Terms of service

We like to keep things simple, and aren't keen on the legal jargon you'll find on some websites. That's why we've written our terms and conditions in plain English — not Legalese. Your rights are important, and we're keen that you understand them.

Your statutory rights supersede our terms and conditions, which is why we've left some of them out. Those rights protect you regardless of anything in our terms and conditions. In cases where our terms and conditions are different from your statutory rights, it's because we've taken a conscious decision to go above and beyond what your basic rights offer you.

First things first

These terms and conditions apply to all purchases and transactions made through our online shop.

By ordering from our website, you agree to these terms and conditions and confirm that you are purchasing as a private individual, and not a business or other legal entity.

Where we refer to 'we' or 'us', we're referring to Black Cannon Publishing Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales under number 6202670, trading as Adam Croft. Our registered office is Unit 15, Marston Business Park, Lower Hazeldines, Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, England, MK43 0XT.

If you need to contact us regarding these terms and conditions, or anything else related to the shop, please email shop@adamcroft.net.

The process

Some of the information in this section might be a little dry or obvious, but we're told we need to say it anyway. Sorry.

When you place an order through this website, you need to submit payment with it or your order will not be processed. We don't offer credit terms. If payment is unsuccessful, your order will not be accepted, processed or dispatched, and we won't have any obligations towards you.

All prices are inclusive of any taxes and charges, with the exception of postage costs, which are clearly displayed at the checkout prior to submission and payment. By completing the checkout and submitting payment, you agree to the total price stated at checkout.

Your personal information

When you buy from us, you'll need to provide some personal information. Here's what we ask for, why it's needed, and how it's used and stored:

Your name and address
This is required so we know where to send your order. This is stored on our shop server so we can easily match your order against previous ones you've made, and easily look up your order if you have any questions or queries in the future. Please make sure you enter your address correctly. The address you enter is automatically ported across to Royal Mail and is what will appear on your postage label. It's your responsibility to ensure the address you enter is correct, and we can't be held liable if you enter it incorrectly.

Your email address
This is required for a few reasons. Firstly, it means we can email you an order confirmation receipt. It also allows the shop system to send you an email once your order has been dispatched, so you know it's on the way. This is stored on our shop server and our email marketing provider, so we can let you know when new books are out or when we're running a special offer. On average, that's less than once a month, so you certainly won't be bombarded with emails.

Your phone number
Sometimes, we might need to call you about your order. This is rare, but might be necessary if there are stock issues or if we have a question or query about a personalised dedication you've asked for. As a rule, we try to make contact by email first, so we can avoid bothering you with a phone call. We'll only call if your email address bounces, if we've tried emailing you but not had a response yet, or if you've chosen an urgent postage option (in this case, we know you need the books quickly and phoning is often quicker!). Your phone number is never shared or used for marketing purposes.

We take security very seriously, and have a strong ethic when it comes to your personal information. If we don't need it, we won't ask for it, and we'll certainly never sell your data or share it unnecessarily. In case that last word worries you, it needn't. We can only think of two instances where your data might be shared outside our company:

Royal Mail synchronisation

Our online shop automatically synchronises with our Royal Mail business account. This is how your postage costs are automatically calculated. Each day, we hit a button and the postage labels for that day's orders are automatically generated and printed. This is an automated and secure process provided by Royal Mail, and takes place entirely behind SSL security.

Our email marketing provider

As mentioned above, your email address is stored so we can let you know when new books are out or when we're running a special offer. Don't worry — you won't be bombarded with emails. If you don't want to receive these emails, you can click the Unsubscribe link at the bottom. Unsubscribing from these emails will stop you receiving special offers and promotions, but won't stop you receiving transactional emails (order confirmations, dispatch notifications, and so on), because these are necessary and allow us to fulfil our obligations to you. You can read more about this in our email and GDPR policy.

For your added peace of mind, we are fully registered with the Information Commissioner's Office, giving you added protection under The Data Protection (Charges and Information) Regulations 2018. Our ICO registration number is ZB185245.

Payment information

At the time of writing, we offer three types of payment method: Credit/debit card, PayPal and Apple Pay/Google Pay. Whichever method you choose, none of your payment information is processed or stored on our website, servers or computers.

Credit/debit card payments
If you choose the credit/debit card option, your payment will be handled by Stripe, who are one of the world's largest online payment providers. Your card details are not shared with us, and we have no facility or ability to view or access them. Stripe handle the payment entirely, and pass us the money afterwards.

If you select the 'Save payment information to my account for future purchases' option at checkout, this information is stored with Stripe, and not with us. Your security is of paramount importance to us.

PayPal
PayPal is one of the oldest and largest online payment providers in the world. If you choose the PayPal option, you can pay using your PayPal balance, or your linked bank account or card. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also use this option to pay by credit or debit card. All PayPal payments take place completely off-site. If you choose this option, our website will take you to PayPal, which is where you'll complete your payment. Once it's done, PayPal will send you back to our website and will let us know your payment has been successful, so we can dispatch your order.

Apple Pay/Google Pay

These options might be available if you're using a compatible device. They allow you to complete purchases with a single touch, using card and payment details you've stored on your device. None of your payment details are passed to us, and we have no facility to view or access them.

If you choose to use Apple Pay or Google Pay, please make sure the address it displays is correct. In some instances, the address in your Apple Pay or Google Pay account can overwrite the address you've entered at the checkout. If that happens, the only address we'll see is the one given to us by Apple Pay or Google Pay. It's your responsibility to ensure the address on your order is correct, and we can't be held liable if we're given an incorrect address.

Personalised dedications

At the checkout, you'll be offered the chance to opt for a personalised dedication. This is a free extra, and won't affect the price of your order or the speed of dispatch.

All personalised dedications are hand-written by Adam. Because of this, we ask you to be mindful of the wording you choose. For example, 'To my darling husband Roger on our anniversary' wouldn't be suitable, because Adam isn't married to Roger. We also ask you to avoid dedications that express opinions, because they're being written by Adam.

If the dedication you choose isn't suitable for any reason, we'll get in contact and suggest an amendment or alternative. You're more than welcome to choose another dedication of your own, too. If we don't get a response from contacting you, we'll keep trying, but there comes a point when we have to move on. At this point, we'll either go with our amended dedication, send the order without a dedication, or cancel your order for a full refund.

We reserve the right to make amendments to the wording of dedications without consultation if we think it's necessary.