We're Still At It!

Despite all the issues with COVID and the worries caused by BREXIT, I'd like to reasure you that we're still at work.  Hopefully those who have ordered from us in the last couple of months continue to have had a good service (though I am aware that there have been some slight delays).

And just to prove it, here's a delivery we received earlier this week.  I've already begun to list this new stock, but be prepared for almost 250 new titles over the next few weeks as well as a restock of some titles that have sold out.

I'm very conscious that this blog is pretty moribund: but our FaceBook page is active, updated several times a week - do check it out.

Books on East Anglia

Given that we're based in the City of Norwich, we've naturally always had a number of books on East Anglia* in stock although that's not one of our specialisations.  Until now there hasn't been a quick way of browsing them.

Well now there is!  Click here to have a look

* For these purposes, East Anglia consists of the Counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

New International Postal Rates - 1 July 2020

As previously advised, increasing in international shipping rates (particularly to the USA) mean that we are having to put up our charges as of 1 Jul 2020.  They will be as follows:-

Europe - £8.50

Zone 1 - £12.50

Zone 2 - £14.00

Zone 3 - £18.00

These prices are based on a 750g parcel sent International Standard (not tracked).  We reserve the right to charge more for heavier parcels or other services.

Waterloo

As today marks the 205th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, I'll give you my annual reminder that you can see our list of books on the Napoleonic Wars here.

Forthcoming Postage Increases for US Customers

The US Government has a stated aim of encouraging its citizens to buy American rather than foreign goods.  One of the ways it has sought to do this was to threaten to withdraw from the Universal Postage Union unless it was allowed to set its own fees for international mail shipped into the US, and to use this to penalise customers who have goods shipped in.

As a result, from 1 July 2020 there will be an increase of more than 100% in the fees the US Postal Service charges for 'last mile' delivery of international mail.

• For example, sending a small parcel of 750g-1kg by International Standard Rate (ie, untracked Air Mail) now costs £12.23.  From 1 July it will cost £17.75.  

We shall accordingly have to increase the shipping charges made to US customers.  It appears that this will not affect International Ecomony (ie, Surface Mail with a delivery aim of 42 days) rates, and we will leave the charge for this service as is.

We will not make the changes to our postal rates until July.  If you are in the US and were thinking about ordering from us, you may wish to do so sooner rather than later.

New Stock - All the Time

Over the last week I've added over two-dozen new titles to our Napoleonic section.  Most (but not all!) of these were from the ever-popular Napoleonic Library series by Frontline Books*. 

If you follow us on Facebook you might** get a notification of new stock when we add it - as stock is added most days, it's worth signing up if you want to know what's new.

Coming up this week: new books on World War II and I continue to plough through a collection on the History of Exploration.

*Back in March 2015 I wrote about a previous incarnation of the Napoleonic Library.

**Only about 15% of those follow us see each post!

Covid-19 Update: Still Open (For Now)

Following the UK Government's announcement of a partial lock-down I've given some thought as to whether to continue trading.  I will,  for the time being.

My rational behind this is that I trade from home and running Diplomatist Books requires very little face-to-face interaction with others: I can minimise or remove that interaction, and therefore continue to operate within the announced restrictions without putting myself or others at risk.  The Government is not yet asking that use of the postal system be minimised.

I shall keep this decision under review as events unfold and keep you up-dated.

Handling Stock

I shall wear gloves and mask when handling stock that is to be posted out to customers.  See my earlier post about the longevity of the virus on different surfaces.

I shall not be buying new stock.

The Post Office

I shall no longer be visiting the Post Office, but instead using parcel drop-off points.  Drop-offs will proably be every other day (subject to need).

As a result of this, I will no longer be offering international customers the option of International Economy Rate (ie, surface mail) as it is currently not possible to buy this on-line.  International parcels will be sent using International Standard Rate.

Receiving Your Parcel

During the current crisis, postal firms and courier firms will likely take longer to deliver your parcel. Please be patient and spare a thought for Post Office and courier firm workers. 

Many of the parcels we ship are too big to put through a letterbox. So that postmen and couriers do not have to greet you face-to-face, you can enter a suggested safe parcel drop-off spot (e.g. “in the porch”, “in the garage”). We will no longer be sending parcels using 'signed for' services.

Keep Well Everyone!