These terms and conditions apply to all contracts between you and us.
"We", "us, "our", means WHSmith.co.uk
"You", "your" means the person ordering products under these terms and conditions.
"Working days" means all days other than Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays.
"Product" means the product or products you have ordered from us.
We are operated by WHSmith High Street Limited, Greenbridge Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 3RX.
- Registered in England and Wales: number 6560339
- VAT registration number: GB238 5548 36
Certain products ordered from the WHSmith.co.uk website may be fulfilled by WHSmith Jersey Ltd - another member of the WHSmith group or associated company. We'll always let you know when this is happening. All terms and conditions relating to your dealings with WHSmith Jersey Limited are exactly the same except that the contract comes under Jersey law overall.
After you make your order, we ask you to confirm it, and when that is done we email you a summary of your order.
Once we're about to send out your order, we debit your payment card with the total cost of the items we're sending you.
The contract between us is only created once we send you the products you ordered, and not before. It means we have accepted your offer and fully communicated this to you.
Though we check our system frequently to try and avoid errors, things can occasionally go wrong with the ordering process. If we make a mistake we will do our best to put things right as quickly as we can, with as little inconvenience to you as possible. We do however reserve the right to cancel any order for any reason at any time prior to despatch, for example (but not limited to) where there is an obvious mistake in the price or product information.
All orders are made subject to these terms and conditions.
We aim to give you outstanding service. If you have any comments or complaints, contact our Customer Services team
It is our job to make sure that WHSmith.co.uk is accessible and easy to navigate for all, including customers with disabilities. One step we have taken to improve accessibility is changing the design so that the site can be read by screen readers.
We want you to be able to shop with confidence on our site, which is why we take the privacy of your personal information very seriously.
When you shop with us, you give us certain personal details, such as your name, email address and payment address. We hold such information securely using SSL encryption software. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer which is the industry standard security technology for keeping data private during online transactions. This means your personal information cannot be read by anyone who should not see it.
You will notice the web address (URL) changes from http:// to https:// when you go through to the WHSmith.co.uk checkout. This shows that the site is using SSL and your details are protected.
We comply with all applicable data protection legislation, and we treat all your personal information as confidential. We are committed to protecting your privacy and developing technology that provides a safe online experience.
To process your order efficiently, reputable third-party banking and distribution institutions handle the credit and debit card transactions and order fulfilment. They receive the information needed to verify and authorise your payment card and to process your order. These organisations are under strict legal and contractual obligations to keep your personal information private.
For more information about our Security and Privacy policies, see our Help Section or email our Customer Services team
A summary of how we gather and use your information and make sure that your privacy is protected:
Because your privacy is important to us, WHSmith.co.uk sites will operate by the following 5 principles. Additional information relating to security and secure payment can be found within our Help Pages.
1. How we ask for information that identifies you or allows us to contact you
We explicitly ask when we need any Personal Data or other details that we use to contact you - for example, when you register for a site, request a particular service or enter a competition. Where possible, we will give you the chance to check that your personal information is correct and up to date.
2. What we use your personal information for
WHSmith.co.uk and its necessary service partners use your personal information to:
- operate the websites and services
- let you know about new features, services, and products from WHSmith.co.uk and its partners
3. When we may need to disclose your personal information
WHSmith.co.uk may disclose your personal information to fulfil our contracts with you, where you have consented to such disclosure (actual or deemed), if required to do so by law, or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to:
- conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on WHSmith.co.uk
- protect and defend the rights or property of WHSmith.co.uk, you or any third party
- resolve customer service issues
4.How we monitor your activity on the website
We use Google Analytics to monitor your activity on the website for research and development purposes. All information will be treated as strictly confidential by WHSmith.
5. How you can get in touch about privacy issues
If you believe that WHSmith.co.uk has not adhered to these principles, please let us know by email
We update our availability information regularly but occasionally a product may run out between updates.
We do our best to deliver your products within the delivery time shown on the product page when you order. If this is not possible, your order will be sent out as soon as the goods become available. If we can't supply your order within 60 days, we will cancel the order - except for products that have not been published or released yet.
The dispatch and delivery times shown are approximate and delays can sometimes occur. Delivery times are based on working days (Monday-Friday, excluding Public Holidays).
We will email you as soon as your order is ready to be dispatched. As soon as it is dispatched to you, you're officially the owner of the product.
You must be over 18 to use WHSmith.co.uk. By creating an account you confirm that you are at least 18. You also agree that we may seek compensation from you where you are not 18 and we have suffered financial loss as a consequence.
When you place an order this means you are aware of any age restrictions on the products and agree that you are old enough to buy them.
Certain products are subject to delivery restrictions. You will find details of any delivery restriction displayed on the product page. We can only send products to UK addresses and some products can only be sent to the UK address that matches your payment card.
PO Box addresses: in some instances we may not be able to deliver parcels to PO Box address - we will let you know if there is an issue.
Prices shown on this site include VAT, where and to the extent that VAT is required to be applied to the product under UK VAT law.
Delivery charges are extra. See full details of delivery charges
We make every effort to ensure the prices on our website are correct but we can sometimes make a mistake. If we notice a price mistake before we dispatch something you have ordered, we will ask if you want to pay the correct price or cancel your order. If we do not hear from you, we will cancel your order.
We reserve the right to change prices listed without notice. All orders for products are subject to availability. We reserve the right to refuse to supply to any individual or company.
All promotions are subject to availability. Prices and promotions change a lot online. We will always charge you the price we gave you when you placed your order.
- Book and magazine discounts are taken off the recommended retail price (RRP).
- Stationery, gifts, games, toys, computing and electronics discounts are taken off the previous selling price
To qualify for a multi-buy discount, e.g. buy 3 for the price of 2, you need to select the right number of products. If not, you will be charged the normal price.
The products that qualify for the multi-buy discount will be shown in your basket. The extra discount will be applied automatically to your total basket price (the cheapest item will be discounted/free). You cannot cancel a single item that you bought as part of a multi-buy promotion - you need to cancel the whole order.
All product prices and delivery charges are shown in UK pounds sterling.
We accept payment by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Switch, Maestro, Delta, Diner's Club and JCB.
Before we confirm your order we carry out a standard pre-authorisation check on your card to make sure there is enough money available to pay for it.
We ask your bank to set aside (or reserve) the money in your account to pay for your order. Although this money may still show in your account, you won't be able to spend it. We typically reserve funds for 7-10 days and take the money when your order is ready to send out.
For technical reasons, if your order contains products supplied via both WHSmith Jersey Ltd and WHSmith High Street Ltd the pre-authorisation process will pre-authorise the postage and packaging costs twice. You will however only be charged once.
Your card will only be charged when the items in your order are ready to be dispatched.
If your order is spilt into multiple deliveries, we add the "per order" delivery cost and the delivery cost of the first item(s) we send you. You are only charged for each additional item in your order and its delivery cost when it is sent.
Our system can hold up to 10 payment cards per account. Your order will be charged to the payment card that you assigned to it.
When you set up your account or add a new payment card we check your card details with your bank and "ring fence" 2 pence on your card. This check is to make sure that the card has not been lost or stolen. Although we don't take any money from your account, this 2 pence will not be available to spend for 7-10 days.
We also accept payment by WHSmith Giftcards and WHSmith eVouchers. When you pay with a Giftcard we charge the card when you have placed the order. If we are unable to fulfill the order we will refund you by sending you a WHSmith eVoucher. If you paid by Giftcard and would prefer a refund on a new Giftcard please email us
You cannot cancel an order once it has been dispatched and you have been charged.
Cancel your order online by following these steps
Both these methods are more effective than emailing us as we cannot guarantee to action the email before your order is dispatched.
Contact our Customer Service team with your order number ready.
Once you have let us know, you then need to return the unwanted products to us unused and in their original packaging within 30 days of delivery. Unless the item is incorrect or faulty, the return is done at your own risk and at your own cost.
Once we receive the item(s) we will refund the cost of the item(s) as well the original delivery charge.
You cannot return an order for:
- periodical(s) or magazine(s)
- digital products such as CDs, cassettes, DVDs, eBooks or computer software where the holographic seal and/or shrink-wrap has been unsealed, or the product / service has been used / booted up.
- products made to your specification i.e. personalised
- perishable goods
unless the product is faulty.
These are the conditions for returning products:
- You must return the item within 30 days of receiving it.
- Return items in new (re-saleable) condition with original packing and accessories.
- Refunds will be credited to your payment card - not paid in cash
- Digital products such as computer games and software which require a unique license cannot be returned unless they are faulty.
- Magazine gift packs and experience gift packs can only be returned in their original condition and if they have not been activated.
- Products from WHSmith Jersey can only be returned by post to the address printed on the delivery note which comes with the product.
- Anything bought from a partner site must be returned according to their terms and conditions. Check the paperwork or their website site for contact details of their customer service team. See partner sites' contact details
- Return the item to larger WHSmith stores along with the delivery note that came with it. Refunds are only made onto the card that made the original payment, not in cash.
- Post the item back to us:
1) The items must be in the original condition and packaging with any security seals intact (see below for information on damaged items).
2) Repackage the products securely and send to the address on your delivery paperwork
3) Include the reason for the return, the invoice number and your email address or telephone number. Tell us if you would like a refund or a replacement.
4) If we don't receive the item we cannot refund you or replace it, so we recommend you use an insured mail service.
If you are sending something back that's faulty or incorrect due to our error, we will refund the return postage costs to your payment card, but not in other circumstances.
If the item is not working, refer to any warranty information relating to it. It may be quicker for you to get a replacement product direct from the manufacturer rather than by returning it to us. Our Customer Service Team will be able to advise you.
Please allow 10 working days for your delivery. If it has not arrived after 10 working days, email Customer Services, with your order number ready
If either of us fails to comply with these Terms, neither of us shall be responsible for any losses that the other suffers as a result, except for those losses which are a foreseeable consequence of the failure to comply with these Terms.
We shall not be responsible for losses that result from our failure to comply with these terms including, but not limited to, losses that fall into the following categories:
- loss of income or revenue
- loss of business
- loss of anticipated savings
- loss of data
- any waste of time or administrative inconvenience
- disappointment
- indirect or consequential loss or damage
However, this shall not prevent claims for foreseeable loss of, or damage to, your physical property.
This section does not include or limit in any way our liability for any other matter for which it would be illegal or unlawful for us to exclude or attempt to exclude our liability.
If any part of these terms and conditions is found to be unenforceable as a matter of law, the enforceability of any other part of these terms and conditions will not be affected.
If any invalid, unenforceable or illegal provision of these terms would be valid, enforceable and legal if some part of it were deleted, the provision shall apply with the minimum modification necessary to make it legal, valid and enforceable.
These terms and conditions and any contract between us shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English Law and the English Courts shall have jurisdiction over any disputes between us.
These terms and conditions are in addition to your statutory rights as a consumer, which remain unaffected.
WHSmith.co.uk and/or their respective suppliers make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness or suitability for any purpose of the information contained in the documents and related graphics published in this site; or any of the products of whatever nature, details of which appear on this site.
All such documents and related graphics are provided, and any such products (where ordered) are accepted by customers, "as is" and without warranty of any kind.
All product(s) are ordered subject to availability, and prices quoted by WHSmith.co.uk are subject to change. Should a price change outside the guidelines indicated on our Help pages, we will contact you by email and ask if you wish to proceed. You will have no obligation to purchase the product(s) at the new price quoted.
We reserve the right not to sell to customers for re-sale purposes.
Prices advertised online by WHSmith.co.uk are valid only when purchasing items from WHSmith.co.uk. Prices may differ from those advertised by other parts of the WHSmith Group; orders placed in store will be charged at the selling price in store.
The information contained in this site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. All liability of WHSmith.co.uk howsoever arising for inaccuracies or errors is expressly excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Although using the latest encrypted security software from the market leader, Versign, the security of information and payments transmitted via the Internet cannot be guaranteed. Any losses incurred or sustained by users who transmit information by means of email or other internet link shall be borne solely and exclusively by such user and in no event shall any such losses in whole or part be borne by WHSmith.co.uk.
All brand names, product names and titles used in this site are the trademarks or trade names of their respective holders. No permission is given in respect of use of any of the above, and such use may constitute an infringement of the holders' rights.
Participants must be 18 years or over and be a resident of the UK. No purchase necessary. To be eligible for entry into this draw you must complete the online WHSmith eBook survey, using the link featured in the email, before midnight 21st February 2012. Only one entry can be submitted. There is one main prize of a black Kobo Touch Edition eReader worth £79.99. The winner will be picked at random from all qualifying entries. The winner will be notified by email by 9th March 2012. WHSmith will not be held responsible for lost, stolen, delayed, damaged or misdirected entries or for any failure of the website during the promotional period. The draw is not open to employees of WHSmith or Kobo. The information collected will be used for the purposes of the survey and for the prize draw. WHSmith reserves the right to amend the specification of the prize or offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value. No cash alternative. WHSmith decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The right is reserved to withdraw or terminate this prize draw at any time. The winner may be required to participate in publicity. The name and county of the winner may be obtained in writing to WHSmith Direct, Greenbridge Road, Swindon SN3 3RX. No entries should be sent to this address.
Buy 6 or more of any individual titles from the Richard and Judy Summer 2012 Book Club or the Richard and Judy Summer Book Club Bundle to qualify for an extra 5% discount at the checkout.
Please read this section carefully before purchasing your activity gift voucher. These terms and conditions form the basis of a contract between Activity Superstore, and you (the purchaser and/or any subsequent holder of the activity gift voucher).
Terms and conditions
Vouchers are valid for a minimum of nine months (excluding promotions). Please check the season of any intended activity, as this may be shorter than the Voucher validity. You will find the expiry date printed on the Voucher. You must book and complete your activity prior to the expiry date. If you are unable to use your Voucher within the validity period, the Voucher can be extended for a period of up to six months (excluding promotions). A Voucher can only be extended once and must be done while the voucher is valid. Extended Vouchers cannot be refunded. A £20 administration fee is payable if you choose to extend your validity. Promotional vouchers cannot be extended.
Choosing your activity
You may use your Voucher to book any of the activities from our website. If you have not already been provided with a Voucher for the type of activity you are interested in, or wish to change to another activity type, contact us on the number provided or via our website and you will be sent a Voucher for that activity. If appropriate, your original Voucher will be replaced. Contact us again when you have decided which activity you wish to enjoy. A difference will be payable if the chosen activity costs more than the face value of your original Voucher and the value of your Voucher will be increased. If your chosen activity is cheaper, we will hold the difference as a credit against another activity. In this case, the credit holds the same expiry date as the original Voucher. Please note you may not be able to change your mind once a date has been booked with a supplier.
Exchanging your Voucher
A Voucher can be exchanged only once for another Voucher, up to the face value stated on it and subject to the restrictions below , without incurring a fee. An administration fee of £20 will be charged for a second and final exchange, (as no more than two exchanges in total are permitted). If you wish to combine or merge more than one Voucher together, as part of the exchange process, then this can be arranged however subject to the following restrictions; You can merge no more than two Vouchers together; if the Vouchers have different expiry dates then the earlier expiry date is taken forward onto the replacement Voucher, not the later date; only Vouchers purchased from the same retail chain or website may be merged together; and you may not merge any Vouchers previously merged or exchanged. Please note Activity Superstore promotional products, tangible gift products and Fresh Weekend products are excluded from the list of exchangeable products.
Bookings
In order to enjoy your chosen activity and to arrange a time and place for your activity, you can choose the particular provider of the activity that you are interested in, phone us, the provider or book via our website. You may be required to send your Voucher to the chosen provider to confirm your booking in advance: if so we recommend you keep a record of your Voucher number and use registered post, as your Voucher is a valuable document. Customers should also note that your Voucher must be presented on the day, in order to participate in the activity. If lost, we regret that Vouchers cannot be replaced. Please note you may not be able to change your mind once a date has been booked with a supplier.
Description and photography
We have tried hard to ensure that descriptions, illustrations and experience titles used in the Voucher packs, in all our literature and our website are accurate, however, photographs and experience titles are intended to give a general idea of the activity described, and do not form part of any contract between you and Activity Superstore. Please note depending on the location you choose the experience title may differ to that of experience title used by our suppliers, but this does not effect your entitlement as described in your Voucher pack.
Insurance
Where applicable, the price of the Voucher includes the cost of providing you with personal accident insurance cover to participants up to 75 years old. This insurance cover is only included if indicated on your Voucher and is not available for activities that take place abroad. Full details of insurance cover are available on request.
Refunds
If you are not satisfied with your Voucher pack, please call us within 28 days of purchase and we will happily arrange a full refund on receipt of your Voucher. Refunds will be paid back onto the credit/debit card used to place the original order, or by cheque. No interest will be paid on the amount to be refunded. Refunds cannot be issued once a date has been booked with the provider.
Activity Cheques
Activity Cheques can be redeemed for any activity or gift from our website excluding overseas activities. A difference will be payable if the chosen activity costs more than the face value of your activity cheque. If your chosen activity is cheaper, we will hold the difference as a credit against another activity. In this case the credit holds the same expiry date as the original activity cheque.
Age, size and health restrictions
For safety reasons, some activities have certain size, age and health restrictions. You are required to notify Activity Superstore and/or the provider of any relevant medical condition. Our Customer Contact Centre/or the provider can advise of any restrictions at the time of purchase and/or booking. However, you should note that you must be 18 or over to purchase any product containing alcohol.
Activity availability and timings
These are given as a guide only, and you may be required to wait between different elements of the activity alongside other participants.
If we cancel or change your activity
If we cancel your activity, we will tell you as soon as possible, and do our very best to offer an alternative date or location. If specific celebrities or vehicles are featured but are not available on the day for reasons beyond our control, we will try to find the best possible replacement. If this is not possible, we reserve the right to cancel your activity at short notice and re-book you. We reserve the right to reschedule the timings or location of any activity owing to unavailability of the activity, insufficient numbers making the activity unavailable, and other factors beyond our control. We reserve the right to discontinue an activity, venue, or individual supplier at our own discretion. We will endeavour to offer a suitable alternative activity of the same value, however, if not we will refund your Voucher in full. If you decide to book a different activity and the price of that activity exceeds the face value of your Voucher, you will be expected to pay the difference. We also reserve the right to make minor changes to your activity. Examples of minor changes include car specification, or order of activities on a particular day.
Weather
Activities may be cancelled due to weather conditions, mechanical failure, or for other reasons beyond our control. If your activity is cancelled because of the weather, you will be able to rebook for a date on which you are able to attend. Activity Superstore is unable to reimburse travel, accommodation or other incidental expenses incurred by you in attending an activity which is cancelled for any reason.
In case of problems
In case of a problem, please speak to the activity provider on the day, so they have the opportunity to resolve any problems there and then. Any other complaints should be addressed with the customer service department at Activity Superstore, who will take up the problem with the supplier on your behalf.
Prices
We reserve the right to change activity prices without notice, provided we inform you before the activity is booked. Vouchers will not be issued until payment is collected in full. Prices in our printed material and on our website are inclusive of VAT.
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999
A person who is not named on the face of the Voucher or activity purchase letter has no right under the Contracts (Rights of third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any terms and conditions of booking. These terms and conditions do not affect your statutory rights as a consumer, and are governed by and in accordance with English law. The purchaser and Activity Superstore agree that any problems fall under the jurisdiction of the English courts. All the clauses and sub clauses in our terms and conditions are independent of each other. If one clause or sub clause is invalid or unenforceable, this will not affect any other clause or sub clause.