Your session is not secure, click here if you want to switch to the secure server.

Shopping Notes

Please read this section to learn about the American Atheists Online Catalog. If you have trouble resolving technical issues, contact the webmaster or visit the contact American Atheists page for more information.

Quick Jump (on this page):

• Security
• Navigating The Catalog
• Cookies, E-mail and Privacy
• How to Shop
• Review and Checkout
• Member Discount
• Troubleshooting

Security

The normal operation of the online catalog is with security enabled. Your browser displays a small locked padlock somewhere in the status area (varies by browser.) The location window near the top of your browser starts with "https://lightning.he.net/~atheists/". In this mode, all traffic between your browser and the server is encrypted.

Some people have difficulty using a secure server due to a firewall or proxy server. In this case, it is possible to use the online catalog in the unencrypted mode. The padlock is in the open state, and the location window starts with "http://www.atheists.org/". In addition, "Connection: not secure" is displayed in red at the bottom right of each page. If your shopping cart is empty, each page displays a link to the secure server near the top.

It is up to you whether you want to take the risk of using the standard mode, but usually you won't have to. Most people can use the secure mode.

Either way, any information you enter is always secure on the server.

Navigating The Catalog

At the very top of each page right below the American Flag graphic, are the words Checkout, Top, and Cancel. These same words appear at the left of each page just below the American Atheists logo.

The Top links take you to the main online catalog page.

The Cancel links take you to a page that will allow you to empty your shopping cart of any items you have placed in it (see below.)

The Checkout links take you to a page where you can review your shopping cart and purchase the items.

On the left, below the title Jump To, are links to all the catalog categories or departments. Click these to open the page with that category. On each of the category pages there is a table of products in that category.

Some, but not all, products have a (product info) link. Where present, clicking on that link takes you to a page with specific information on that item.

Important Note on Cookies, E-mail and Privacy

The American Atheists online shopping system uses a browser cookie to keep track of your session as you navigate and shop. This cookie is named PHPSESSID. It is a short-lived cookie and contains no personal information. You will get a new version of this cookie whenever you visit the catalog. We do not track you between visits.

You must allow your browser to accept this cookie to shop. If you find you are unable to shop, please check your browser settings and make sure it can accept session cookies.

When filling out the checkout forms, please provide a correct and valid email address. We will not share it with anyone. We use it only to contact you about this order.

How to Shop

Like most online shops, the American Atheists Online Catalog gives you a virtual shopping cart. You place items in it from the category (department) pages or from the individual product pages.

The category pages have multiple products in a table. Enter the quantity of each item that you want and click one of the Update Shopping Cart buttons. There is a button at the top and another at the bottom of the table. Either button will do.

At any time, you can change the quantity of an item in your cart by typing in a new number and clicking an "Update Shopping Cart" button.

Once you have one or more items in your cart, the product tables will have an order summary at the top. The summary gives you your current order total based on domestic US shipping. International shipping will be different, so if you are not a US customer, this will only be an estimate.

Don't hesitate to put items in your cart as you shop. You can remove them at any time by typing a 0 (zero) in the quantity box and clicking "Update Shopping Cart." The checkout procedure will also give you an opportunity to remove items from your cart. Unlike a real supermarket, we won't make you put the items back on the shelves.

If a product does not have a quantity box, then it is currently out of stock. Keep checking occasionally, and hopefully we will get it back in stock quickly.

As you navigate around the catalog and visit pages you have already shopped from, the quantity of each item will already be filled in. You can change the quantity and update. You can also add other items from the same page by typing a value next to that item and clicking update.

Do not remove the quantities from previous items or they will be removed from your cart.

Review and Checkout

You can click the "Checkout" link any time if you want to see all the items in your cart. The initial checkout page displays all your items. You can apply the appropriate shipping selection, member discount, and sales tax (for New Jersey residents.) Below the input area are two buttons. The left one, Recalculate and Review, adjusts all the amounts based on changes you have made and redisplays the page. The right one, Recalculate and Finalize, also makes the same computation, but displays the next input form. Click this right button when you are ready to provide address and payment information.

The next page displays your cart again, and has three input sections: Billing Information, Shipping Information, and Payment Information.

Billing information is always about you, the shopper. Enter your name, email, etc. in the appropriate input boxes.

Shipping information tells us where to send the items. All items in one order go to the same place. If the shipping information is the same as billing, check the box right above the Shipping input area and skip that section.

In the Payment Information section, select a credit card or check. If you select a credit card, fill in your name exactly as it appears on the card, the card number, and expiration date.

When you are ready, click the Complete My Order button. If you have left out any required items, or some items do not validate as correct, the page redisplays with hints as to what you must correct.

Once the automatic validation passes, you see a page with the entire order as it will be sent to American Atheists. Click the Place Order button to send it, or Revise Order if you want to make any changes.

If you have elected to pay by check, you will receive e-mail instructions on how to mail in the order and check to American Atheists.

If you have elected to pay by credit card, you do not have to do anything else. The American Atheists Center will contact you if there is any problem, or you will receive the order.

Member Discount

Members of American Atheists receive a 10% discount on books and products. Check the discount box on the checkout page to apply and receive the discount. This is subject to verification of your current membership in American Atheists.

Subscriptions are not eligible for this discount.

Troubleshooting

The online catalog is compatible with most browsers and computer types. However, you will get the most out of it if you have a fairly modern browser. We recommend Internet Explorer 5.x or higher, or Netscape 7.x or higher. For security reasons that have nothing to do with the American Atheists Online Catalog, it is a good idea to keep your web browser software up to date.

If you notice that you cannot put items in your cart, the likely cause is that you are not accepting the browser cookie. Accepting the cookie is required in order to shop.

If you are using Internet Explorer and you are having difficulty using the secure (https) mode, try this procedure: In your web browser, go to menu Options / Internet Options. Select "Advanced" tab. Scroll down to "Security" and make sure that the box next to "Use TLS 1.0" is checked

If you need help in resolving a technical issue with the online catalog, please always include as much information as possible. If you just say "it isn't working," we will have to ask for details, and that could delay any help we may be able to offer.

Connection: not secure