At The Bound Society, we want you to love your subscription. This policy explains our cancellation process, refund eligibility, and how we handle various situations.

1. Cancellation Policy

How to Cancel

You may cancel your subscription at any time through:

• Your account dashboard on our website
• Emailing support@theboundsociety.co with “Cancel Subscription” in the subject line

When Cancellation Takes Effect

• Before the 25th of the month: Cancellation takes effect immediately. You will not be charged for the next month and will not receive the next box.
• After the 25th of the month: You will receive one final box (already being prepared), and cancellation takes effect after that shipment.

What Happens After Cancellation

• You will retain access to member benefits (Discord, author content) until the end of your paid period
• No further charges will be processed
• Your account will remain active for 60 days in case you change your mind
• After 60 days, you may lose your house assignment and founder member status

2. Pause Your Subscription

Not ready to cancel but need a break? You can pause your subscription for up to 1 month:

• No charges during pause period
• Retain your Discord access and house assignment
• Automatically resumes after pause period
• Must be requested before the 25th of the month
• Limited to one pause per 6-month period

How to pause: Email support@theboundsociety.co with “Pause Subscription” in the subject line.

3. Refund Policy

Eligible for Refund Consideration

Refund requests will be considered in the following circumstances:

• Unopened box returned within 7 days: Box must be completely unopened, in original condition, and returned within 7 days of delivery (you pay return shipping)
• Defective or damaged items: Items arrived damaged, defective, or unusable (photo evidence required within 7 days of delivery)
• Wrong items shipped: You received completely incorrect items (not the wrong book preference, but objectively wrong items)
• Never received: Box was marked delivered but never arrived (after carrier investigation)
• Billing error: You were charged incorrectly or charged after cancellation

NOT Eligible for Refund

Refunds will not be issued for:

• Boxes that have been opened (even if you didn’t like the book)
• Subjective dissatisfaction with book selection or reading preferences
• “Changed my mind” after receiving or opening the box
• Not reading or using the items
• Subscriptions older than 60 days from delivery date
• Missing items not reported within 7 days of delivery
• Boxes shipped to incorrect addresses due to customer error
• Boxes refused at delivery or returned by carrier as undeliverable

Partial Refunds and Credits

At our discretion, we may offer partial refunds or account credits for:

• Missing collectible items (if book was already opened)
• Minor packaging damage (with book/items intact)
• Significant shipping delays caused by our error

Account credits never expire and can be applied to future subscription payments but are non-transferable and non-refundable.

4. Return Process for Unopened Boxes

If you wish to return an unopened box:

1. Contact us at support@theboundsociety.co within 7 days of delivery
2. Provide your order number and reason for return
3. Wait for return authorization (do not ship without authorization)
4. Return the unopened box at your expense within 14 days of receiving authorization
5. Refund (minus original shipping costs) will be processed within 7-10 business days of receiving the return

5. Damaged or Defective Items

Items Arrived Damaged

If your box or items arrive damaged:

• Take clear photos of damaged packaging and items immediately
• Contact us within 7 days of delivery at support@theboundsociety.co
• Include your order number and photos in your email
• We will review and determine appropriate resolution (replacement or refund)

Defective Items

If items are defective or unusable:

• Report within 7 days of delivery
• Provide photos showing the defect
• We will send replacement items or issue partial credit

6. Lost or Undelivered Shipments

Box Marked Delivered But Not Received

If tracking shows delivered but you didn’t receive your box:

• Check with neighbors, building management, or alternate delivery locations
• Wait 48 hours (sometimes marked delivered early by carriers)
• Contact us within 7 days with your order number
• We will file a claim with the carrier and investigate
• Resolution (replacement or refund) will be determined after carrier investigation completes

Please note: We cannot be responsible for stolen packages after confirmed delivery by the carrier. We recommend using secure delivery locations or requiring signature confirmation if theft is a concern in your area.

Missing Items from Box

If items are missing from your box:

• Report within 7 days of delivery
• Provide order number and list of missing items
• We will send missing items at no charge (subject to verification)

7. Address Changes and Shipping Errors

You must update your shipping address by the 25th of each month to ensure proper delivery.

If boxes are shipped to an incorrect address due to your error:

• We cannot redirect shipments once they’re in transit
• We cannot issue refunds for boxes delivered to outdated addresses you provided
• You are responsible for retrieving packages from your old address
• Replacement boxes will not be provided for customer address errors

If we ship to an incorrect address due to our error, we will send a replacement box at no charge.

8. Billing Disputes

If you believe you were charged incorrectly:

• Contact us immediately at support@theboundsociety.co
• Provide your order number and detailed explanation
• We’ll investigate and respond within 3-5 business days
• Verified billing errors will be refunded immediately

Please contact us directly before disputing charges with your bank. Chargebacks may result in immediate account suspension and loss of member benefits.

9. No Exchanges or Book Swaps

We do not offer book exchanges, book swaps, or alternative selections.

Why? The Bound Society is a curated discovery experience where all members receive the same book each month. The element of surprise and shared reading experience is fundamental to our service.

Before subscribing, we encourage you to:

• Take our house sorting quiz to ensure good curation fit
• Review our featured authors and past selections (when available)
• Understand that you may receive books outside your typical preferences
• Consider whether discovery-based curation aligns with your reading goals

10. Founder Member Status

Special Note for Founding Members (First 225 subscribers):

• Founder benefits are tied to continuous active membership
• Canceling your subscription may result in permanent loss of founder status
• Pausing your subscription preserves founder status (subject to limitations)
• Founder status cannot be transferred or reinstated after cancellation
• This policy is subject to our sole discretion

11. Refund Processing Time

Approved refunds are processed as follows:

• Credit card: 5-10 business days
• PayPal: 3-5 business days
• Other payment methods: 7-14 business days

The time for the refund to appear in your account depends on your financial institution’s processing times.

12. Extenuating Circumstances

We understand that unexpected situations arise. If you’re experiencing financial hardship, medical emergencies, or other extraordinary circumstances, please contact us at support@theboundsociety.co.

While we cannot guarantee accommodation, we will review your situation on a case-by-case basis and work with you when possible. Please provide relevant documentation to support your request.

13. Fraudulent Activity

We take fraud seriously. The following may result in immediate account termination without refund:

• Claiming items weren’t delivered when tracking shows delivery
• Claiming items as damaged/defective that were not
• Multiple refund requests showing a pattern of abuse
• Opening boxes, using items, then claiming unopened returns
• Filing chargebacks for valid charges

Accounts terminated for fraud may be permanently banned from future subscriptions.

14. Contact Us

For any questions about cancellations, refunds, or to submit a request:

15. Policy Changes

We reserve the right to modify this Refund Policy at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Material changes will be communicated via email to active subscribers.

Continued subscription after policy changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

16. Final Note

This policy is designed to be fair to both our members and our small business. We’ve invested significant time, resources, and heart into curating each month’s selection. We appreciate your understanding and support as we build The Bound Society together.