivered under those circumstances for which the company will not be held responsible.

Returns Policy

Faults:

Books may be returned for replacement if:

• books are collated incorrectly
• pages are missing
• books are damaged
• orders are incorrect

Under these circumstances the company will be responsible for replacement/returns. Conditions Apply. In the event that we are unable to exchange these books due to stock outage, a credit note will be issued.

Unsold Books:

Books may be returned within three (3) months from the date of invoice. However, approval must be obtained before returning books.

Approval will depend on the following criteria:

• The books must be in saleable condition (book cover and pages should not be damaged in any way).
• All price tags/stickers should be removed or erased completely, without defacing the book.
• A copy of the invoice/delivery note on which the books were originally supplied must be presented, along with the books being returned.
• Both the customer and the Carlong representative must check and agree on the books being returned.

Once all requirements are met, a credit note will be generated within two days.

Stock Lists

We prepare stock lists which detail the list of books printed and stocked by us. Additional copies are available from our sales staff at our Newport West office.

Statements

Statements are printed monthly and sent to each credit customer. It is the customer's responsibility to go through the statements carefully and direct all queries to our Customer Service Supervisor or the Customer Service Representative.

Payments:

Payments must be accompanied by the invoice number pertinent to the payment. When paying, we ask that you pay by invoice, quoting the invoice number being paid. When you pay on account, the oldest invoice is usually paid first. Your statement is broken down as follows:

Sample Copies

Institutions:

A sample copy of each new publication will be sent to schools for review and adoption. All requests for additional sample/inspection copies should be written on the school's, company's or organisation's letterhead. Books for inspection are available from:

The Marketing Department
Carlong Publishers Caribbean Limited
Building 3
17 Ruthven Road
Kingston 10.

A Feedback/Review Form will be sent with each sample/inspection copy. The recipient or assigned person will be required to complete the questionnaire and return it to the Marketing Department. We value your critical response to our material.

A sample copy of each new publication will be sent to each bookseller for the purpose of review and display in their store.

Book News

The Carlong Book News is a specially produced newsletter designed to update our customers on all pertinent Carlong book information — new publications, new editions, out of print titles etc. These are distributed annually along with Credit Letters.