Refund & Cancellation Policy

Last updated · 17 May 2026

We want you to love your copy of The Man Who Stayed. If something has gone wrong, write to us at hello@themanwhostayed.com and we will make it right — quickly, and without hiding behind fine print. This page explains exactly what to expect, in line with the Consumer Protection Act 2019 and the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020 of India.

1. Order Cancellation Window

You can cancel a physical-book order any time before it is dispatched — usually within 24 hours of placing the order. There is no charge, and the full amount is refunded to your original payment method.

Once the order has been handed to our courier partner and an AWB number has been generated, the cancellation window is closed and the standard returns process applies. You will then need to wait for delivery and either refuse the parcel at the door or initiate a return after it arrives.

2. Damaged or Defective Books

If your book arrives damaged in transit, has a manufacturing defect (missing pages, printing issues, binding failure), or the seal of the courier bag is broken, we will replace it for free or refund the full amount, including shipping.

To help us process the claim with the courier:

• · Please record a clear, unedited unboxing video when you open the parcel. This is industry standard for damage claims and is required by our courier partners.
• · Email us at hello@themanwhostayed.com with your Order ID, a description of the issue, and the unboxing video plus a photo, within 7 days of delivery.
• · We will arrange a free reverse pickup or instruct you on where to drop the parcel, depending on your pincode.

3. Wrong Product Delivered

If we ship you the wrong edition, a different book, or a different quantity than you ordered, that is on us. Write to us within 7 days of delivery and we will arrange a free pickup of the incorrect item and dispatch the correct one at no additional cost.

4. Change of Mind Returns

If you simply change your mind, you can return an unread, unmarked, undamaged book in its original condition within 7 days of delivery. For change-of-mind returns:

• · The customer bears the return shipping cost (we can either deduct it from the refund or you can ship it yourself via a trackable courier).
• · The original shipping charge (if any) is non-refundable.
• · The refund is processed within 5–7 working days of us receiving the book back in resaleable condition.

5. Ebook Refund Policy

Ebooks are non-refundable once the download link has been delivered to your email or rendered visible on your order page. This is consistent with industry practice for digital goods, and is clearly stated at checkout before you pay.

Exceptions: if the file is genuinely corrupt, the download link does not work, or you receive the wrong title, write to us within 7 days and we will resend the correct file or issue a full refund.

6. Audiobook Refund Policy

Audiobooks are non-refundable once streaming access or a download link has been granted. Again, this is shown clearly at checkout. As with ebooks, we will resolve genuine technical issues — broken files, inaccessible streams, or wrong titles — at no cost to you within a 7-day window.

7. Signed Edition Returns

Signed and personalised editions are returnable only if they are damaged in transit or defective. Personalisation — for example, “To Aman, with love” on the title page — is, by its nature, unique to you, and we cannot resell it; so personalised orders are not eligible for change-of-mind returns. Please double-check spellings and inscription text before confirming the order.

8. Bulk Order Returns

Bulk orders (10 copies or more) typically run on separately negotiated commercial terms. Return and refund conditions for bulk orders are spelt out in the quotation or purchase order, and supersede the change-of-mind policy on this page. Damaged or defective books in a bulk order are always covered.

9. Refund Processing Time

Once a refund is approved, we initiate it within 5–7 working days. The time it takes to reach you depends on the payment method:

• · UPI:usually within 1–3 working days — the fastest method.
• · Credit / debit cards:5–10 working days, depending on your issuing bank.
• · Net banking and wallets:3–7 working days.
• · Cash on Delivery (COD):processed via NEFT to a bank account you nominate — usually 5–7 working days after we receive your bank details.

10. How to Request a Refund

Send an email to hello@themanwhostayed.com with:

• · your Order ID;
• · the registered email or phone number used at checkout;
• · the reason for the refund;
• · for damaged or defective items: clear photos and the unboxing video;
• · for COD orders: your bank account name, number, and IFSC for the NEFT refund.

We will acknowledge within 24 working hours and confirm the outcome within 3 working days.

11. Refund Method

Refunds are always issued to the original payment method wherever possible. If the original method is no longer available (for example, an expired card), we will use NEFT to a bank account in your name.

For COD orders, since no online payment was made, we always refund via NEFT. We do not issue store credit unless you specifically ask for it.

12. Failed Delivery / Return to Origin (RTO)

Our courier partners attempt delivery up to three times. If all attempts fail — because the address is unreachable, the consignee is unavailable, or COD is refused — the parcel is returned to us as RTO. When the RTO is received and verified at our warehouse:

• · For prepaid orders: a full refund is processed to the original payment method within 5–7 working days.
• · For COD orders: no refund is needed since no money was collected, but we may decline future COD orders to the same address if RTOs are repeated.
• · If you would like the order re-shipped after an RTO, a fresh shipping charge will apply.

Please see the Shipping Policy for more on courier attempts and address accuracy.