Frequently Asked Questions

DO YOU SELL NEW BOOKS?

We do sell some new books in-store but we are predominantly a used bookstore. Our new books are not normally new releases, but in areas where we need a wider range, such as in philosophy, classics, and some New Zealand non-fiction.

 

ARE YOU OPEN PUBLIC HOLIDAYS?

We are open every day of the year, except Christmas Day and Good Friday. On public holidays our normal opening hours are 10:00 to 4:00, except on ANZAC Day when we're not allowed to open until 1pm. Then we're open 1:00-4:00.

 

DO YOU HAVE A DATABASE OF EVERYTHING IN STOCK?

No. We get in hundreds of books a week. Sometimes even over a thousand. It would be unfeasible to catalogue all of them and keep our prices as low as we do. You are, however, able to contact us about any book you are looking for and we can see if it is in our collection.

 

DO YOU BUY SECOND HAND BOOKS?

We do not currently pay cash for second hand books. This is for multiple reasons but includes security, cash flow, and the fact we get enough books in either as donations or for store credit. 


​We do offer store credit. Every book and situation is a little different, so we cannot tell you ahead of time exactly what we will accept or how much we will offer. Multiple things can influence this decision, such as industry trends, market values, what we currently have in stock, and the condition the books come in.

There are some types of books we will not accept, such as Readers Digest, former library books, encyclopedias, magazines, damaged books, free books (like Gideon Bibles or books given out by reading programs in schools), and we are very selective in what we take in terms of cooking, gardening, sport and health books.

Store credit can be used immediately or kept on file for up to two years after last use. With disruptions around Covid-19, we are keeping all credit files current as we understand not everyone is able to travel as much as they used to.

Please see our Terms and Conditions page for more.

 

DOES STORE CREDIT EXPIRE?

For accounting purposes we write-off store credit after it has been left unused for two years. This has been paused while Covid-19 is having a significant disruption to people's lives and not everyone is travelling as much as they used to. We also reserve the right, at our discretion, to reinstate old files in special circumstances. For full details, see our Terms and Conditions.

 

CAN I ORDER BOOKS USING STORE CREDIT?

Store credit can be used on items we have in-store. As we are predominantly a used book retailer, we don't have relationships with most publishers or suppliers to get new stock in. 

 

CAN I BUY GIFT CARDS USING STORE CREDIT?

Sure. If you want to give your store credit to someone, we can turn it into a gift card. This would make a good Christmas or birthday gift.

 

DO YOU OFFER LAYBY?

No. We do not offer a layby service. We can however hold a book without deposit down for two weeks with your name on it. After two weeks, it is returned to the shelves.

 

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR TOKOROA STORE?

It is still there! Only it is down the road from where it was, now at 13 Bridge Street. Due to health related reasons, it is on limited hours and has sold its stake in Atlantis Books (Rotorua). It still trades as Atlantis Books Tokoroa, but will begin transitioning to new branding when time and health permit.

 

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR WHAKATANE STORE?

There was an Atlantis Books branded store in Whakatane from 2014 to 2018. Personal circumstances significantly changed prior to opening, and this made it hard to run as a viable business.