Why do Source products show two different prices in the catalog?

OrigamiUSA members receive a discount on most of their online purchases, typically 10%. In the past, we took the discount off of the order subtotal. Going forward, each price will have a regular (non-member) price, and then a separate member price, which is usually 10% or more off the regular price. So the discount will be applied on a product-by-product basis, rather than to the entire order.

Why did you change to listing two prices for each product?

In the past, all products received the same 10% discount. We are going to introduce bigger member discounts for some products (notably sales of download files), and so we needed to change the system to allow product-by-product price differences.

Do the new member prices reduce what I receive for sales of my own file downloads?

No, as always, the amount that the seller receives for a file download is based on the list price, and so the seller receives the same amount whether the buyer paid the regular or member price.

I’m a member of OrigamiUSA, but I’m not seeing the member price in my shopping cart. Why?

There could be a couple of reasons. First, check: are you logged into your website account? The menu bar should say “Welcome, (OrigamiUSA member)”. If it doesn’t show a personalized welcome message, then you’re not logged in. If you’ve got the welcome but it doesn’t say you’re a member, then your membership might have expired; you can check its status here.

If you are a logged-in member but added a product to your shopping cart before you logged in, then it will have the non-member price. Click the “Remove” link, then re-add it to your cart, and it should come back with the member price.

Do I have to be a member of OrigamiUSA to buy things at The Source?

No, anyone can shop at and purchase from The Source. You do have to have a website account and be logged in, so that you can access your past purchases and file downloads, but those are free and, if you don't have one, registration is quick and easy.

If you are a member of OrigamiUSA, though, you get an automatic 10% discount on all your purchases. If you'd like to do that, joining is also quick and easy!

What is your returns policy?

Unfortunately, we do not accept returns; all sales are final.

What is the best way to contact you if I have a question about my order?

Email is the best way (origamisource [at] origamiusa.org). Please include your name and your order number (which you can find on your order receipt). If email fails, you can call the phone number on your receipt.

How long will it be until my order ships? Arrives?

All in-stock items ship within 1-2 days via USPS Priority Mail. The arrival time varies by location: the USPS predicts 2-3 days for domestic service and 6-10 business days for international service.

What are my options for shipping?

All orders, both domestic and international, are shipped by USPS Priority Mail.

What are my options for payment method?

For online purchases, we only accept credit cards: Visa or Mastercard. Unfortunately, we don't accept PayPal or wire transfer.

For orders placed by mail using our downloadable form, we can accept a check in US$ on a US bank. However, it is not possible to purchase file downloads using the paper form.

Are my payments secure? How do you protect my payment information?

Your payments are secure. We use https at checkout so that your credit card information is encrypted when it is transmitted to us and to our payment processor. And then once your payment is processed (by a mainstream credit card processor), we do not store your credit card information in our system. (We do store the last 4 digits with your order as an identifier, but not the first 12, and not the security code.)

What do you do with my shipping/billing information?

We use it only for shipping and/or billing. We don't share your information with any third party.

We do send emails from time to time about specials and other information of interest to origami enthusiasts. Every such email contains an opt-out link. You can also adjust your account privacy settings at any time here.

Why is The Source more expensive than Amazon.com? Can you lower your prices?

The goal of the Source is to provide a good selection of high-quality origami books, paper, and materials. We set prices so that the Source operates at a small profit, which goes back into supporting member activities. While we try to keep prices low, we unfortunately can't match the economies of scale of places like Amazon and Wal-Mart. If price is absolutely critical to you, by all means, buy your books elsewhere; but if you buy from OrigamiUSA, you'll not only get some great origami materials, but your purchase will also help promote this art to our members and to the world.

Can I sell my own diagrams in The Source?
How can I suggest a book or paper for The Source to sell?

If you know about a book or paper you would like us to carry, please contact our Business Committee at business [at] origamiusa.org and it will be considered at one of our quarterly meetings.

Where can I send a review copy of a book or a product sample to be considered for sale at the Source?

If you would like to send a copy of a book or a paper sample to be considered, please ship to:
OrigamiUSA
15 West 77 Street
New York, NY 10024
Attention: Business Committee
Any books or paper shipped to us for consideration or review will not be returned or acknowledged. However, after they are considered by the Business Committee, books will be donated to the OrigamiUSA Research Library. If we would like to move forward with selling your product we will contact you, so please be sure to include contact information with email and phone with anything you send.

What are the criteria for selecting books to be sold at The Source?

General criteria:

  • Quality of models
  • Clarity of instructions
  • Completeness of attribution
  • Price / Value
Since we have limited space for stock we also consider:
  • The minimum order allowed from the publisher.
  • The physical size of the book. (Boxed kits take more space, so we try to limit the number of those we carry).
Other considerations include:
  • Feasibility of ordering.
  • There is a preference for books by members (especially volunteers) and for hard to find books (typically by foreign authors). This preference is contingent on the other listed criteria being met.