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| Products & Seminars |
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Does SlideRule Books sell all of the textbooks for each exam?
Generally speaking, yes, we sell all of the textbooks for each exam. Occasionally, the CAS or SOA will list out-of-print textbooks as one of the options. Most out-of-print textbooks can be purchased from specialty retailers but typically you will have to pay a significant premium to do so. |
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Which textbooks should I select?
The SOA and CAS no longer specify all of the required textbooks for each exam. For the first four exams, actuarial students are now given suggested textbooks or Option A/B/C textbooks as well as the required texts. It is our understanding that this change was made based on the academic theory that it helps boost students’ learning of the material.
All of the required textbooks should be purchased/borrowed for each exam. There is no substitute for the underlying textbook material. Suggested textbooks and the Option A/B/C textbooks are listed because the SOA and CAS have determined that they cover the exam material thoroughly. Our recommendation is to purchase/borrow a Suggested/Option A/B/C textbook that has a corresponding solutions manual. Many, but not all, of the textbooks have helpful solutions manuals. The use of solutions manuals are optional – depending upon the textbook about half of all actuarial students purchase the corresponding solutions manual. |
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How do I select a study manual and/or other supplemental materials?
There are many study manuals and other supplemental materials available to actuarial students to help them with the exams. These materials are a “must have” because they significantly cut your study time and improve your chances of passing the exam(s). All study manuals provide you with detailed outlines of the material, and most provide sample problems/exams with detailed solutions. Samples of the manuals are provided by most publishers and these are available as you browse the material listed on our website for each exam. Descriptions of each manual are also provided in this section. All study manuals are produced by well-known and well-respected actuarial science educators and publishers.
In addition, SlideRule Books offers the widest possible array of other helpful tools including flashcards, practice problem/exam & solution sets, DVD seminars as well as registration for live seminars. Product descriptions of all products are provided and many samples of each product are also available.
Please note: SlideRule Books also sells SOA/CAS approved calculators. Please see this FAQ section for important information regarding calculators. |
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Do you sell SOA or CAS study notes?
We do not sell these materials. Study notes are only available from the SOA or the CAS. |
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How can I learn more about a particular product?
Our website has complete descriptions on nearly all of our products and where ever possible, we have also listed product samples provided by the publishers. These samples are available for review as you browse the material listed on our website for each exam. After reviewing this information, if you feel that you need further help, please contact us. |
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What calculator do I need?
Only the approved calculators described in the following paragraphs may be brought into the examination room. Candidates may use the battery or solar-powered models of the following Texas Instruments calculators:
BA II Plus
BA II Plus Professional
TI-30X II (IIS solar or IIB battery)
TI-30X
TI-30Xa
The CAS/SOA logos are not required on the calculator. Candidates may use more than one of the approved calculators during the examination. For those using the BA II Plus, BA II Plus Professional, or TI-30X II (IIS solar or IIB battery) models, candidates will be required to show examination proctors that the memory has been cleared prior to the start of the examination. Calculator instructions cannot be brought into the examination room.
Any unauthorized calculator brought to the examination center will be confiscated for the duration of the examination. Candidates using a calculator other than the approved models will be subject to examination disqualification or other disciplinary action.
It is the candidate's responsibility to see that the calculator used during the examination is in good working order. Supervisors will have a spare approved calculator available for a candidate whose calculator may malfunction. It will not be distributed to a candidate without a calculator or whose unauthorized calculator has been confiscated. |
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How quickly do I receive electronically distributed products?
You should receive your electronically delivered study aids (as an email attachment or as a link to a secure page on our website) within minutes of receiving your email order confirmation. If you do not receive this 2nd email with its attachment then one of two things has typically happened: 1. Your company has blocked the delivery of this item; or 2. Your internet service provider has blocked the delivery of this item.
We are quite experienced in getting around these problems. One way or another, you will receive your attachment. Please contact us and we will solve this problem promptly.
If you ordered a product distributed through a secure download we will automatically email you a user name and password that allows you temporary access to a secure page on our website. This secure access download email should be delivered to you within minutes of receiving your email confirmation |
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Can I register for live seminars through SlideRule Books?
Yes. SlideRule Books registers actuarial students for many different seminars. These actuarial seminars are available for purchase in their specific exam category (along with the textbooks) or by selecting “Exam Registration” on the Exams Listing section of our website. |
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Does SlideRule Books offer discounts?
No. SlideRule Books offers complimentary Gift Cards to eligible customers. See Gift Cards for details. |
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| Ordering |
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How can I order? What is the fastest way to order?
SlideRule Books accepts on-line, telephone, fax, regular mail or email orders. The fastest way to order is to place your order on-line. However, telephone, fax and email orders are almost always processed within 1 business day.
Order forms are available for download on our home page.
Given security concerns we do not recommend email orders. Credit card information received in this manner is not secure. Your SlideRule Books account information is password-protected for your privacy and security. SlideRule Books uses industry-standard SSL-encryption to protect data transmissions. |
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What payment methods are accepted? When is my credit/debit card charged?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express/Optima debit and credit card payments. Your credit/debit card will be charged at the time your order is placed not the day that the order is shipped.
We also accept check/money order payments. All checks/money orders must be in U.S. funds, drawn on a U.S. or Canadian bank and be made payable to “SlideRule Books”. Please include a completed and valid order form with your payment and send both to: PO Box 69, Greenland, NH 03840. Electronic (bank/wire) transfers are not accepted.
SlideRule Books does not accept purchase orders at this time. Payment must be made at the time the order is placed. |
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What do you mean by pre-order? Why should I pre-order?
Many actuarial study materials are not available at the start of each May or November “exam season”. The reason for this is that the SOA and CAS often do not release the syllabus information to the authors/publishers until 6 or 7 weeks prior to the start of the new exam season. This leaves the authors/publishers very little time to update and publish the revised study manuals. Depending upon the publisher and the number of revisions required, most manuals are available for shipment by June 1st to 15th for the Fall Exams and December 1st to 15th for the Spring exams.
SlideRule Books attempts to let all customers know the expected availability date prior to purchase. We cannot control whether or not these dates will be met however, we do try to contact our customers if significant delays are expected. Most pre-orders are filled the very same day we receive the inventory at our warehouse. For this reason, we strongly urge customers to pre-order because shipments are made on a first-to-order, first-to-ship basis. If you do not pre-order, further delays are possible. Please note, when you pre-order your credit card is charged at the time an order is placed not when the item is shipped. |
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Does it matter what type of internet browser or computer I use?
SlideRule Books has developed its website to be universally browser-friendly. We no longer require that our customers use Internet Explorer. |
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Was my order processed correctly?
SlideRule Books automatically confirms all orders and shipments via email. These confirmations are sent electronically within seconds of the order being properly processed or shipped. Assuming you provided us with an accurate email address, you should receive confirmation within minutes of completing your order. If you did not receive this confirmation and feel you entered your email address correctly, please contact us. |
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How do I know if an item is on backorder?
If an item is on backorder, it is not listed on the “Your Order Has Shipped” email confirmation. We send as many shipping confirmations as necessary for each order. Shipping confirmations indicate that the shipment will be leaving the warehouse that same business day. Please see this FAQ section for additional details regarding delivery of backordered items. |
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How do I know my seminar registration is confirmed?
If you register for one of the many live seminars SlideRule Books offers for purchase, we will simultaneously email registration confirmation to both you and the seminar provider. You should receive this confirmation within minutes of registering using our website. If you register over the telephone, fax or by regular mail, confirmation will be emailed the same day that payment is received. Please contact us if you have not received an email confirmation by the following business day. |
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How can I cancel my order?
Please contact us immediately if you want to cancel your order. Our operations are highly efficient. Within seconds of completing your order, it is sent to the warehouse for fulfillment. During regular business hours, orders are processed for shipment very quickly. The sooner you contact us, the better chance we have of stopping the shipment. |
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| Shipping |
How quickly can I get my order?
Most U.S. and international orders are shipped, partially or completely, within 1 business day of receiving your order. Delivery to most US, Canadian and worldwide locations takes between 2 – 5 business days (not including the day the order is shipped). Delays in shipping and delivery of your order will occur if items are backordered. In these instances, we frequently partial-ship your order and send additional shipments as soon as the backordered materials become available. The decision to partial-ship an order is at the complete discretion of SlideRule Books. Please see our shipping policies for additional details. |
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When will my backordered items ship?
SlideRule Books tries our very best to keep all materials in-stock at all times. There are times, however, when products become temporarily unavailable. Most often these delays are less than 1 week. If delays are expected to be greater than 1 week, we are likely to partial-ship your order. The remaining backordered items are shipped the same day we receive the inventory at our warehouse. Backordered items are sent via UPS Ground to U.S. customers and via UPS Worldwide Express to international customers. |
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When will my pre-ordered items ship?
Depending upon the publisher and the number of revisions required, most pre-ordered manuals are available for shipment by June 1st to 15th for the Fall Exams and December 1st to 15th for the Spring exams. SlideRule Books attempts to let all customers know the expected availability date prior to purchase. We cannot control whether or not these dates will be met however, we do try to contact our customers if significant delays are expected. Most pre-orders are filled the very same day we receive the inventory at our warehouse. For this reason, we strongly urge customers to pre-order because shipments are made on a first-to-order, first-to-ship basis. If you do not pre-order, further delays are possible. Pre-ordered items are sent via UPS Ground to U.S. customers and via UPS Worldwide Express to international customers. |
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Do you ship to my country?
SlideRule Books ships to nearly every country in the world. Notable exceptions are Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Nigeria and North Korea. Most international shipments are sent via UPS Worldwide Express. |
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I didn’t receive a tracking number. My tracking number is invalid.
Nearly all orders are shipped by a trackable delivery method and SlideRule Books includes this tracking number in our shipment confirmation emails. If you haven’t received a 2 nd email confirming the shipment of your order, you order has not yet shipped. Tracking numbers are not assigned until the day the order is shipped.
Please note: There is a delay between when the delivery company assigns the number (at the warehouse pick-up) and when this number is posted on its website. Orders placed earlier in the day are typically posted on the UPS or USPS websites that same evening. If your tracking number does not appear by the next business day, please contact us. |
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Is a signature required for delivery?
A signature is required for all shipments sent to commercial addresses. A signature is not typically required if your order is delivered to a residential address. However, if the UPS delivery person believes that the location presents the risk of theft/loss, a signature may be required and a note will be placed on your door. If you are concerned about the security of the delivery location, please have your order shipped to a commercial address. SlideRule Books is not responsible for the contents of the package once it delivered (with or without signature). |
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Can I save money on international shipping by using an alternative method?
SlideRule Books does not offer alternative international shipping methods. We are very experienced in international shipping. Over the years, SlideRule Books has found that UPS Worldwide Express offers our international customers the best overall value, balancing cost with the need to assure customs-cleared delivery in a timely fashion. |
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I received a damaged item or my shipment arrived missing items.
Customers must notify SlideRule Books within 5 business days of the receipt of their order regarding any damage, defective products or shipment discrepancies to be eligible for a damage refund or a replacement order. Returns of these items often require special procedures. Please contact us promptly. |
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| Returns |
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30 Day Return Policy
Standard Returns
SlideRule Books offers a full refund for most items returned within 30 calendar days of the date that the order was delivered. Unless previously approved by SlideRule Books, all returns must be made within calendar 30 days.
To be eligible for this return policy, returned books and/or other study materials must be free of any noticeable wear or damage. Returned software, audio CDs and DVDs must be unopened and accompanied by its original documentation to be eligible for a refund. Electronically distributed study materials and practice exams are not eligible for refunds.
Return Policy for Bundled Packages:
The cost savings associated with bundled packages (FAP, Actex, MATE, etc) is lost if you return one or more items from a package. If a savings package gives you a savings of $30 and you decide to return part of this package, your refund would be less $30. For example, if you return at textbook priced at $80 individually, you would get a refund of $50 (the cost of the text, $80, minus the $30 package savings). If the entire package is returned however, you would receive a refund equal to the package price that you paid.
Damaged/Defective Returns & Shipping Discrepancies
Customers must notify SlideRule Books within 5 business days of receiving their order regarding any damage, defective products or shipment discrepancies to be eligible for a refund or a replacement order. Returns of these items often require special procedures. Please contact us promptly. |
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Where do I send my return?
For your convenience, your packing slip has a pre-printed, yellow return label. Please use this label and send all returns to the following address:
SlideRule Books Returns
1915 10th Ave. West
Mobridge, SD 57601 |
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How do I return the items?
Include A Copy of Your Packing Slip
Please include a copy of the packing slip and write a brief explanation for your return on this packing slip. (Example: “Item not needed.”) We ask this so that the warehouse knows who is returning the items and to make sure that damaged items are not placed back on our shelves for resale. .
Pack It Well
Important: Please make sure to pack the items very well with plenty of material to minimize the shifting of the contents of the box. Items that are returned damaged are not eligible for refund. Some covers get damaged easily so it is important that the items are packed well enough to not shift during shipment.
Tracking and Insurance
You may wish to consider sending your return by a trackable method (non-express) such as UPS Ground. Paying additional for tracking service and shipping insurance is completely at the customer's discretion and will not be refunded by SlideRule Books. |
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When will I receive my refund?
SlideRule Books processes customer returns once a week. Nearly all customer returns are completed within two weeks of receipt of the items at the warehouse. If you paid by credit card, we will refund the same credit card used for payment. An email notification of this credit will be sent to you the day the refund is processed. Check payments are refunded directly to the person or company who paid for the order. Refunds are typically sent to the bill to address associated with the order. |
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Who is responsible for the return shipping charges?
Return item shipping is typically the responsibility of the customer. However, if SlideRule Books made an error in shipping or the items arrived damaged/defective, we will reimburse you for your return expenses (for non-express methods of shipping).
Paying additional for tracking service and shipping insurance is completely at the customer's discretion and will not be refunded by SlideRule Books. |
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