Gift cards balances can be checked in-store at the register, or online here.
Yes! Physical and digital gift cards can be purchased here.
Please check your spam or junk folder. You can also confirm if your order was submitted by checking the order history in your account profile, or by emailing us at help@powells.com
We will email you as soon as your order has shipped. You can also view this information by logging into your Powells.com account and viewing your order history to view any available tracking information.
It may be possible to cancel your order, but it depends on how far along it is in the process. You can email us at help@powells.com during business hours and we'll be happy to inspect your order and cancel it if possible.
Powells.com accepts payment by credit card, PayPal, and Powell's Gift Cards.
Powell's accepts American Express, Discover, JCB, Master Card, and Visa. Payment is captured once we have determined your order can be fulfilled. You will not be billed for any items we are not able to fulfill.
PayPal enables any individual or business with an email address to securely, easily, and quickly send and receive payments online. PayPal's service builds on the existing financial infrastructure of bank accounts and credit cards and utilizes the world's most advanced proprietary fraud prevention systems to create a safe, global, real-time payment solution. For more information, visit PayPal.
It’s still here! If you haven't already been contacted about your pre-2025 virtual credit, please contact our Customer Service team via email at help@powells,com and they will give you a new eGift card in the amount of your balance.
Where can I check my Powell’s Gift Card balance?
You can check your balance using this link: https://cws.givex.com/cws4.0/powells/check-balance/
Powell's Books Inc. ships to many correctional facilities, both state and federal. If your friend or loved one is currently housed in a facility, orders can be placed on their behalf using a credit card or Powell’s gift card on our website - we are unable to ship to correctional facilities from our stores.
Many facilities will reject or confiscate items that are sent in violation of their mail regulations - common causes for rejection can be: incorrectly addressed packages, packages sent via an unauthorized carrier (ex. UPS or FedEx), packages without invoicing or labels, too many items sent or items that are considered contraband (ex. restricted subject matter, restricted binding, restricted condition). It is of the utmost importance that you are absolutely certain of the facility’s rules and regulations regarding incoming mail before creating your Powells.com order to ensure your recipient receives their items.
Powell's Books is not responsible for orders that are not delivered due to mail policy violations. Orders that are returned to sender, refused, or rejected by facilities cannot be reshipped to the same location. If your order is returned to us for any of the reasons above, we will contact you to discuss options for resolution.
We accept returns at all of our store locations, and by mail. You can return any order within 30 days of the date you received it to the following address: Powell's Books Attn: Returns 2720 NW 29th Avenue Portland OR 97210
We process exchanges by issuing a refund for the original product after it is returned to us and having you place a new order for the desired item. If there was something wrong with the item you received, please let our Customer Service team know by emailing help@powells.com.
Some items are located at our remote warehouse, and will not be eligible for store pickup. These items will be clearly visible in your basket, and shipping will be the only option available. This includes all preorders which will ship directly to you on the publish date.
There may be a portion of your order that is eligible for store pickup, but the rest will be shipped directly. In this circumstance you can choose to ship it all if you prefer.
If you are unable to pick up your order after eight days from the time we notified you that your order was ready, we will refund the order and restock the product to our inventory. If you need to extend your hold, please contact us before it expires. You can email us at help@powells.com to request an extension.
It is not possible to add items or change your pickup location after your order has been submitted. If you prefer to cancel your order, please reach out via email (help@powells.com) and our Customer Service team will cancel your order on your behalf.
Across all 3 of our stores (Burnside, Cedar Hills Crossing, and Hawthorne) the buying counters are open Friday - Tuesday: 10am – 5:30pm. We are unable to buy your used books outside of these days and hours.
With few exceptions, we buy books in good condition.
A current government-issued photo ID is required.
We do not buy outdated textbooks or old encyclopedia sets.
If you're planning on bringing in several boxes, please arrive at least one hour before our buying tables close.
For collections of 1,000 books or more, please email sell@powells.com for details.
In-store buying decisions and offers may differ from online bids. Additional questions can be directed via email to sell@powells.com.
We currently do not have a limit on the number of books or boxes customers can bring. Wait times may vary by location.
Our used book buying counters are first come, first served. No appointments are necessary.
We offer store credit for books we purchase at our store locations.
Can I sell you my used books if I can’t go to the store, or if I live out of state?
Yes, you can! Powell’s offers an Online Buyback service. You can learn more about it here.
Email our Marketing team at marketing@powells.com.
Email our Marketing team at press@powells.com
For lost and found please email help@powells.com. We review and respond to emails Monday-Friday.