How to Place an Order or Return a Book Through FiT Publishing After the April 2026 Policy Update

As of April 27, 2026, FiT Publishing no longer accepts purchase orders or returns directly. All purchase orders and returns must now go through its warehouse, the Chicago Distribution Center, by phone at (800-621-2736) or email at [email protected]. New customers need to set up a purchasing account first by emailing [email protected].

What Changed on April 27, 2026

FiT Publishing's policy update draws a clear line between the publisher and the logistics of buying and returning books:

• Before the update: FiT Publishing handled purchase orders and returns directly.
• After the update: FiT Publishing does not accept purchase orders or returns at all. The Chicago Distribution Center handles both.

This applies whether you are an individual buyer, a bookstore, or an institution. If you send a purchase order or a return to FiT Publishing directly, it will not be processed.

How to Place a Purchase Order

Step 1: Determine whether you already have a Chicago Distribution Center account

If you have ordered through the Chicago Distribution Center before, you can place your purchase order right away using the contact details below.

If you are a new customer, you must set up a purchasing account first.

Step 2 (new customers only): Request a purchasing account

Email [email protected] to set up your purchasing account. You cannot place a purchase order until this account exists.

Step 3: Send your purchase order to the Chicago Distribution Center

• Phone: (800) 621-2736
• Email: [email protected]

Expected result: The Chicago Distribution Center processes your order on behalf of FiT Publishing.

How to Return a Book

Returns follow the same path as purchase orders:

1. Contact the Chicago Distribution Center by phone at (800) 621-2736 or email at [email protected].
2. Arrange the return through them rather than through FiT Publishing.

Do not ship returns to FiT Publishing, since it no longer accepts them directly.

If a Title Is Out of Stock

FiT Publishing states that out-of-stock titles are in the process of being reprinted and restocked. If you need a status update on a specific title, email [email protected].

Note that this address is for status questions, not for placing orders or processing returns — those still go through the Chicago Distribution Center.

Quick Reference

Context Behind the Change

The policy update coincides with a larger transition: FiT Publishing announced on November 26, 2025 that it is becoming an imprint under West Virginia University Press. Separately, as of August 6, 2025, the journals IJSF and SMQ are published by Sage. If your question concerns a journal rather than a book, Sage — not FiT Publishing or the Chicago Distribution Center — is the relevant publisher.

Common Pitfalls

• Sending a purchase order to FiT Publishing. It will not be accepted after April 27, 2026.
• Shipping a return to FiT Publishing. Returns must go through the Chicago Distribution Center.
• Trying to order without an account (new customers). Set up the account via [email protected] before placing an order.
• Using the customer service email for orders. [email protected] is for out-of-stock status updates only.