Here are the questions we get asked most about The Equipment Manuals: buying manuals, subscriptions, and using your account. If your question isn't covered here, email us at info@theequipmentmanuals.com.
About The Equipment Manuals
What is The Equipment Manuals?
We're a USA-based online store for service manuals, workshop manuals, repair manuals and other technical documents for equipment, trucks, engines and machinery. You can buy individual manuals, or subscribe and get access to the whole library.
Can I buy just one manual, or do I have to subscribe?
Either works. You can buy a single manual as a one-time purchase, or subscribe to get access to the manuals in our library. Buying a manual doesn't sign you up for a subscription, and a subscription doesn't require any other purchase.
Should I buy a manual or subscribe?
If you only need one or two specific manuals, buying them individually is usually simpler. If you work on lots of different machines or need manuals regularly, a subscription tends to work out cheaper. You can compare current prices on the pricing page and the individual manual pages.
Buying, Subscriptions and Billing
How does buying a single manual work?
Go to the manual's page, click Buy and pay with PayPal. As soon as PayPal confirms your payment, the manual appears in your account and you can download it. You pay once, nothing renews, and you can download it again from your account whenever you need it.
How does the subscription work?
Pick a plan on the pricing page, sign in or create an account, and pay with PayPal. Your access starts as soon as PayPal confirms the payment. The plan renews automatically at the end of each billing period until you cancel it.
Is there a free trial?
No, we don't offer a free trial. Instead, you can preview the first 5 pages of any manual for free, so you can check it's the right one before you pay.
What payment methods do you accept?
All payments go through PayPal. You can pay from your PayPal balance or with any card or bank account linked to your PayPal account. Your card details go to PayPal, and we never see or store them.
How do I cancel my subscription?
You can cancel at any time in your PayPal account (Settings → Payments → Manage automatic payments). You can also email us at info@theequipmentmanuals.com from the email address on your account. Cancel before your renewal date to avoid the next charge. You'll still have access until the end of the period you've already paid for.
Will my subscription renew automatically?
Yes. It renews at the price and billing interval shown when you signed up, until you cancel. Where the law requires it, we'll email you a reminder before it renews.
Can I get a refund?
Because you get access to digital files straight away, purchases and subscription payments are generally non-refundable. There are some exceptions, such as duplicate charges, unauthorized charges, or a problem on our side that stops you getting access. Our Return & Refund Policy has the full details.
I've paid but can't access my manual or subscription. What should I do?
First, refresh your account page. Then check your email, including the spam folder, for your PayPal receipt. If you still don't have access after a few minutes, email info@theequipmentmanuals.com with your account email and your PayPal transaction ID, and we'll sort it out.
Using the Manual Library
Can I see a manual before I buy?
Yes. Every manual has a free, watermarked preview of the first 5 pages. Use it to check the make, model, year and serial coverage. To view or download the full manual, you'll need to buy it or have an active subscription.
How do I download a manual?
Sign in, then open the manual's page or go to "My Purchases" in your account. Click View or Download. You'll need to have bought that manual or have an active subscription. Most manuals are PDF files and some are quite large, often over 100 MB, so a steady internet connection helps.
What happens to my manuals if I cancel my subscription?
Manuals you bought individually stay in your account and you can still download them. Files you downloaded while subscribed are yours to keep for personal use or for reference in your own workshop. Once your subscription ends, you can no longer view online or download manuals you didn't buy separately. Our Terms of Service explain what you can and can't do with the files.
Is there a limit on downloads?
We may set reasonable fair-use limits to stop automated scraping and account sharing. If you're one person or one workshop using manuals normally, you won't run into them.
Can I share my account with other people?
No. Each subscription is for one user. We may suspend accounts that show signs of being shared or used for automated downloading.
I can't find the manual I need. Can you add it?
Email us at info@theequipmentmanuals.com with the make, model, year and the type of manual you're after (service, repair, parts or wiring). We can't promise we'll be able to get it, but we read every request.
What do I need to open the files?
Any PDF reader will do, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or simply your web browser. Most manuals are searchable: press Ctrl+F (Cmd+F on a Mac) and type a word or part number to jump straight to it. Some files come as ZIP archives, which you'll need to unzip first.
Are these official manufacturer manuals?
Our library is made up of workshop documentation for reference use. Manufacturer names and model numbers are used only to identify which equipment a manual covers. See our Legal Notice for more.
Account, Privacy and Support
How do I reset my password?
Click "Forgot password" on the sign-in page. If the email doesn't arrive within a few minutes, check your spam folder, or get in touch and we'll help.
How do you handle my personal information?
We only collect what we need to run your account and process your orders. All payments are handled by PayPal. Our Privacy Policy has the full details, including how to ask us to delete your data.
How do I contact support?
Email us at info@theequipmentmanuals.com. Please include your account email, and for billing questions your PayPal transaction ID. We aim to reply within one business day.