Website and Online Store Terms & Conditions

Last updated: 8 Aug 2026

These terms apply to:

1. your use of the Epic Tales website at .epictales.co.uk and its associated pages; and
2. purchases of physical products made through the Epic Tales online catalogue.

Please read these terms before using the website or placing an order.

By using the website, you agree to the provisions concerning website use. By placing an order, you agree to the provisions governing online purchases.

Our separate Delivery & Returns Policy provides additional practical information about delivery, cancellations, returns, and refunds. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect and use personal information. Those policies should be read alongside these terms.

If there is any conflict between these terms and the Delivery & Returns Policy concerning an order, these terms will take priority. Nothing in any Epic Tales policy limits rights that cannot legally be limited.

The website and online store are operated by:

Epic Storytelling Ltd, trading as Epic Tales
Registered office: 29 Watnall Road, Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, NG15 7LD
Company number: 11867069
VAT registration number: 516 5886 60

Email: stories@epictales.co.uk

Contact form: epictales.co.uk/contact

Epic Storytelling Ltd is referred to in these terms as “Epic Tales”, “we”, “us”, or “our”.

Please do not send returned products to our registered office unless we have specifically instructed you to do so. The appropriate returns address will be supplied after you contact us.

In these terms:

• a Consumer is an individual buying mainly for personal purposes rather than for their trade, business, craft, or profession;
• a Business Customer is any customer who is not a Consumer; and
• Products means the physical products offered through our online catalogue, including printed books, card games, and any other tangible products that we may add.

Schools, libraries, bookshops, companies, charities, public bodies, and other organisations will normally be Business Customers.

Where an individual places an order on behalf of an organisation, that person confirms that they have authority to place the order and bind the organisation to these terms.

Some provisions apply only to Consumers or only to Business Customers. We identify these where relevant.

Anyone who discovers or is given access to the online catalogue may place an order, provided that:

• the delivery address is within an area to which we currently deliver;
• the customer is legally able to enter into a contract;
• the order is placed or authorised by somebody aged 18 or over; and
• the customer complies with these terms and any applicable promotional conditions.

People under 18 may browse the website, but an order must be placed or authorised by an adult.

We may refuse, suspend, or cancel an order where reasonably necessary, including where we suspect fraud, unlawful activity, coupon misuse, or an attempt to circumvent an order limit.

Our WooCommerce store sells physical Products only.

We do not currently sell digital downloads, streamed content, event tickets, subscriptions, or paid professional services through the store.

Pre-orders are not accepted through our own online catalogue. Where we promote a forthcoming title before publication, customers will normally be directed to an external bookseller. Any purchase from that bookseller will be governed by the bookseller’s own terms.

Complimentary author visits and similar activities are addressed separately in section 19.

We take reasonable care to describe Products accurately.

Images are provided for illustration. Colours and appearance may vary slightly because of screen settings, photography, and production methods.

Minor differences may occur between editions or production runs. We may make reasonable changes to a Product’s cover, paper, pagination, dimensions, packaging, components, or other production details where the Product supplied remains materially consistent with its description.

Any age recommendation, reading level, or suitability statement is general guidance rather than a guarantee that a Product will be appropriate for every individual child or reader.

Nothing in this section affects a Consumer’s right to receive Products that are as described, of satisfactory quality, and fit for any purpose made known to us and accepted by us.

Prices are displayed in pounds sterling.

Unless clearly stated otherwise, displayed prices include applicable VAT.

Delivery charges are additional unless a promotion or coupon provides otherwise. The applicable delivery charge will be shown before the order is placed.

We may change prices at any time, but a change will not affect an order that we have already accepted.

Despite our reasonable efforts, a Product may occasionally be incorrectly priced, described, or listed.

Where an error is obvious and could reasonably have been recognised as an error, we may reject or cancel the affected order. We will contact the customer and provide the option to place a corrected order where appropriate.

Any payment taken for a rejected or cancelled order will be refunded promptly to the original payment method.

Customers should review their basket, delivery details, delivery costs, and order total before submitting an order.

The checkout provides an opportunity to correct information before payment.

By submitting an order, the customer confirms that:

• the order details are complete and accurate;
• they are authorised to use the selected payment method;
• they accept these terms;
• they will pay the displayed order total; and
• where they act for an organisation, they have authority to bind it.

Full payment is taken when the order is submitted, including where one or more Products are temporarily unavailable and must be reordered.

Available payment methods are shown at checkout and may include card payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Link through Stripe.

Payment processing is provided by third-party payment providers. We do not receive or retain full payment card details.

Taking payment does not necessarily mean that we have accepted the order.

After an order is submitted, we will normally send an automatic acknowledgement confirming that we have received it.

The acknowledgement is not acceptance of the order.

A contract is formed when we send confirmation that the order has been accepted and dispatched, unless we expressly confirm acceptance at an earlier time.

We may decline or cancel an order before acceptance where, for example:

• a Product or edition is unavailable or discontinued;
• there is an obvious pricing or description error;
• payment cannot be authorised;
• we reasonably suspect fraud or coupon misuse;
• an order exceeds a reasonable quantity limit;
• the delivery address is outside an area we serve;
• fulfilling the order would be unlawful or impractical; or
• circumstances outside our reasonable control prevent fulfilment.

Where payment has already been taken, we will refund the affected amount.

Products are subject to availability.

We may impose reasonable limits on the number of Products that may be purchased, particularly where stock is limited or a discount is being misused.

If a Product becomes permanently unavailable after an order is placed, we will contact the customer and offer:

• a suitable substitute, but only with the customer’s agreement; or
• cancellation of the affected Product and a full refund.

We will not substitute a Product without the customer’s agreement.

Some in-print Products may remain available to order when our immediate stock has been exhausted.

Any stated delivery period for a backordered Product is an estimate. Full payment will normally be taken when the order is placed.

A customer may cancel a backordered Product for a full refund at any time before dispatch.

If replenishment is likely to take materially longer than the estimate provided, we will contact the customer and offer the choice of:

• continuing to wait;
• accepting an appropriate substitute, where one is available and the customer agrees; or
• cancelling the delayed Product for a full refund.

We currently deliver anywhere in the world. However, any delivery estimate shown on the Product page, basket, checkout, or order communication is an estimate based usually on delivery times within the UK, and is not a guaranteed deadline unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing.

Current UK estimates are:

• usually delivered within one week where available stock is sufficient; and
• delivered in three to four weeks where stock must be reordered.

Delivery to islands, Northern Ireland, and other global locations may take longer.

Where the law requires delivery within 30 days, we will deliver within that period unless a different delivery period has been agreed with the customer.

Where delivery by a particular date is essential, the customer should contact us before ordering. A date is not treated as guaranteed unless we expressly agree to it.

As part of our commitment to environmentally responsible practices, we will normally wait until all Products in an order are ready before dispatching the order in one consignment.

Customers who would prefer available Products to be sent before delayed Products should contact us. We will then confirm whether split delivery is possible and whether any additional delivery charge applies before arranging it. No additional charge will be imposed without the customer’s agreement.

Customers are responsible for supplying a complete and accurate delivery address, and for checking it before placing the order.

Where a parcel is returned, lost, or damaged because the customer supplied incorrect or incomplete details, failed to collect it, or failed to rearrange delivery after a reasonable attempt, we may require payment of the reasonable actual cost of redelivery.

Where the order is cancelled rather than redelivered, we may deduct direct costs that we have reasonably incurred because of the customer’s error or failure, but only to the extent permitted by law.

This does not apply where the delivery problem was caused by us or by a carrier acting on our behalf.

For Consumers, responsibility for loss or damage normally passes when the Consumer, or a person nominated by the Consumer, takes physical possession of the Products. It does not normally pass merely because we have handed the parcel to our carrier.

For Business Customers, risk passes when the Products are delivered to the stated delivery address, or else collected by the Business Customer or its nominated carrier.

Ownership of the Products passes only once we have received full payment.

We are not responsible for delay caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control.

Where such a delay occurs, we will take reasonable steps to minimise its effect and will contact affected customers where appropriate.

If a delay becomes substantial, a Consumer may have the right to end the contract and receive a refund for Products not supplied. Business Customers may cancel affected Products where we agree that fulfilment is no longer reasonably practicable.

Epic Tales may, in some circumstances, offer a complimentary author visit or other complimentary activity to an organisation connected with a qualifying purchase.

The complimentary activity:

• is not a Product purchased through the online store;
• does not form part of the price paid for the Products;
• is subject to eligibility, availability, and separate written arrangements;
• may be withdrawn, rearranged, or cancelled where the qualifying purchase is cancelled, refunded, or reduced below the applicable threshold; and
• does not create a right to receive money instead of the activity.

Nothing in this section prevents a Consumer from exercising a statutory cancellation, return, or refund right. However, exercising that right may mean that the associated order no longer qualifies for a complimentary activity.

Business Customers have no automatic change-of-mind right. Any discretionary return must be agreed with us in advance. We will not ordinarily accept a change-of-mind return after a complimentary activity connected with the order has taken place.

 This section applies only to Consumers.

A Consumer may normally cancel an online order without giving a reason from the date the order is placed until 14 days after receiving the Products.

Where a single order is delivered in separate consignments, the cancellation period normally ends 14 days after the last Product is received.

To cancel, the Consumer must inform us clearly before the cancellation period expires. This may be done:

• through epictales.co.uk/contact;
• by emailing stories@epictales.co.uk; or
• by sending a written notice to our registered office (note: returns must not be sent to this address).

Cancellation does not require our approval. However, the Consumer should contact us before sending anything back so that we can provide the correct returns address and practical instructions. We will not refund the cost of postage nor accept liability for any products returned to our registered office.

Products must be sent back within 14 days after the Consumer tells us that they are cancelling.

The Consumer is responsible for the direct cost of returning change-of-mind Products unless we expressly agree otherwise.

A Consumer may inspect a Product in the same way that they reasonably could in a shop.

The Consumer is responsible for any reduction in value caused by handling beyond what is reasonably necessary to establish the Product’s nature, characteristics, and condition.

Returned Products should therefore be securely packaged and, so far as reasonably possible, returned complete and in resaleable condition.

Any promotional gift, free Product, badge, or other item supplied because of the returned purchase must also be returned where we reasonably request it. If it is not returned, we may deduct its reasonable value from the refund where legally permitted.

Where a Consumer cancels the whole order, we will refund:

• the price paid for the returned Products; and
• the cost of our least expensive standard delivery option, where the Consumer paid an outbound delivery charge.

Any additional amount paid for an enhanced or expedited delivery option does not have to be refunded beyond the cost of standard delivery.

Where only part of an order is cancelled, the original delivery charge will not necessarily be refunded if the same charge would have applied to the Products retained.

We may withhold the refund until:

• we receive the returned Products; or
• the Consumer provides evidence that they have sent them back,

whichever happens first.

Refunds will be made within the period required by law and normally to the payment method originally used.

We may make a lawful deduction for loss in value caused by excessive handling, use, missing components, or damage for which the Consumer is responsible.

We are under a legal duty to supply Products that conform to the contract.

Consumers have statutory rights where Products are faulty, damaged, incorrectly supplied, not as described, or not fit for their intended purpose. Those rights are not restricted by these terms or by our Delivery & Returns Policy.

Depending on the circumstances and the applicable legal right, an appropriate remedy may include:

• replacement;
• repair, where appropriate;
• a price reduction; or
• a full or partial refund.

For books, card games, and similar Products, replacement or refund will usually be the most practical remedy.

We may ask for photographs or other reasonable information to help us assess transit damage, an incorrect Product, or a defect. A request for photographs does not remove the customer’s legal rights, particularly where providing photographs would be impossible or unreasonable.

Customers should report visible damage, an incorrect Product, or an apparently missing parcel as soon as reasonably possible and preferably within 14 days. This requested reporting period is for administrative purposes and does not replace or shorten any statutory right.

Where Products are faulty, damaged in transit, or incorrectly supplied, we will pay or reimburse reasonable return costs where a return is required.

Business Customers do not have a statutory 14-day change-of-mind cancellation right.

Unless we expressly agree otherwise, Business Customer sales are final once accepted, except where Products are faulty, damaged, incorrectly supplied, or not as described.

Any discretionary change-of-mind return:

• must be agreed by us before the Products are sent;
• may be subject to the Products being unused, complete, and resaleable;
• may require the Business Customer to pay all delivery and return costs; and
• is likely to be refused where a complimentary activity connected with the purchase has already taken place.

Business Customers should inspect Products promptly after delivery and notify us promptly of visible shortages, transit damage, or incorrect Products.

Nothing in these terms excludes any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded in a business-to-business contract.

Coupons and promotional offers are subject to these terms and to any additional conditions stated when they are issued.

Unless the applicable promotion states otherwise:

• a coupon may be limited to particular customers, organisations, Products, order values, or dates;
• only one coupon may be used per order;
• a coupon has no cash value;
• no cash, credit, or change will be given for unused coupon value;
• a coupon may not be transferred where it is stated to be personal or organisation-specific;
• a coupon may be withdrawn where it was issued in error;
• we may reject a coupon where we reasonably suspect misuse, duplication, fraud, or an attempt to avoid its conditions; and
• a coupon cannot reduce the amount payable below zero.

Campaign-specific conditions take priority over this section where they clearly state a different rule.

Withdrawal of a promotion will not normally affect an order that we have already accepted.

The website is provided for lawful personal, educational, and business use.

You must not:

• use the website unlawfully or fraudulently;
• attempt to gain unauthorised access to the website, server, database, or another user’s information;
• introduce malware, malicious code, or other harmful material;
• interfere with the website’s operation or security;
• carry out unauthorised scraping, harvesting, or automated extraction;
• impersonate Epic Tales or falsely suggest an association or endorsement;
• use website content in a misleading, defamatory, or infringing manner; or
• use the website to harm, threaten, harass, or violate the rights of another person.

We may restrict access or take other reasonable action where these conditions are breached.

The website and its content contain valuable intellectual property belonging to Epic Tales, its authors, illustrators, contributors, licensors, and other rights holders.

This includes, without limitation:

• stories and other literary works;
• illustrations, photographs, artwork, and designs;
• book covers and page layouts;
• videos, audio, and recordings;
• teaching materials and downloadable resources;
• logos, trade names, and branding;
• website text, graphics, and software; and
• compilations, databases, and published editions.

All rights are reserved.

Except where permitted by law or expressly permitted by us in writing, website content must not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, adapted, republished, distributed, sold, licensed, publicly performed, communicated, or commercially exploited.

Normal technical copying required to view the website in a browser is permitted.

Resources clearly identified as free educational resources may be printed and used by teachers, schools, and educational settings within the licence or instructions accompanying them. They must not be sold, republished, or presented as another person’s work.

Nothing in these terms prevents uses that are expressly permitted by copyright law and cannot lawfully be prohibited.

You may link to publicly available pages on our website provided that the link:

• is lawful and fair;
• does not damage or take unfair advantage of our reputation;
• does not falsely imply sponsorship, endorsement, or association;
• does not frame or reproduce our content as though it belongs to another website; and
• is removed if we reasonably request removal because of unlawful, misleading, or harmful use.

Permission to link does not grant permission to reproduce our content.

The website may allow users to submit material such as reviews, comments, competition entries, receipts, photographs, documents, or other content.

Anyone submitting material confirms that:

• they have the right and authority to submit it;
• the submission is accurate where it states facts;
• it does not infringe copyright, privacy, confidentiality, or other rights;
• any necessary consent has been obtained from identifiable people;
• where a child is identifiable, appropriate authority and consent have been obtained;
• it is not unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, discriminatory, obscene, or misleading; and
• it does not contain malware or harmful code.

The person submitting material retains ownership of their intellectual property. They grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to store, copy, process, and use the material to administer the purpose for which it was submitted.

Where material is submitted for publication on this website, review, publicity, or sharing, the licence also permits us to display, reproduce, and communicate it for that stated purpose. Any additional publicity use requiring separate consent will be handled in accordance with the information given when the material is collected and our Privacy Notice.

We may moderate, refuse, remove, or retain submitted material where reasonably necessary to operate the website, administer a campaign, comply with the law, protect rights, or investigate misuse.

We take reasonable care over information published on the website, but general website content is provided for information and promotion and is not professional, legal, medical, financial, or educational advice.

We may update, suspend, withdraw, or change website content and functionality.

We do not guarantee that the website will always be available, uninterrupted, secure, or free from errors. Temporary unavailability does not affect contracts already formed or statutory customer rights.

The website may contain links to bookshops, retailers, payment providers, video platforms, social networks, and other third-party websites.

We do not control third party websites and are not responsible for their content, security, availability, or privacy practices.

A purchase made from an external retailer is a contract between the customer and that retailer. It is governed by the retailer’s prices, delivery arrangements, returns policy, and terms rather than these terms for our website.

We process personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.

Our Privacy Policy explains, among other things:

• what information we collect;
• why we use it;
• who it may be shared with;
• how long it is retained; and
• the rights available to individuals.

Information about cookies and similar technologies is provided through our cookie notice and consent controls.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for:

• death or personal injury caused by negligence;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
• breach of statutory consumer rights; or
• anything else that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

Where a Consumer suffers loss because we breach these terms, we are responsible for loss that was a foreseeable result of that breach.

Loss is foreseeable where it was obvious that it might happen or where both parties knew when the contract was formed that it might happen.

We are not responsible to Consumers for business losses. Where a Consumer uses a Product or the website mainly for commercial purposes, the Business Customer provisions may apply.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for:

• death or personal injury caused by negligence;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
• breach of title to Products; or
• any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

Subject to those exceptions, we will not be liable to a Business Customer for:

• loss of profit, revenue, sales, or anticipated savings;
• loss of business, contracts, or opportunity;
• loss of goodwill or reputation;
• loss or corruption of data; or
• any indirect or consequential loss.

Our total aggregate liability arising from or connected with a Business Customer’s order will not exceed the total amount paid or payable for that order.

We aim to deal with complaints fairly and promptly.

Complaints should be submitted through the contact form at epictales.co.uk/contact

Customers may also email stories@epictales.co.uk

We aim to acknowledge a complaint within five working days and to provide a substantive response within 14 working days where reasonably possible. More complex matters may take longer, but we will keep the customer informed.

We are not currently committed to using a particular alternative dispute resolution provider. Where a complaint cannot be resolved directly, we will consider any reasonable proposal for mediation or another appropriate form of resolution.

Consumers may also seek independent advice from Citizens Advice or the equivalent consumer advice service in their part of the world.

We may update these terms to reflect changes in the law, our Products, our website, or our working practices.

Changes will apply to future website use and future orders from the effective date shown.

The terms governing an order are the version in force when that order was placed. A later amendment will not retrospectively change an existing contract unless the customer expressly agrees or the law requires the change.

If we do not immediately enforce a provision of these terms, that does not mean that we have waived it.

If a court or other competent authority finds part of these terms unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.

We may transfer our rights and obligations under an order to another organisation, but only where this does not reduce a Consumer’s rights. A Business Customer may transfer its rights or obligations only with our written agreement.

A person who is not a party to an order has no right to enforce its terms, except where the law provides otherwise.

Nothing in these terms creates a partnership, joint venture, agency, or employment relationship.

These terms and contracts with Epic Tales are governed by the law of England and Wales.

A Consumer living elsewhere in the United Kingdom retains any mandatory protections provided by the law of the place where they live and may bring proceedings in any court entitled to hear their claim.

For Business Customers and/or Consumers based anywhere else in the world, the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.