Refund & Returns Policy

Effective Date: 10th October 2026
Last Updated: 10th October 2026

Welcome to The Reading Nest.

The Reading Nest provides a membership-based physical children’s book rental service through thereadingnest.in. Membership gives eligible members access to books from The Reading Nest collection for temporary use during the applicable membership period.

Because our service involves membership access, physical book delivery, returns and exchanges, this Refund & Returns Policy explains when cancellations, refunds, returns and exchanges may be available.

By purchasing a membership or using our rental service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.

1. Our Membership Model

The Reading Nest operates primarily as a membership-based book rental service.

Membership fees provide access to the services and rental entitlements associated with the membership plan selected by the customer.

Books supplied under a membership:

Are provided for temporary use.
Remain part of The Reading Nest’s book collection.
Are not sold to the member.
Must be returned according to the applicable return/exchange process.
May be exchanged for other eligible books subject to the member’s plan and availability.

Membership payment should therefore not be treated as payment for ownership of individual books.

2. Membership Cancellation

A membership may be cancelled by the customer by contacting:

Email: admin@thereadingnest.in

Cancellation requests should include:

Customer name
Registered email address
Membership/order number
Reason for cancellation
Any relevant supporting information

Cancellation of a membership does not automatically mean that the membership fee will be refundable.

Refund eligibility will depend on:

Whether the membership has started;
Whether the membership benefits have already been used;
Whether books have already been selected, dispatched or delivered;
Whether a statutory refund right applies;
The circumstances surrounding the cancellation; and
The specific refund terms communicated at the time of purchase.

3. Refunds for Memberships

Unless otherwise expressly stated on the relevant membership offer or required by applicable law, membership fees are generally non-refundable once the membership has been activated and/or its benefits have been used.

This is because membership fees provide access to a service and associated membership benefits over a defined period.

However, this restriction does not exclude or limit any refund or other remedy that may be required under applicable law.

For example, where the service provided materially differs from what was represented or agreed, or where another legally applicable consumer remedy arises, The Reading Nest will address the matter in accordance with applicable law. Consumer Affairs

4. Before Membership Activation

Where a customer contacts The Reading Nest regarding cancellation before the membership has been activated or any membership benefit has been used, The Reading Nest may review the request for a refund.

Where approved:

The refund will generally be processed to the original payment method;
Applicable payment processing or transaction considerations may be taken into account where legally permissible; and
The refund amount and applicable deductions, if any, will be communicated to the customer.

Approval of a pre-activation cancellation does not create an automatic right to cancellation in every circumstance.

5. Memberships Already Used

Once a member has:

Selected books;
Added books to an active rental/reading cycle;
Requested delivery;
Received books;
Used membership benefits; or
Otherwise commenced using the membership,

the membership will generally be considered used for the applicable period.

In such cases, cancellation will ordinarily not result in a pro-rata refund merely because the customer decides not to continue using the membership.

This does not affect any refund or remedy that cannot legally be excluded.

6. Unused Membership Period

If a member stops using the service during the membership period, unused membership time does not automatically become refundable.

For example, if a member purchases a six-month membership but voluntarily stops selecting or reading books after two months, the remaining four months do not automatically become refundable.

Customers are therefore encouraged to select a membership duration appropriate to their expected usage.

7. Book Returns

Books provided by The Reading Nest are rental items and must be returned according to the applicable rental cycle.

Members are expected to:

Return books within the communicated return period;
Follow the return instructions provided by The Reading Nest;
Keep books reasonably protected while in their possession;
Return the correct books;
Ensure books are packaged appropriately when required; and
Provide accurate information required for return arrangements.

The exact return procedure may vary depending on the customer’s location, delivery partner and operational arrangements.

8. Book Exchanges

The Reading Nest allows members to exchange eligible books as part of the membership service.

An exchange may be subject to:

Membership entitlement;
Weekly book allowance;
Return of currently issued books;
Availability of the requested replacement book;
The condition of the returned book;
Delivery and collection arrangements; and
Any applicable operational restrictions.

Exchange does not mean purchase or transfer of ownership.

A requested book may not always be available at the time of exchange.

9. Damaged Books

Members must take reasonable care of books while they are in their possession.

Normal signs of reasonable use may be accepted as ordinary wear and tear.

However, a member may be responsible for damage resulting from unreasonable or improper handling, including circumstances such as:

Water damage;
Food or liquid stains;
Torn or missing pages;
Writing, colouring or drawing in books;
Intentional damage;
Excessive bending or tearing;
Missing covers;
Damage caused by pets;
Damage caused by improper storage; or
Any other substantial damage beyond reasonable rental use.

The Reading Nest may review the condition of the book before determining the appropriate action.

10. Lost or Unreturned Books

Books supplied under membership remain the property of The Reading Nest.

If a book is lost, permanently retained, or not returned after reasonable reminders, The Reading Nest may contact the member regarding the matter.

Depending on the circumstances, the member may be required to:

Return the book;
Pay an applicable replacement/recovery amount; or
Take another reasonable remedial action communicated by The Reading Nest.

Any amount charged for a lost or materially damaged book will be determined reasonably with reference to the circumstances, including the book’s replacement/recovery cost and availability.

Any applicable consumer rights remain unaffected.

11. Incorrect Book Delivered

If you receive a book that you did not request or that was supplied incorrectly by The Reading Nest, please contact us as soon as reasonably possible.

Please provide:

Order/rental details;
Name of the book received;
Name of the book expected; and
Photographs where useful.

After verification, The Reading Nest may arrange:

Collection of the incorrect book;
Delivery of the correct eligible book; or
Another appropriate resolution.

Members should not send books back independently unless instructed to do so.

12. Book Arrives Damaged

If a book arrives with substantial damage that appears to have occurred before or during delivery, please notify The Reading Nest promptly.

We may request:

Photographs of the book;
Photographs of the packaging;
Delivery details; and
A brief description of the issue.

After verification, we may arrange an exchange or another appropriate remedy.

13. Book Not as Described

The Reading Nest makes reasonable efforts to ensure that book titles, descriptions, age categories, images and other catalogue information are accurate.

If a book supplied is materially different from the book represented or agreed upon, please contact us.

The matter will be reviewed and, where applicable, an appropriate remedy may be provided in accordance with applicable law. E-commerce rules require inventory e-commerce entities to provide accurate return/refund/exchange information and address situations involving defective, deficient or materially misrepresented goods/services. Consumer Affairs

14. Delivery Delays

The Reading Nest works with delivery and logistics partners to deliver books within the communicated service timelines.

Delivery dates may be affected by:

Incorrect address information;
Customer unavailability;
Local delivery restrictions;
Weather;
Natural events;
Transport disruptions;
Public holidays;
Third-party logistics issues;
Government restrictions; or
Other circumstances beyond reasonable control.

Where a legally applicable refund or other remedy arises because of a delivery failure or delay, The Reading Nest will handle the matter in accordance with applicable law and the circumstances of the order. Consumer Affairs

15. Failed or Unsuccessful Delivery

If delivery cannot be completed because:

The address provided is incorrect;
The customer is unavailable;
The customer refuses delivery;
The customer does not respond to delivery attempts; or
Other circumstances attributable to the customer prevent delivery,

The Reading Nest may attempt to arrange another delivery or collection.

Additional delivery charges may apply where permitted and where the additional cost results from circumstances attributable to the customer.

16. Refunds for Duplicate Payments

If you believe that you have been charged more than once for the same membership/order, contact:

admin@thereadingnest.in

We will verify the transaction records.

Where a duplicate payment is confirmed, the additional amount will generally be refunded to the original payment method, subject to payment-provider processing requirements.

17. Failed Payments

If a payment fails but your bank/payment provider temporarily shows an amount as deducted, the amount may be automatically reversed by the payment provider.

If the amount is not reversed within the relevant payment provider’s normal processing period, please contact us with:

Transaction ID;
Order ID;
Date and time of transaction;
Amount; and
Payment method used.

The Reading Nest may coordinate with the relevant payment provider to investigate the transaction.

18. Chargebacks

Customers are requested to contact The Reading Nest before initiating a payment dispute or chargeback where the issue can reasonably be resolved through customer support.

If a chargeback is initiated, The Reading Nest may provide relevant transaction, membership, delivery and communication records to the payment provider or financial institution for review.

Nothing in this section prevents a customer from exercising any rights available under applicable law or applicable payment-network rules.

19. Refund Processing

Where a refund has been approved, The Reading Nest will generally initiate the refund through the original payment method where technically and operationally possible.

The actual time for the amount to appear in the customer’s account may depend on:

Payment gateway;
Bank;
Card issuer;
UPI provider;
Payment network; or
Other financial institution.

The Reading Nest does not control the processing time after the refund has been successfully initiated with the payment provider.

20. Refund to an Alternative Account

For security and fraud-prevention reasons, refunds will ordinarily be processed through the original payment method.

The Reading Nest may request additional information where necessary to verify the transaction or where the original payment route is unavailable.

21. Promotional Offers

Special promotional memberships, discounts, introductory offers, coupons or promotional pricing may have additional terms.

Where a promotion contains specific refund or cancellation conditions, those conditions will apply to the extent permitted by applicable law.

Promotional benefits may not necessarily be exchangeable for cash.

22. Gift Memberships and Promotional Memberships

Where The Reading Nest introduces gift memberships or promotional memberships, separate terms may apply.

Unless specifically stated otherwise:

Promotional memberships may not be transferable;
Promotional benefits may have an expiry period;
Promotional discounts cannot automatically be converted into cash; and
Refund treatment may differ from standard paid memberships.

Any mandatory consumer rights remain unaffected.

23. Membership Renewal

If The Reading Nest introduces recurring or auto-renewing memberships, the applicable renewal terms will be clearly communicated before or during the relevant transaction.

Where recurring payments are enabled, customers will be provided with the applicable information and cancellation mechanism associated with the payment method. The E-Commerce Rules specifically contemplate disclosure of the procedure for cancelling regular payments. Consumer Affairs

24. Cancellation of Auto-Renewal

Where an auto-renewing membership is offered, cancellation of future renewal will generally stop the next renewal payment.

Cancellation of future renewal does not necessarily terminate an already-paid membership period.

The member may generally continue using eligible benefits until the end of the already-paid period, subject to the membership terms.

25. Refunds After Renewal

If a membership has already automatically renewed, the customer should contact The Reading Nest promptly.

The request will be reviewed based on:

Whether the renewed membership has been used;
Whether books have been selected or dispatched;
The applicable membership terms;
The circumstances of the request; and
Applicable law.

A renewal refund is therefore not automatically guaranteed solely because the customer did not intend to continue.

26. No Refund for Change of Preference

Membership fees are generally not refundable merely because a customer:

Changes their mind;
No longer wants to read;
Finds different books elsewhere;
Does not use the available weekly allowance;
Has less time to use the service;
Does not like a particular book selection; or
Chooses not to continue using the service.

This section does not restrict any refund or remedy required by applicable law.

27. No Refund for Unused Book Allowance

Membership plans may provide a defined number of books per week.

If a member does not use the full entitlement during a particular period, unused selections generally:

Do not automatically convert into cash;
Do not automatically create a refund;
May not automatically carry forward; and
Remain subject to the rules of the applicable membership plan.

For example, if a member is entitled to three books per week but selects only one, the unused two-book entitlement does not automatically create a refund.

28. Service Area Limitations

The Reading Nest may restrict or modify its delivery service based on operational coverage.

If a location becomes unavailable for service after membership purchase, The Reading Nest will review the situation and may provide an appropriate solution depending on the circumstances.

29. Returns After Membership Expiry

All books issued to a member must be returned even if the membership subsequently expires.

Membership expiry does not transfer ownership of books to the member.

The Reading Nest may continue to contact the member regarding books that remain outstanding.

30. Return of Books Does Not Automatically Trigger a Membership Refund

Returning books is part of the normal rental process.

A successful return or exchange:

Does not constitute cancellation of membership;
Does not automatically generate a membership refund; and
Does not terminate the membership.

The member’s membership continues according to the purchased membership period unless separately cancelled or terminated under applicable terms.

31. How to Request a Refund or Return Resolution

Send your request to:

The Reading Nest
Email: admin@thereadingnest.in

Business Address:
104 – A, DSK Sundarban Phase 2,
Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra – 411028, India

Please include:

Full name
Registered email address
Membership/order number
Book/rental details, where applicable
Date of transaction
Reason for the request
Photographs or supporting evidence, where relevant

Providing complete information helps The Reading Nest process requests efficiently.

32. Review of Refund Requests

Every refund or return request may be reviewed against the relevant:

Order information;
Membership status;
Payment record;
Rental/return record;
Delivery information;
Book condition;
Customer communications; and
Applicable policy and law.

The Reading Nest may request additional information where reasonably necessary to verify a claim.

33. Fraudulent or Abusive Refund Claims

The Reading Nest reserves the right to investigate suspected misuse of its refund, return or exchange system.

Examples may include:

Repeated false claims;
False damage reports;
Claiming non-delivery despite confirmed receipt;
Returning different books;
Repeatedly retaining books;
Manipulating delivery or return information;
Unauthorized use of another person’s account; or
Abuse of promotional/refund mechanisms.

Where misuse is reasonably established, The Reading Nest may take appropriate action, including restricting exchanges, suspending an account or taking other lawful steps.

This provision is intended to protect the integrity of the rental service and does not limit any statutory consumer rights.

34. Consumer Rights

Nothing in this Refund & Returns Policy is intended to exclude, restrict or override rights or remedies that cannot legally be excluded under applicable Indian law.

Where applicable law provides a customer with a mandatory right to cancellation, return, replacement, refund, compensation or another remedy, that right will prevail over any inconsistent provision of this policy.

The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 require relevant e-commerce entities to clearly provide return/refund/exchange information and address certain defective, deficient, misrepresented or delayed goods/services. Consumer Affairs

35. Changes to This Policy

The Reading Nest may update this Refund & Returns Policy from time to time to reflect:

Changes to the membership model;
Changes to delivery operations;
Changes to payment methods;
Changes to return/exchange procedures;
Changes in applicable law; or
Changes to business practices.

The updated version will be published on thereadingnest.in with the revised effective date.

For transactions already completed, the policy applicable to the relevant transaction will generally be considered along with any mandatory legal requirements.

36. Contact Us

For refund, cancellation, return or exchange-related queries:

The Reading Nest
Website: thereadingnest.in
Email: admin@thereadingnest.in