Frequently Asked Questions

Each story card or 3D figurine contains a tiny RFID chip. When you place it on the BoxTales device, the built-in reader identifies the chip in milliseconds and plays the corresponding audio. Think of it like a magic key — each card unlocks a different story or devotional track. The technology is the same proven system used in metro cards and contactless payments, just applied to storytelling.

BoxTales Kids is designed for children ages 3-8. It features colourful 3D figurines, playful LED animations, and stories curated for young imaginations — including Panchatantra tales, Amar Chitra Katha adventures, and regional folklore. BoxTales Roots is designed for seniors (70+) with a premium teak-wood body, large tactile volume knob, and zero-UI design that requires no technical knowledge whatsoever.

BoxTales works completely offline for playback. All stories are stored locally on the device. Wi-Fi is only needed when you want to sync new stories from the Cultural Archive App — for example, when a family member records a new story remotely or when you download tales from the community library. Once synced, the box works anywhere without internet.

Absolutely. BoxTales has no microphone, no camera, and no screen. It does not listen to, watch, or track your child in any way. We collect zero data from children. The device is built with child-safe materials (wood and durable plastic), drop-tested to 1.2 metres, and designed to be handled by little hands. It is one of the safest pieces of technology you can bring into your home.

BoxTales Kids ships with 10 starter story figurines featuring the Panchatantra collection. BoxTales Roots comes with 12 deity cards (Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Durga, Ganesh, Hanuman, and more) and is pre-loaded with 100+ bhajans, Gita shlokas, and aartis across traditions. Additional story cards and content packs will be available for purchase separately.

Yes! The free Cultural Archive App lets any family member record stories in their own voice. Grandparents can record bedtime tales from their phone — even from another city. The recordings sync to your BoxTales device over Wi-Fi and appear as new stories ready to play. This is our Nana/Nani Mode, and it is one of the most loved features.

You can pre-order directly from our website. BoxTales Kids is expected to ship by August 2026, and BoxTales Roots by October 2026. Early backers receive bonus story cards — 10 extra for Kids and 6 extra deity cards for Roots. We will keep you updated on manufacturing progress via email.

For pre-orders, you can request a full refund at any time before your order ships — no questions asked. After delivery, we offer a 7-day return window. If you are not satisfied, simply return the product in its original packaging for a full refund. Please refer to our Refund Policy page for complete details.

Yes. We will offer additional story card packs and figurine collections covering different themes — regional folklore, festival specials, mythology deep-dives, and more. These will be available for purchase through our website and the Cultural Archive App. Details and pricing will be announced closer to the shipping date.

We are launching first in India, and our initial pre-orders are for Indian delivery addresses. We have plans to expand to NRI families in the US, UK, UAE, Singapore, and Australia in future phases. If you are outside India and interested, please reach out via our contact page — we would love to hear from you and will notify you when international shipping opens.