Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is Bind America?
• Why choose Bind America for your online finishing supplies?
• What type of binding method should I choose?
• How long does it take to receive my order?
• What is your return policy?
• What methods of payment do you accept?
• What if I need help with a machine?
• Do you offer any environmentally friendly options?

Who is Bind America?

Bind America is the online division of Gateway Bookbinding Systems Ltd.  Gateway is the manufacturer of the widely recognized brand PLASTIKOIL®. Founded in 1965, Gateway has almost 50 years of experience in the print and finishing industry. Gateway also designs and builds equipment for plastic spiral binding. Unlike many online retailers that simply put up a website, don’t stock a single item, and simply drop ship from whomever and wherever – Bind America has a real brick and mortar location. We are real people – not just offshore chat operators or voice mail recordings. Bind America operates from Gateway’s head office in Winnipeg, Canada with U.S. distribution through North Dakota.

Why choose Bind America for your online finishing supplies?

At Bind America, we design and build many of the machines that we offer. We have an onsite team of engineers whose only focus is that of perfecting finishing solutions. Our localized trade bindery not only serves as a test location for our products and machines, it also provides exceptional feedback on what works well and what doesn’t. We understand binding and finishing and we’re here to answer your questions, helping you produce the best looking report / book / presentation possible.

What type of binding method should I choose?

Plastic spiral – double loop wire – and comb binding are all types of mechanical binding. The term ‘mechanical binding’ describes any type of binding that collects and holds together sheets of paper without gluing, sewing or stitching. Your choice of binding often depends upon the intended use of the bound item.

Plastic spiral, or coil binding, is a very popular type of binding and is often chosen because of its extreme durability and the wide range of available colors. Bind America offers 45 different colors of PLASTIKOIL®. A plastic spiral bound book will lay flat on a desk when opened, and you can open the book a full 360 degrees. This is a great choice for school agendas, equipment manuals, cookbooks, presentations or reports – anything that is frequently referenced. Plastic spiral also holds up well when the bound item is boxed, shrunk-wrapped, and/or mailed. Plastic spiral is also the only mechanical binding that does not require a machine to apply the binding.

Double loop wire is also a common selection. A double loop wire bound book will remain in straight registration when opened. It too will lay flat but cannot open a full 360 degrees like the plastic spiral. The wire may also have a tendency to distort if packed or mailed. It does, however, have a perceived elegant look and is very common for desk agendas, calendars and reports.

Comb binding has been around a long time. Before it is shaped, it resembles a comb –  thus the name. An advantage of this product is the ability to print on the spine of the comb. This binding also enables the user to open the comb to add or remove sheets. It is commonly used for cookbooks, reports and presentations.

How long does it take to receive my order?

At Bind America, we work hard to maintain an inventory of all of the items that are offered on our site. We are able to ship most orders within 24 to 48 hours. The majority of shipments are sent via UPS ground (unless otherwise specified) and will take between 1 - 6 business days in transit (depending upon your location).  Once your items ship, if you have provided an email address, you will receive an email notification with a UPS tracking number so that you may trace and follow your shipment.

What is your return policy?

You may return ALL items sold by Bind America within 30 days of delivery. All binding products (plastic spiral, double loop wire, plastic comb) are subject to a 20% re-stocking fee. You will also be responsible for freight charges; however, we will pay the return shipping cost and waive any re-stocking fee if the return is a result of our error.

All equipment systems returned must be insured for the original purchase amount. If the item is damaged and is not insured, you will be responsible for covering all damage costs.

To schedule a return of an item, please email [email protected] for an RMA number. You MUST have an RMA number prior to returning your purchase. This RMA number should be marked clearly on the outside of all returns.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards.

For government agencies, educational institutes and national corporate accounts, we will gladly accept purchase orders once a credit approval has been issued by our credit department and an account has been established. Please contact our sales department for the required documentation – Email: [email protected]

What if I need help with a machine?

At Bind America we are always happy to answer questions about service and support for the machines that we sell. We maintain a spare parts inventory and can provide you with a parts schematic to help you determine precisely the spare or replacement part you may need.

If you don’t want to tackle a machine repair yourself, you may send in the machine for an assessment by our team of engineers. You are responsible for the inbound and return freight costs. Once the machine arrives back at our Bind America location, we will provide you with a written repair estimate plus return freight charges. We will proceed with the repair with written authorization only and payment will be processed to your credit card when the repaired unit gets shipped back to you.

Do you offer any environmentally friendly options?

Yes! Our PLASTIKOIL® Envirokoil® binding is a plastic spiral binding that is produced from over 95% post-commercial waste. Basically discarded PLASTIKOIL® binding gets re-ground and re-processed into Envirokoil®.  This product in itself can also be recycled over and over again.

Due to the myriad of colors that go into this product, Envirokoil® is only available in a black or dark green color. It has become a very popular binding alternative for those that are concerned about our environment.