AbeBooksReviews 715

I've been trying to find a specific cookbook for years. Not only did AbeBooks have it, I got a great price too! Very cheap and exactly as advertised. Can't argue with that! I'll be a returning customer for certain.

Book was described as in "very good condition". Umm... NO... not even close. Stained pages throughout, even the page edges were discolored. Initiated refund request, followed instructions and returned it via a tracking number. Was told I'd rec. Refund within 5 days of their receipt of book. It was received per USPS. Nope. No refund. Will NEVER buy from them again.

I placed an order on 5th October and made a mistake in the delivery address (Greece instead of USA). As soon as the order confirmation came through (within 1 minute) I saw the mistake and immediately notified Abe books. I was told I had to contact the shipper which I did, within 5 minutes. I received no response. Today (7th October) I was notified that the order had been shipped - to the wrong address. I contacted Abe books and was told it was too late. This is completely unacceptable, and close to fraud.

I felt sorry for the "little guy" and bought from them, taking longer and missing the delivery date I wanted. They sent a completely different book, that in no way was appropriate, then refused to answer me or address the issue. I never dreamed they'd be so incompetent and that I'd need to vet them, based on a seller's recommendation.

I ordered a book from Abe Books and got it fulfilled by SecondSale. The book was to be in "Very Good" condition, but the spine was broke and it was a marked up library discard. Now they want me to pay return postage to SecondSale. Don't order from Abe Books unless you do it through eBay, where you have their buyer protection.

Recently bought two new textbooks from Abebooks. Paid over $100 for each book. Each shipment arrived with an invoice from a seller other than who I ordered from, for an inferior condition book which the seller only paid $10 or $20 for. This is a scam! I have sent two complaints to ABEbooks. They don't seem very concerned. This drop shipping tactic can get a seller banned on Amazon for life. Seems to happen often with this company. I ordered two new books and got two used very good or rebound used books that the sellers only paid $20 for.

I ordered a book on August 18 2022, order #*******. Per Abe Books record the book supposedly was shipped on September 1st 2022 seller Ergode Books of Houston, TX. As of September 23rd book has not arrived and the seller has not responded to phone calls or Emails. Payment has already been processed and Abe Books refuses to refund purchase price.

I bought a book from ABE and received it excellent condition and packaging great. It arrived in estimated time of arrival. I had absolutely no negative issues with this company and its excellent service. Thank you ABE Books.
Ann Aboud
Qld, Australia.

After months of not hearing from anyone at Greenwoods Traders, AbeBooks responded to my messages and are providing me with a courtesy refund! That has changed my opinion of them entirely, but I still want to warn folks not to use Greenwoods Traders.

This website mediocre at best. My first book arrived quickly but clearly has something spilt on it which caused water damage thoroughout the first 100 pages. I wouldnt call the "new" condition. The others now say they wont get here till October which is half way through my course so thats totally useless also.

Excellent choice of books, often unbeatable prices and an exceptional customer service to go with it.

This place is the worst place to buy a book, maybe it is good for those people who want to sell. Books arrive damaged and the return fees + the initial shipping will pay a new book. Terrible, I will NEVER use it again.

I have bought quite a few used books from abebooks and have never had a problem. I have never had to return a book, so I don't know how that would work. The books have arrived by the time specified and in the condition specified by the seller. I only buy copies rated good or very good. I also choose a copy from a seller that has a 4-5 star rating on the site.

I'm a deeply involved private genealogist here in the USA. I used Abebooks to locate a difficult to find book called The Web of Fortune. It was found, the price was reasonable, I bought it, it was delivered from England to the US in a timely manner. Arrived in the condition described. I had no problems and will use Abe's again.
Charles Cresswell

You think you're helping bookstores but you're not. Avoid this site. It's just another Amazon-owned business helping people sell you garbage.

I usually get my books from Amazon or Ebay but I thought I would try a different avenue since Abe's seemed to have a lot of mom & pop shops and I like to support small businesses. On July 26th I ordered 2 books from 2 different sellers. Today is August 18th. I have received 1 book and the other is in limbo. Shortly after I placed my other I went into the dashboard (myaccount) and noticed that the status for the missing book had been changed to delivery expected "5 weeks." I contacted the seller immediately and asked for a refund but did not hear back. In fact there has been ZERO communication from Abe's books or the reseller. No email letting me know the book was shipped and here is the tracking number etc so there is no way to trace this and confirmed it truly has been shipped as is stated on the account page. The irony in this whole thing is that the word "Xpress" is in the sellers name which if you have to wait 5 weeks to receive to receive your book it's nothing like express shipping as implied.
Keep in mind when I ordered the book no where in the listing did it say that it was going to take 5 weeks, in fact, looking back at the listing now I realize no where does it say how long it's going to take. Lesson learned since I assumed it would take the usual amount of time for shipping in the USA which is under 2 weeks. What I've learned is that this site has some good decent sellers but it also has some shady AF sellers. Even though the listing says the seller ships from the USA clearly they are not in the US and I'm probably going to receive a counterfeit book from India or China IF I receive a book at all. I don't see myself buying another book from AbeBooks which is a pity since I do want to help small businesses. Hopefully they will sell on Amazon or Ebay where there are more customer protections.
***Word of advise, when using their system to send emails to the seller or customer service SCREEN PRINT it since that is the only way you will have proof that you tried to contact them***

Disco Abe sent a road map much older then I ordered. Instead of just credit my $12 (since they inconvenienced me) they wanted me to do all the work, first send photo, wrap it up, take it to the post office across town. I informed them not having a printer connected to computer ( to print return label)so I asked if could they send the return label by mail, I was then told to go to the local library.

I've ordered already ~ 20 books, just one was not as described, but refund was issued the next day. I'd recommend this website.
I saw bad reviews here, but experience is opposite to that, maybe Abebooks become better.

Didn't receive the book by the expected delivery date. Contacted Abebooks for a refund. They basically said it's between me and the seller. Told to wait another week, bringing the total to five. Still didn't get it. Finally got a refund. Two days later the book shows up in my mailbox. It was sent by bulk mail which is the cheapest and slowest delivery method you can use. On top of that the envelope they sent it in was the flimsiest one you can buy. A real winner of a bookstore, this one. Told Abebooks I don't want it after all I went through. Got the same response as before that it's between me and the bookseller. Bookseller doesn't reply this time, so Abebooks has the gall to tell me to return it with my own money and they'll reimburse me when the bookseller gets it. I basically tell them to F%@! Off. I wound buying from this piece of garbage bookseller and immediately closed my account with "no help" Abebooks. What a nightmare. Please! Whatever you do, do not use Abebooks.

The communication from the customer support is really good. Very pleased with the items received. Thanks again