"All you BDSM'ers out there need to have this book in your personal library."
-- Lady Payne

FAQ

Got a question that this website doesn't answer? Contact me!!

Questions

Answers

Ordering

Can I order without a credit card?

Yes. Generally, it's easier for you to find a friend with a credit card, then pay them after. However, you can also pay in US or Canadian funds using a certified check or money order.

To order without a credit card:

Fill out the order form until you get to the second page. If you're using coupon codes, make sure they're valid and include them in your order. Print the second page.
If you're paying in Canadian funds, go to step 5. If you're paying in US funds, go to step 3.
(Paying in non-Canadian funds) Go to Google.com.
(Paying in non-Canadian funds) In the Google window, type "nn.nn Canadian dollars in US dollars", where nn.nn is the total from step 1. Google gives you the conversion. Print that page.
Make a certified check or money order in Canadian funds (using the price from step 1) or American funds (using the price from step 4), then proceed to the last step. If you can't, proceed to the next step.
Mail your printed pages along with your certified check/money order to:
Mental Gears Publishing
Suite 3, 501 Donald St.
Ottawa, ON
K1K 1L8

Sorry, we can't accept checks that aren't certified.
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I want to order a book, but my country isn't listed. Can I still order one?

Yes! I'm slowly adding countries to the order page - if yours isn't listed, contact me!
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Why so expensive?

People tend to find The Better Built Bondage Book expensive until they see it. It's huge. It's a full-sized, 7.75" x 10.50" [197x267 mm] book. It's nearly 1" [25 mm] thick. It weighs about 1.8 lbs [820 g]. If you're inclined, it makes a neat coffee table book. Heck, add legs and it could be a coffee table.

It uses high-quality offset printing for crisp, clear text and images.

Unlike some books that have "filler", I think you'd be hard-pressed to find much throwaway content in its 400 pages. If you compare the book to other technical books, you'll find the pricing very fair - some similarly technical books cost over $100! Remember, also, that niche books cost more to print and distribute than bajillion-selling books about teenage wizards. (But if you want to buy a bajillion copies, I'll give you a good deal!)

Finally, if you make even one project, the book pays for itself. The Better Built Bondage Book lets you have a toy collection that rivals those of even the most serious scene-players. Without bankrupting yourself.
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Can I buy a downloadable version?

No.
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Why is my credit card amount higher?

We never charge more than you agree to pay. In fact, it's not possible for use to charge you more than the amount you agree to (and we never see your credit card number, either).

However, if you use a non-Canadian credit card, your credit card may hold more on reserve - temporarily. This is similar to swiping your card at a restaurant or a gas pump - the final amount isn't yet known, so more is reserved. Normally, you never see the amount because the transaction is completed within a few minutes. We don't process your card until the order ships, so the higher amount is automatically held to account for daily fluxuations in the daily exchange rate.
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Making Toys

I'm a beginner - I don't think I can make these toys!

Hey! That isn't really a question...

Yes, you can. The Better Built Bondage Book includes start-to-finish instructions for all the toys. You may not be able to build every single project right away, but you'll be amazed at what you can do if you try.

Lots of people have expressed this fear but once they see the book, they tell me how easy everything looks!
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I'm an expert - I don't think I need a basic toy book!

That's not a question, either!

The Better Built Bondage Book isn't a basic toy book. Although some of the toys are simple, many of them are not. As an expert, you know that most toys require several iterations to get them right. Toys like the Saint Andrew's Cross and the Spanking Bench may take more iterations - many more. The Better Built Bondage Book lets you build toys right the first time.

Even if you're into customizing your toys, The Better Built Bondage Book gives you a reliable starting point, tons of hints and suggestions for customizing, and often formulas for getting exactly what you want.

Experts may actually benefit more from the book because they won't be afraid to tackle cool projects like the Diagonally Braided Handle Flogger, Manacles, Radio-Controlled Vibrators, Vacuum Bed and many more.

Few people are experts in leatherwork, woodwork, braiding, metalwork, ropework, upholstery, etc., though you may be an expert in one or a few topics. Already know everything about a topic? Skip it! The Better Built Bondage Book never condescends and is organized so that once you know the background for a project, you never have to read that section again. The instructions for projects contain just instructions - you won't be lectured about how to use knife, drill a hole or use a ruler.

And finally: Off the top of your head, can you think of over 100 projects? And build them properly the very first time?
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Can I get kits for the toys?

No. However, I worked hard to ensure that all the parts for the toys are generic so you shouldn't have any problem finding them locally. Further, the book includes photos of the hardware, so you can easily identify them on sight. The book includes lots of ideas for customizing your toys so you may want to add personalized touches to make them your toys (making kits less useful).

Finally, do you really want to pay to ship heavy hardware and lumber?
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Can I make toys from the book and sell them?

Not really.

I worked for over five years and spent tens of thousands of dollars getting the designs for the toys and the book itself just right. Well-designed toys like the Saint Andrew's Cross are a big part of the reason that people will buy The Better Built Bondage Book. Even the research to make cuffs that fit all wrists took a lot of time. If you steal the designs, it's from a hard-working individual, not some big enormous company.

That said, the license at the front of the book lets owners of the book pay someone else for an instance of a toy. So if you include a copy of The Better Built Bondage Book with your toy, everything's fine. I offer volume pricing for merchants; visit www.MentalGears.com for details.

If you wish to license individual designs, contact me.

Some toys, like the Diagonal Braid Flogger and the Collars are more about how to make your own designs than a specific design I offer. If you learned how to make your toys with The Better Built Bondage Book and you want to make your own (without copying or deriving toys from the book), hey, knock yourself out!

Ultimately, I probably won't ever catch you, so it's up to your conscience. (But every time you steal a design, a puppy dies.)
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Spreading the Word

Your book would be great at someStore! Have you approached them?

There are a lot of stores out there, so probably not.

Retailers are used to being approached by salespeople wanting to place "great products" in their stores. As a result, they tend to be skeptical. They'll take the advice of a customer (with no vested interests) much more seriously.

That said, some retailers have shown resistance because they:

are wary about the topic of bondage
don't sell how-to books
sell BDSM gear and worry that people knowing how to make their own toys could hurt sales

As a rule, if they sell Screw The Roses, Send Me The Thorns they could probably put The Better Built Bondage Book beside it and sell both.

So if you think The Better Built Bondage Book would be great for a store, tell them!

If your favorite store is interested, have them visit this site to learn about the book and www.MentalGears.com for volume pricing.
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Can I tell my group about the book?

Yes! Shout it from the highest mountain! Better yet, go where there are lots of people and shout there. Show the book at munches (if it's allowed). Tell people in your forums. Niche books like The Better Built Bondage Book rely on word of mouth from people like you. (And I really appreciate it!)
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Can I link to your site?

Yes! Please do! (And I very much appreciate your doing so!)

If you wish to use a banner or a picture of the cover, go here.

The site changes from time to time so to prevent broken links, link to the main page. You can use www.tbbbb.com or www.TheBetterBuiltBondageBook.com. Both are aliased to be identical, so choose the one you prefer.
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Where can I find cover images for my website?

Here.
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Shipping

How does shipping work?

Books are shipped in unmarked, air-bubble lined, high-quality envelopes that keep your book well protected.

Shipping costs a flat $10 for any number of books, anywhere in the world. Most companies make large profits on their shipping and handling charges - not us. The Better Built Bondage Book is a very big, heavy book and our actual shipping cost exceeds $10 (unless you live almost next door, in which case we break even). However, you only pay $10.

When the order is shipped, you'll receive an email confirmation. Your credit isn't processed until your book has shipped.
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How long does shipping take?

In general, longer than you'd like (though we appreciate your eagerness).

Shipments are made once per week.

The shipping method depends on where you live (all books are shipped from Canada):

Shipping event ...for USA ...for Canada ...for Europe
and overseas
Order received
Thank you! 0 days 0 days 0 days
Order shipped,
credit card charged 7 days 7 days 7 days
Earliest delivery 16 days 10 days 36 days
Normal delivery 21 days 15 days 50 days
Late delivery (but still acceptable) 35 days 30 days 82 days
Package can be traced 36 days 31 days 83 days

Shipping event	...for USA	...for Canada	...for Europe and overseas
Order received Thank you!	0 days	0 days	0 days
Order shipped, credit card charged	7 days	7 days	7 days
Earliest delivery	16 days	10 days	36 days
Normal delivery	21 days	15 days	50 days
Late delivery (but still acceptable)	35 days	30 days	82 days
Package can be traced	36 days	31 days	83 days

Packages cannot be traced before the time limit above.

Sometimes the books take a little time crossing borders or going to the far corners of the continent, but, to date, no order has ever been lost. It's kind of amazing, really.

Note for European orders: Yep, shipping is slow. Really slow. Sometimes I suspect that the package is given to a guy that rows across the Atlantic in a dinghy, then bicycles across Europe with the package under his arm. He's reliable and never loses them, but he ain't fast. Unfortunately, other shipping methods are exhorbitantly expensive (they rival the cost of the book itself). For what it's worth, the slow delivery times kept me from shipping to Europe for quite a while. However, constant email requests convinced me that many people preferred "getting it slow" rather than "not getting it at all". We're in the process of establishing a European network.
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I think my book is late! What do I do?

Over 95% of is-my-book-late emails are for shipments which aren't late (this is especially true for shipments to countries other than Canada or the US). So, in most cases, relax and rest assured that statistically, virtually no orders get lost.

If you believe the order really is late, please:

Note the date you placed your order.
Note the number of days that must pass before your order can be traced. See How long does shipping take?
Calculate the earliest date the package can be traced. Use this date calculator.
If the date you calculated hasn't yet arrived, please be patient (though I appreciate your eagerness). If the date has passed, send an email with all the above information see the Contact page.

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Do I pay customs charges for my book?

There are no customs charges for single books.
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What do I do if my package is lost?

Technically, this isn't a frequently-asked question - packages arrive relatively quickly and, to date, no order has been lost. However, the possibility exists.

In the event of a lost package, I will make a claim. Once they determine that the package is indeed lost and the claim is settled, I will ship you another book. I'm told that if the package is very late, it usually doesn't take long for the claim to be processed.

If you wonder if your package is lost, give it some time - it may have been delayed going through customs. (See above.)
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Misc

What's not in the book?

The Better Built Bondage Book was originally conceived to be a companion to the very excellent Screw The Roses, Send Me The Thorns. Since then, many other books have come out explaining the psychology and techniques of BDSM. Despite all the books about BDSM and the fact that virtually everybody uses toys, there were no good books clearly explaining how an average person could make the toys they wanted. The Better Built Bondage Book tells you how to make toys. Lots of them.

Since lots of other books already exist on related subjects, my book doesn't tell you:

where to meet like-minded people
why BDSM is okay
the history of BDSM
the differences between subs, slaves, SAMs and bottoms
about hanky codes, silent alarms, R/T vs. O/L, vanilla, IRC, support forums, mind games, training, "true" masters, blah blah blah

Lots of other books do that (and you should get at least one). The Better Built Bondage Book is entirely devoted to making toys.
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Where's the bathroom?

Down the hall and to the left.
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"The ultimate BDSM do it yourself book."
-- Kayla Kuffs, editor of The Dominant's View e-zine