Everything you need to know about shopping with School Outfitters. Select a topic below to navigate to relevant information.
Ordering
How do I use a purchase order to pay for my items?
During the checkout process, select the “Purchase Order” payment option, fill out the “Purchase Order Number” text field and send a copy of your purchase order to us one of four ways:
Upload it to our purchase order upload page.
Fax it to 1-800-494-1036.
Email it to weborders@schooloutfitters.com.
Mail it to:
School Outfitters
3736 Regent Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45212-3724
I’m placing an order for a tax-exempt organization. How do I ensure that my items won’t be taxed?
While placing an online order, you will be asked to indicate whether you are tax exempt at the delivery address provided. If you indicate that you are tax exempt, you must upload a copy of your tax exemption certificate to our tax certificate upload page or fax a copy to 1-800-494-1036 within two business days to avoid being charged tax.
How do I cancel an order?
Please locate your order number and call customer service at 1-866-619-1776 immediately.
We understand that you may decide you don’t want something after placing your order. It is important that you call us as soon as possible to cancel an order because we work to process and ship your items quickly.
Once an item has shipped, you are responsible for all shipping costs (shipping to you and back to the manufacturer). Also, many of the items we sell are made to order and the manufacturer may charge you a restocking fee even if the order hasn’t shipped. We want to help you avoid these charges.
Do you rent products to customers?
No, we do not rent any products to customers. All of the products on our website are new and unused.
Do you have contracts or purchasing cooperatives that I can use?
Yes, we’re an approved vendor on a variety of school district co-ops and contracts across the country, including national co-ops TIPS and BuyBoard. You may find a contract that works for your school district on our Cooperative Purchasing page.
Shipping & Delivery
I placed an order. When will my items arrive?
You can check the status of your order by clicking the “Track Order” button at the top right-hand side of the page. Fill in your order number and the telephone or email address associated with the order to receive status information. Or, call customer service at 1-800-619-1776.
What is “lift gate” delivery service?
Lift gate delivery service means your truck features a motorized rear lift, so the driver can lower items to the ground. However, this service does not include inside delivery, and the driver will not assist with bringing the items inside. Inside delivery is available for an additional charge.
How much will I pay in shipping and handling?
Shipping costs depend on an item’s weight, size and manufacturer. The easiest way to determine estimated shipping is to use the “Calculate Shipping” link on each of our product pages. Enter in the quantity and the five-digit zip code of your delivery address and you’ll be given an estimate. You don’t need to create an account or sign in to an existing account to use the shipping calculator, so it’s an easy guide while you’re browsing our product selection.
If you’re ordering several large items with freight shipping, you may notice a message below the “Calculate” button that reads, “Estimated Shipping & Handling Cost: Please call 1-800-260-2776.” Sometimes freight companies have discounts or additional fees for certain items ordered in large quantities. This process can be complicated, so it’s best that you work with us over the phone to get the lowest price on these large-quantity orders.
Remember, the shipping costs shown on the calculator are estimated. Some large items may incur additional costs like assistance with unloading, etc.
What is the difference between UPS and freight shipping methods?
Smaller, lighter items usually ship via UPS. Items that are large, bulky or extremely heavy typically arrive by freight delivery and are carried on a semi-trailer truck. Freight deliveries are delivered only as far as the back of the truck, which means the driver won’t carry your goods into the building. If you don’t have a loading dock, you can arrange for the driver to move the items inside for an additional charge.
We will ask you a few questions in the “Shipping Info” section of our checkout process that will help us determine exact shipping costs. Your total shipping charges are displayed on the “Shipping Review” section of the checkout process. Also, you can easily review the specifications on each item’s product page, where you’ll find a “Shipping Method” field that tells you whether it ships via UPS or freight.
What is inside delivery service?
Inside Delivery service means the driver will take your shipment inside the first door of your building or onto your loading dock, generally up to no more than 50 feet. They may choose to not take it up any steps, inside or out. Drivers may ask for “driver assist,” which means they may ask the person receiving the shipment for help with bulky or cumbersome packages. Inside Delivery does not include delivery to another floor, unpacking or stocking your order.
How can I lower my shipping and handling costs?
You will find that some items on our site ship for free. Look for the Free Shipping logo on the product pages for these items. Keep in mind that the per-unit cost of shipping almost always decreases as your order quantity increases. Plus, you generally get a better overall rate by ordering as many items as possible from the same manufacturer. You can avoid extra charges for large orders by shipping directly to freight docks in non-residential areas; this is often the most economical way to deliver freight shipments.
What does “Ships in 24 hrs.” mean?
Products that are labeled “Ships in 24 hrs” ship the next business day when ordered Monday-Friday by 1 p.m. Eastern. It does not mean that your items will be delivered within 24 hours of order placement.
Can I get a call to let me know when my delivery is coming?
Call aheads are not available on ground shipments. However, if your order is shipping via freight carrier, we can arrange to have the carrier call the day before delivery.
Why do some items ship separately?
We stock millions of dollars of inventory in our warehouses. However, some items are made to order and must ship directly from the manufacturer. We do our best to consolidate the number of shipments per order to minimize freight costs and separate deliveries.
What is “white glove” delivery service?
White glove service includes inside delivery and light assembly of items, as well as removal of all packaging materials.
Can I have my items shipped to an area outside of the U.S.?
Yes. Call 1-800-260-2776 to speak with a member of our friendly sales team, and arrange for delivery outside of the U.S.
Can I place an order now and have it delivered later?
Yes, you can place your order now and we can schedule it to ship at a time when you are ready to receive it. Please note: This date must be after the manufacturer’s standard lead time.
Damaged Parts, Returns & Refunds
The items I just received are damaged and/or missing parts. What should I do?
Please locate your order number and call customer service at 1-866-619-1776. This must be done within five days of receiving your order. Please note: for claim approval, the order must be kept in its original packaging.
Can I return an item?
Yes, most items we sell are returnable. Make sure to inspect your order for damage and accuracy as soon as it arrives. If you see a problem, refuse the delivery and call customer service at 1-866-619-1776. Please note: There are a few types of items we sell that have additional return restrictions. For a full list of those items and helpful tips during the return process, please see our returns policy.
Products
I need additional information about these products. What can I do?
Most of our product pages have buying guides, which are packed with product information and tips on finding just what you need. You may also call our friendly Sales team at 1-800-260-2776 for product information that may not be on our website.
How long are my items under warranty?
All of the products we sell carry their manufacturer’s standard warranty. Most of them are noted in product specifications. If you do not see a mention of the warranty but would like to know the length of warranty coverage, please contact us at 1-800-260-2776. We will be happy to explain the warranty and even send you a copy before you submit your order.
Do you have a catalog?
No, we do not print a catalog, but we offer thousands of products on our website.
What is California Proposition 65?
California’s Proposition 65 requires California consumers to be made aware of special warnings for products that contain chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm, if those products expose consumers to such chemicals above certain threshold levels.
We are providing the following warning for anyone buying products that will be shipped to California:
WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
The safety and well-being of you and your students remains School Outfitters’ top priority, and as such, we take all necessary steps to comply with applicable safety and health regulations and uphold our commitment to safety.
Where can I find assembly instructions?
Assembly instructions for a product may be downloaded on the product’s page under the “Resources & Guides” tab.
If assembly instructions are not available on the product page, you may submit a request for instructions to our customer service team here.
Do you have a tool where I can design my own learning space?
Yes, our room designs can be customized in our easy-to-use 3D room builder tool. Simply click the “Customize in 3D Room Builder” button on each room type in our Complete Learning Spaces tool.
