Refund Policy

1. Introduction

Agricultural and Biotechnological Reflections (ABR) is committed to providing a transparent and fair process for all financial transactions related to publication fees. This Refund Policy explains the conditions under which authors or other stakeholders may request a refund, as well as the circumstances where a refund will or will not be issued.

2. Article Processing Charges (APC)

ABR charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) for manuscripts accepted for publication. This fee covers the costs associated with peer review, editing, production, and open access publishing. The APC must be paid before the manuscript is published online.

3. Refund Conditions

Refunds will only be considered in the following circumstances:

  • Duplicate Payment: If the author has accidentally made a duplicate payment for the APC, they may request a refund for the extra payment. Proof of duplicate payment must be provided.
  • Rejection Prior to Peer Review: If a manuscript is rejected by the journal before the peer review process begins (i.e., after submission but before being sent to reviewers), the author may request a full refund of the APC.
  • Withdrawn Manuscript: If an author decides to withdraw their manuscript prior to the completion of the peer review process, they may request a refund of the APC. However, a processing fee may be deducted from the refund amount to cover administrative costs incurred up until the withdrawal request is received.
  • Editorial Decision: If a manuscript is rejected after completing the peer review process but before publication, no refund will be issued. This includes cases where the article is not accepted after peer review or editorial assessment.

4. Non-Refundable Situations

Refunds will not be issued in the following cases:

  • Post-Acceptance: Once the manuscript has been accepted for publication and the article processing fee has been paid, no refund will be provided, regardless of whether the author subsequently withdraws the article or decides not to proceed with publication.
  • Failure to Follow Submission Guidelines: If a manuscript is rejected due to non-compliance with submission guidelines, formatting requirements, or other similar issues, no refund will be issued.
  • Post-Publication Issues: After an article has been published online, no refund will be issued, even if the author requests to remove or retract the article from the journal.

5. Refund Process

To request a refund, the author must submit a written request to the editorial office at [insert contact email], detailing the reason for the refund request and including any necessary supporting documentation (e.g., proof of duplicate payment, withdrawal request, etc.). Refund requests will be reviewed by the editorial team, and a decision will be communicated to the author within 14 business days.

  • Refunds for duplicate payments will be processed promptly.
  • Refunds for manuscript withdrawal or rejection prior to peer review will be processed within 30 business days.

6. Currency and Payment Method

Refunds will be issued in the same currency and through the same payment method used by the author to pay the APC. In the case of credit card payments, the refund will be credited back to the original card used for the transaction.

7. Administrative Fees

In some cases, an administrative fee may be deducted from the refund amount to cover processing costs. This will apply primarily in cases of manuscript withdrawal prior to peer review.

8. Exceptions

The editorial team will review any exceptional cases on a case-by-case basis. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office directly if they believe their situation warrants special consideration.

9. Policy Review

This Refund Policy will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary. Any significant changes to the policy will be communicated to authors and other stakeholders in a timely manner.

 

 

Paper Prints Policy

1. Introduction

Agricultural and Biotechnological Reflections (ABR) is primarily an open-access, digital journal. However, we understand that some authors, readers, and institutions may require physical copies of published articles for personal, academic, or archival purposes. This Paper Prints Policy explains the process, availability, and pricing for printed copies of articles published in ABR.

2. Availability of Paper Prints

  • Printed Copies of Articles: Authors, institutions, and readers may request printed copies of individual articles published in ABR. Printed copies are available for articles published after the date of this policy's enactment.
  • No Full Journal Issues: ABR does not offer printed copies of complete journal issues. Printed copies are available only for individual articles.

3. Ordering Process

To order paper prints, the following process must be followed:

  1. Submit a Request: Authors, readers, or institutions must submit a request for printed copies via the [insert contact email or website link]. The request should include:
    • The title of the article(s).
    • The corresponding volume and issue number.
    • The quantity of printed copies required.
  2. Processing Time: Once the order request is received, ABR will process the order. Printed copies are usually shipped within 10–15 business days after the request is confirmed.
  3. Payment: Orders must be accompanied by payment for the printing and shipping fees, which vary depending on the quantity of copies and shipping destination.
    • Pricing: Pricing for paper prints is set based on the number of copies requested and the geographic location of the recipient. Specific pricing details will be provided upon request.

4. Pricing and Payment

  • Pricing Structure: The cost of printing each article includes:
    • Printing Fee: A set fee per page of the article, which covers paper, ink, and production costs.
    • Shipping Fee: Shipping costs vary based on the destination and the number of copies ordered. International shipping may incur higher fees.
  • Payment Methods: Payments for paper prints are accepted via the following methods:
    • Credit/Debit Cards
    • Bank Transfer
    • PayPal

Payment details will be provided along with the order confirmation.

5. Shipping and Delivery

  • Domestic Orders: For domestic (in-country) orders, the journal will use standard postal services or courier services, depending on the order's urgency.
  • International Orders: For international orders, ABR will use international shipping providers. Delivery times for international orders may vary based on location, and the journal is not responsible for any customs fees or import duties that may arise.

Delivery times are generally:

    • Domestic: 5–7 business days
    • International: 15–30 business days (depending on the destination)

6. Returns and Refunds

  • Damaged or Defective Prints: If printed copies arrive damaged or defective, the recipient must notify ABR within 7 days of receiving the order. A full refund or replacement will be provided for damaged or defective prints.
  • Incorrect Orders: If the incorrect article is printed and shipped, ABR will issue a replacement at no additional charge.
  • No Refunds for Change of Mind: Once the order is processed and shipped, refunds will not be issued for any reason other than damage, defect, or error in the order.

7. Copyright and Usage

  • Printed copies of articles are provided for personal, academic, and institutional use only. Any redistribution or commercial use of printed copies is prohibited without prior permission from the journal and the author.
  • Authors retain copyright to their articles. Paper prints are provided solely as a convenience for readers and institutions.

8. Exceptions

ABR reserves the right to modify or refuse orders under exceptional circumstances, such as:

  • Out-of-Stock: If there are unforeseen production issues or shortages, ABR may be unable to fulfill an order.
  • Non-Compliance with Policy: Orders that do not meet the guidelines outlined in this policy (e.g., requests for issues rather than individual articles) will not be processed.

9. Policy Review

This Paper Prints Policy will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary. Any significant changes to the policy will be communicated to authors, readers, and institutions in a timely manner.