Contact & FAQ
Q: Can I order books that I don't see on your website or on your shelves?
Yes! Give us a call during business hours or send us an email at info@callandresponsechi.com with the title of the book and the quantity and we can get you set up with a special order!
Q: I'm an author! How can I schedule an event at your shop?
Thanks so much for considering us for hosting your author event here at the shop! For all book-related events, we ask all authors to fill out the below inquiry form! Please do not call to pitch your book--our store phone is for customer questions!
Please note that we currently require at least 2 months' advance notice for scheduling an event at our store due to our small team and limited capacity--our calendar fills up very quickly! If we're able to schedule an event for you here, we will reach out as soon as possible!
**Note: If you are looking to schedule a non-author community event, please email us at info@callandresponsechi.com to discuss! This form is only for author/book-related events!
Q: I'm an author! How do I get my book on your shelves?
Thank you so much for considering us for selling your book!
Please do not call the store to pitch your book! Before filling out the form, please review the following:
- We are only able to work with authors whose books are available, at minimum, on Ingram (psst - if you're not familiar with Ingram, here's some preliminary information to help get you started!). We do not currently have capacity to sell books on consignment at this time!
- If you are self-published, we are currently prioritizing local authors based in the Chicago area!
- We do not sell books with AI-generated cover art or AI-generated text in an effort to protect the valuable work of artists.
If you're looking to have a book talk and signing at Call & Response, after filling out the above form, please email us at info@callandresponsechi.com with information about your book and the proposed event.
Please note that we are a small team and as such do require at least two months' advance notice for author events--our calendar fills up very quickly!
Q: Are you currently hiring?
We are not currently hiring! We will be sure to update this page and our social media if/when this changes. Thank you!
Q: Can my book club meet at your bookstore?
Of course! Please email us to let us know when you plan to meet and how many people you anticipate attending. We do ask that book clubs using the space purchase the book from our shop.
Q: Can I rent the storefront space for my private event?
Yes! Please email us to discuss times and rates.
Q: What is your returns policy?
All returns must be made within 7 days of purchase or, in the case of shipped goods, postmarked within 7 days of receipt. We cannot accept any returned items without a receipt. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were initially purchased. We reserve the right to decline to accept a return if the book appears to have been read or damaged since purchase. Shrink-wrapped or otherwise wrapped items will not be accepted if opened or without its container.
All sales from our discount section, as well as all bulk purchases, preorders, and special orders, are final.
**Effective June 2025, we are only able to provide refunds in the form of store credit, which can be applied to future purchases made in-store or through our website.**
Q: Do you accept book donations or purchase used books?
Unfortunately, we do not have capacity to accept donations of used books at this time, as we exclusively sell new books. If this changes at some point in the future, we will be sure to keep everyone updated!
If you're looking to sell used books, we would recommend checking out Powell's Books here in Hyde Park, or if you are looking to donate used books, Open Books (which has several locations across the city).