AbeBooks Reviews 

1,097
TrustScore 2 out of 5

2.0

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 148 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Customers frequently experienced severe delivery delays, with many orders taking several weeks to turn up or failing to arrive completely. Consumers also struggled to obtain financial compensation, because automated responses and disputed tracking numbers severely complicated the refund process. Buyers additionally received damaged books, moldy pages, or incorrect editions that did not match the original online descriptions. However, some customers also noted that certain shipments arrived promptly and items matched purchase expectations remarkably well. A small group of reviewers additionally mentioned receiving good value and books in excellent condition during their online transactions.

What people talk about most

Product

People report ambiguous experiences with product quality, noting both satisfaction and severe issues. Some... See more

Order

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about order experiences, highlighting a mix of timely deliveries and... See more

Delivery service

Clients share negative opinions on delivery_service, expressing frustration over delayed shipments and items... See more

Refund

Customers consistently note negative experiences with refund processes, highlighting long delays and... See more

Website

Consumers find website experiences to be ambiguous, describing the platform as a hit-and-miss portal relying... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I was about to buy 3 books from this online store but emptied my basket when they insisted on having my phone number in order to make an account. I don't give my phone number to any organisation or ch... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Very disappointed. Found a sought for item, listed at a reasonable price with stated postage. Placed order and paid the necessary price. Later received an email demanding extra postage as the item was... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

It is always hit or miss at AbeBooks. Most of the dealers are very bad at describing their books. There are far too many "dealers" like ThriftBooks and HalfPrice books that do not have the book they a... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I only ordered from them twice, but had issues both times, as the books never seem to arrive on time or arrive at all. I'm giving them 2 stars because I got my money back both times.


Company details

  1. Book Store
  2. Rare Book Store
  3. Used Book Store

Information provided by various external sources

Your source for used, new, rare and out-of-print books. Find classic collectibles, rare signed editions, used textbooks, and inexpensive bestsellers in our 80 million books.


Contact info

2.0

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

1K reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
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1-star

No history of asking for reviews

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2.0

All reviews

(1,097)

148 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Two months on

Two months on. Abe Books misadvertised a book as VERY GOOD.. It arrived tattered, torn and scribbled on. That to me says VERY BAD. Book returned. Refund promised. Not a penny. The saga continues but I refuse to give up.

25 May 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I wouldn't give it any stars but you have to....

I wouldn't give any stars but obviously you have to complete the review!

If I were you I would not bother, I was silly and did not look into things clearly enough and realise that this company was not going to be the supplier of the book. Only the big fish.

Within 10 minutes of ordering I tried to cancel the order, I saw the word grubby describing the book which should have been very been very good.

if the company had sent the book out, you could not cancel the order, immediately after I put in the request for refund, the order went through from the supplier!

I'm still unaware as to whether the book is going to be sent I have contacted them and they've not answered.

In the end I said to the supplier of the book please send the book because I don't think I've got much chance of getting my money back. It's only pennies but as somebody else said that's not the point! It is not recommended to deal with this company.

The website is really Primitive and hard to navigate, I tried to contact the person that was going to be sending me the book on two occasions and nothing back. Not to mention the time wasted when you consider how much people would earn an hour! Unfortunately I have to take this into account these days, ie is it worth it, and that's what they rely on.

15 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Why the low score??

I've been using Abe books now for a few years and have not had any issues. I believe they deserve a much higher score than they've been given here. Making knowledge accessible is what makes the internet great, long may they continue.

7 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Magic

I just received my book after ordering it I've had constant updates on its delivery it has arrived in fabulous wrapping and packing my first edition of my favourite subject thankyou so much very impressive the book is in fabulous condition

4 July 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Fake signature in the book

Purchased a book signed by Angus Young from AC/DC called “ AC/DC: Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be 1st 1st Signed Angus Young”.

Unfortunately, with no certificate of authenticity so I took the risk. I got the signature verified finally and it is a fake one so, be careful what you’re buying.

12 September 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Sad story

Sad story
Ordered book on the 6 July 2025
3 to 5 days delivery
Date now 26 July 2025 still no book
Email AbeBooks 3 times NO REPLY email a 4 time ,reply was we will inform GREENER BOOKS of email the supplier of the book and you will receive a reply in 2 working days ,nothing
I have not heard from either abe or GREENER BOOKS.
ABSOLUTE RUBBISH COMPANY
Will never deal with this again

26 June 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Sadly the customer service and delivery…

Sadly the customer service and delivery lead times and delivery options, lack of communication etc by Langton distribution on behalf of Abe Books meant that I purchased from Blackwells instead. Not only are Blackwells considerably cheaper but they’re also much easier to communicate with and the delivery options are much quicker.

23 June 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very poor service

Very poor service, waited 3 weeks for book to be delivered, info stated item dispatched. I asked for a tracking number as I hadn’t received it. I then received a reply with no explanation & told a refund had been generated

14 June 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The book was advertised as very good…

The book was advertised as very good condition, spine unbroken. The book was obviously well used, the spine broken and first pages loose. I’m annoyed I could have got a brand new one on Amazon for a couple of pounds more - I suppose it serves me right for being tight ! I’ll go back to World Of Books - they always seem to be accurate in their description.

7 June 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

First and last time using this firm as description of book condition not correct

I bought a book for book club, yes it was cheap £2.50 but it said it was in good condition with minimal wear-maybe a crease or two.
When it arrived it was grubby and dog eared with that feel of an old book-no way could it be described as being in good condition. I will go back to using World of books who’s descriptions of the state of the book is always spot on

6 June 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

SCAM SERVICE! BE WANRED

This is a scam service and I think its a system to generate cash and store interest free. Ordered three times the same book, ordered confirmed, then after a few days declined or not sent.

They are allowing companies like Bahmut and Awesomebooks who are offenders to continue scamming people!

Refund also takes along time to come into your account!

Dont believe me---look at all the people suffering from the reviews

31 May 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

ABE books not to blame.

ABE books uses suppliers worldwide to fill their orders. Unfortunately ABE books cannot vet the quality and service of all their suppliers. Recently I was sent a dreadful product, the typesetting (it looked like photocopy) was blurred and illegible and the book started mid sentence. I wrote a scathing review and was immediately contacted by ABE books customer support who apologised, gave me a full refund and told me they had dropped that supplier from
their inventory.
All in all I have found ABE to be excellent, and, considering their service in sourcing titles I can no longer find elsewhere, I would exercise understanding when issues occur.

28 May 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Books not delivered

Ordered two (cheap) Terry Pratchet paperbacks. Didn't arrive around stated delivery. Royal Mail tracking number didn't work. No response to email query.
Still nothing. Don't use this firm.

22 April 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Unresponsive and no come back

I have had good experiences with this marketplace, but now fear my confidence was misplaced. A recent book order was delivered quickly, but was not at all as described ("very good" condition was actually extremely poor). Neither the seller, Greener Books, nor AbeBooks responded to my queries and I must return the book at my own expense if I want reimbursement. Even worse, it is impossible to leave feedback on the seller themselves: their 5 star rating merely means they send out all the orders.

6 May 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Secret additional payment.

I bought the book Physics Based Animation (Graphics Series) supposedly for US$ 100.00, but after some weeks, I receive an extra charge. The postal service (PostNord) needed to get payed in order for me to pay VAT on the book. That extra payment was not displosed up front.

24 May 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Abebooks has a great variety of books…

Abebooks has a great variety of books particularly older books. I have bought from their website many times and had no problems. I recently bought 14 large Country life volumes from Tony Hutchinson in the UK. They weighed 70kg and needed to be delivered to me in Australia. Tony was very helpful and worked hard to organise delivery. Highly Recommend.

22 May 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Refusing to refund me

Ordered a 5-year journal as a gift and it arrived damaged. I have sent it back (tracked Signed for) , it was delivered to them 3 days later (on 16/4).
On 19/4 I get an email requesting me to ship back the item. I emailed them with all the tracking details. Yet today (7/5) I got multiple emails with the same request : to ship it back to them.
I think they have a bot called Donae, if it's a real person, them are not doing the job.
When I ordered from them I wanted to support a UK business, later I found out it's not really a UK business and I regret 100% trading with Abebooks.
In case Abebooks wants to contact me , my AbeBooks Order No.: 700272381

7 May 2025
Unprompted review

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