The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are updated continually with the most common queries we receive from our customers. Below are the links to each FAQ topic:

Registration/login

Why should I register (or login)?
SchoolSavers customers using our website must register by entering their user name and password to access the system. Registered users will see product pricing, promotions, administration areas (if authorised) and comprehensive reporting of purchases made. Casual visitors will be able to see our comprehensive on-line catalogue but prices will not be displayed and they will not be able to place an order unless they are a registered user. 

Where do I register?
Call SchoolSavers for an Administrator’s User Name and Password. This will allow you to use SchoolSavers for a free 3 month evaluation period.

How do I change my registration details?
Please contact SchoolSavers if you wish to change your registration, contact or user details.

Can I change my Login ID?
As a security feature, we would not recommend School Administrators or Users to change their Login ID as it will have an effect on order histories and reporting. Please contact us at SchoolSavers to discuss the reasons and implications of this.

Can I change my password?
You may change your password at any time if you have Administration rights. Your new password will go into effect immediately.

What if I forget my password?
Call SchoolSavers and we will be happy to assist after confirming your identity.

How will I know if SchoolSavers is competitive with my existing suppliers?
SchoolSavers has been designed to provide schools with a comprehensive choice of regularly purchased consumable items, from a single source. We are mindful of the fact that we will need to be competitive and are constantly monitoring our prices against those of our competitors, in order to be successful in the marketplace. However there are many other hidden costs associated with purchasing a diverse range of products from multiple suppliers that are not related to the price of a product, which prospective customers should consider. These include the cost of administration work of phoning around for prices, processing multiple invoices from different suppliers, collecting orders and checking deliveries, monitoring budgets against spending and the considerable time involved in accounting procedures. SchoolSavers will reduce many of the hidden costs associated with buying for a school, whilst increasing the amount of time an administrator has available for other more productive duties. 

Our customers will be able to see the specific product that they are looking for as well as a choice of cheaper products that they could use, as an alternative. We will be constantly adding to our catalogues to provide our customers with as wide a range of products as possible. We will investigate any uncompetitive prices that our customers make us aware of, to establish if those products can be purchased cheaper at consistent levels from their sources. We do not trade in "grey goods" or goods of dubious origin, which could be a reason why certain products are cheaper than those published on our website.  

Product search

Could you send me a paper copy of your Catalogue?
We do not produce expensive paper catalogues, as all our products and prices are displayed on our web site. This allows us to reduce costs and helps us pass the savings along to our customers.

How do I search for a product?
You may find products using different methods:
Product catalogue - our products are organised by department (e.g. Office Supplies, Sports Equipment, etc), category and sub-category to make browsing products intuitive. A drop down menu is viewed as you mouse over “Products”. Sub groups are visible as you move your mouse to the right of the menu. Clicking on the product group shows all products in the subgroups. Clicking on the dropdown subgroups show all the products in that subgroup (Good for comparing prices for comparable products), or moving the mouse further to the right shows the subgroup products by specific brand.

Alternatively using the "Search by Brand" function under Administration will show you a summary of the categories that a specific product appears under and the number of items e.g. Lever Arch Files - 10. Clicking on the item will reveal a list of the products within that grouping.

You can use the "Search" box to find products using a generic Keyword like 'Printer' or '92298A' which will return a list of subcategories where that word or code appears. Please click on the category that it is most lightly to appear to show a list of products that match your Keyword.       

A-Z Index - for a full listing of product categories organised alphabetically that are lightly to appear in our catalogue.
Product Search - search products by brand, category name, sub-category, detailed description or product code.

What if I am unable to find a product?
Assuming that you cannot find a product using any of the above methods you can e-mail us at SchoolSavers to establish if the product is available through our website. If it is a product that you purchase on a regular basis we would be happy to include it in our future catalogues if you give us the name of your existing supplier and the product reference.

Placing orders

How do I place an order?
From the online catalogue, enter the quantities of items you wish to purchase in the boxes and click on "Add to Order" to place items in your shopping basket. When you finish shopping, click on "View Cart" for a three step checkout process: 1) Review Order, 2) Enter/review billing and delivery addresses, 3) Enter order number and any other required information. Then click "Place Order" to submit your order. (You can also view a previous order, enter the new quantities of the products that you require to order again. This will add these products to your shopping cart.) Additional products can be added to the final order before processing. Remember to include a comment to identify a special order e.g. 'Order for Art Class', for retrieval at a later stage. PLEASE NOTE: Click on the magnifying glass to the left of each product for a more detailed description and picture of the product, if you are unsure of the summary description given. This is especially important when ordering computer consumables.    

How do I amend an order?
At the shopping basket page, change quantity and click "Recalculate" to save your changes. If you wish to remove items, simply remove the tick from the Confirm box and press the Recalculate button.

How do I cancel an order?
Contact us immediately at SchoolSavers. If your order has already been dispatched, we will need to process a return: 1) the package should not be opened, 2) pick-up will be arranged on our next delivery or you can send it to us via your driver 3) your account will be credited for the entire amount in most cases, if we are notified within 24 hours of receiving your order. You can press the Cancel Order button at the Checkout instead of the Place order button to clear the Check Out cart.

How do I view an order?
Click "View Order " for status and details on all your orders.

Shopping basket

What is a shopping basket?
It functions like a shopping trolley/basket in your local supermarket where you can store items while you shop. When you find items you wish to purchase, click "Add to Order". You will see a running total of the items and monetary value at the top of your screen.

Can I leave items in my basket?
You can save an order by pressing the Save Order button and continue adding to it until you are ready to send it to us. Your shopping basket is emptied whenever you place the order or hit the "Cancel Order" button.

How do I view my basket?
A order indicator on the top right bar displays a summary of the items and the order value including VAT in your shopping basket at all times. You may click "View Cart " on the menu bar to display the full shopping basket with the contents and total charges (including VAT & delivery charges).

Can I empty my basket?
Click "Cancel Order" to remove all items in your shopping basket.

Shopping tools

This section explains why you should use each tool. For more detailed instructions, click on the Help button.

Why use Order Pads?
You can set up Order Pads for specific purposes (e.g. "Cleaning Essentials", "Conference Room") to create orders for commonly used items with a single click.

Why use Saved Lists?
This feature is very similar to pre-set lists, except that it allows you to create your own list and to update them. It is intended to save you time by allowing you to organise frequently re-ordered products according to logical lists. For example, you may create a "Refills" list containing toner cartridges, staples, and other refills that fit your existing products. You can set up lists for each user or for a department. Just create the list, save it and assign it to specific users. It's that simple!

Why use order history?
View the status and details of all your past orders. Previous orders can be repeated and will show the quantities ordered previously. Just add the new quantities and press the Add to Order button.  You can even check the status of your order on our website which will show how far the order has been processed and when you can expect delivery. Order histories are particularly good for locating a previously ordered product that you wish to reorder again. You can even enter a product code or keyword into the search box to find the product that you are looking for. 

Why use sub-accounts?
Control your spend with powerful work flow functionality. A manager can assign sub-account rights to individuals, cost centres or departments. Whenever a sub-account order falls outside of the designated product list or budget constraints, it is automatically routed to the manager for approval. The result is tighter cost control and the elimination of tedious approval processes based on faxes, forms, phone calls, etc.

Why use online reporting?
SchoolSavers incorporates a comprehensive On-line reporting facility, which allows School Bursars and Administrators to view comprehensive reports of purchasing activity over the Internet (Security password required and is School specific). They can download specific reports to their PC in a Word or Excel format for further analysis. Reports include Charts for a visual representation of all aspects of purchases made by authorized users by selected date ranges.

Register Today!