Help, Support & Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who operates The MERL Shop?
Bath In Time is operated by Heritage Digital on behalf of the University of Reading and The Museum of English Rural Life.
Q. Who benefits from The MERL Shop?
The MERL shop is a partnership between The Museum of English Rural Life and Heritage Digital. Profits from the sale of The MERL-branded merchandise help us achieve our mission of opening up public collections for enjoyment, learning and research.
Q. I would like to purchase a print of a work that is not available commercially.
Unfortunately, not all images stored in our library are available to buy or download due to licensing rights.
Q. I would like to buy a different image licence from those offered.
Currently, we are unable to offer an alternative image licence.
Q. Why are some prints limited in size?
Print sizes are based on the resolution of the underlying image file. We offer the widest variety of sizes for the resolution of the relevant image file.
Q. When will I receive my order?
We use the Royal Mail to deliver items in the UK. We aim to dispatch books within seven days. Once you have received the dispatch email, please allow five working days for UK mainland standard delivery and up to 21 working days for international delivery. Both framed and unframed art prints are made to order, which requires a more prolonged process – please allow 14 days in the UK and 28 days for international orders. If you have a question about your order, please email us at enquiries@merl-shop.co.uk
Q. What are the delivery costs? What countries do you deliver to?
We deliver to most countries in the world, but some exclusions apply. We do not accept orders from the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine, Morocco, Turkey, Macedonia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia, Indonesia, Uganda and Nigeria. Please refer to delivery details for information about our delivery charges.
Q. What is your returns policy? How do I exchange an item?
Please refer to our Returns Policy for more details.
Q. Are The MERL Shop transactions secure?
Shopping online at The MERL Shop is safe. We have in place security systems and encryption technology to help ensure the security of your personal information. All information is encrypted and transmitted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol.
Q. How do I check the status of my order or track a shipment?
If your order does not arrive within the advised delivery times please email enquiries@merl-shop.co.uk.
Q. How do I contact Customer Services?
You can contact us by emailing enquiries@merl-shop.co.uk
Q. How will I know if my order has been successful?
You will receive an automated confirmation email if your order has been successful.
Q. What sizes and finishes do reproduction prints come in?
Most photographic reproduction prints are available in a range of finishes and sizes from A4 to A0. However, please be aware that some images may not be offered in these sizes due to the quality of the original.
Q. Do you use glass in the framing service?
All sizes are available in the framing service but for safety reasons, we do not use glass in the process. A very high-quality acrylic glazing is used instead.
Q. Will there be imperfections on the reproduction prints?
In some cases, yes. Many of the images have been very well preserved. However, some images have only survived in a folded or damaged condition, and therefore the reproduction will copy their present condition. Please check the thumbnail of the painting before placing an order to ensure you are satisfied with the quality of the original artwork.
Q. How are prints packaged?
Prints from size A3 to A0 are rolled in tissue and packaged in a high-quality, robust cardboard mailing tube to ensure that your order arrives in top condition. Smaller prints (A4 and smaller) are packaged in rigid cardboard-backed envelopes. Framed prints are packaged suitably in cardboard to ensure their safe arrival.