BidBudz lets families and friends in the free world send credit, gifts, and books to someone who's incarcerated. You handle everything from your phone or computer. No visits to a store, no running around.
What is BidBudz?
A simple way for families to support an incarcerated loved one — buy credit, send gifts, and order books that ship to their facility, all online.
What are BidBuckz?
BidBuckz is closed-loop store credit you buy with your card. Use it to gift, send to a saved contact, or order items. It doesn't expire, has no dormancy or inactivity fees, and isn't redeemable for cash.
How do books get to my loved one?
When you order, we place the order with the retailer and it ships directly to the facility — that follows prison mail rules (books must come straight from an approved retailer/publisher). Delivery time depends on the retailer and the facility mailroom, usually a few weeks.
Which facilities can I send to?
You provide your loved one's name, ID/booking number, and facility mailing address at checkout. Rules vary by facility — some route all incoming mail through a specific vendor — so it's worth checking your facility's mail policy.
Is my payment secure?
Yes. Card payments run through Stripe, an industry-standard processor. BidBudz never sees or stores your full card number.
What if an order can't be delivered?
If a book can't be fulfilled or a facility rejects it, the BidBuckz you spent is credited back to your account. See our Refund & Fulfillment Policy.
Does my loved one need to do anything?
No. You run everything from the website. They simply receive the books and items you send. You can add saved contacts and manage it all yourself.
How do I keep my account safe?
Every purchase and transfer is protected by your PIN. Keep it private, and never share your BidBudz ID and PIN together.
What does it cost?
You choose a BidBuckz package at checkout. Items — like a paperback book — have a set BidBuckz price shown before you order. No surprise fees.