AbeBooks is your source for Used, New, Rare and Out of print books. Find classic collectibles, rare signed editions, used textbooks, and inexpensive bestsellers from independent booksellers worldwide.
Is AbeBooks legit?
AbeBooks (www.abebooks.com) has a 1.6 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 102 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Hobbies & Crafts and its reputation is poor. 79% of reviews are 1 star, a relatively high share; The business has not yet replied to negative reviews; Reviews mostly discuss Product, Price. Last updated 2026-08-11.
What reviewers say
AI generated
Most reviewers were consistently let down by their negative experience overall. Customers expressed deep frustration over receiving heavily damaged products, incorrect book titles, and unexpected extra fees charged after completing their purchases. People also encountered severe delivery delays, with several orders failing to arrive entirely, lacking proper tracking, or being mistakenly sent to wrong addresses.
Some reviewers were happy with finding hard-to-find reference books at very reasonable prices and receiving them quickly in pristine condition without issues. Consumers additionally appreciated surprisingly prompt shipping times and completely flawless items that wonderfully satisfied all their specific personal reading and academic needs.
Auto-generated from all reviews of this business. For reference only.
First of all, I guess always check the reviews
Secondly, just pay the extra $.80 and buy it from Amazon and get it the second day
Because you’ll get it right away instead of three weeks later
And you’ll get what was described or at least you can get a refund that way
I got the book they ripped out the access code so I can’t watch any of the videos and I paid just as much as if I was going to get the book with the video/access code from else ware
Oh well
Lesson learned and I will never use them again
The shipping took forever!!!
Very very dissatisfied
And here I thought I was supporting a good old-fashioned company said it wouldn’t go out of business
I’ll just stick with Amazon!!
I ordered a book from abe books and received the wrong book. They wanted me to ship the book back to them on my dime. Then they would refund me . The cost of shipping was half the cost of the book. Why are they having the customer pay for their error? Sent three emails and got an automated reply back.
I buy a book, as follows:
'Item Status: Confirmed Title: Les châteaux des croisés en terre sainte . ---------- Tome 1 , Le Crac des Chevaliers - étude historique et archéologique ------ SANS L'ATLAS, Author: DESCHAMPS ( Paul ), Quantity: 1, Book Description: Paris 1934. Tome 1 ( sur 3 ). 1 volume/1 -- Volume de texte seul , sans l'album de planches. Broché cousu , format in-4°( 28,5 x 23 cm )( 1165 gr ). -------- XXXII-327 pages avec 57 figures in-texte dont une dépliante en 3 volets . PLAN DE L'OUVRAGE : Préface de René Dussaud / avant-propos / Bibliographie / Carte des états latins de Terre-Sainte / La conquête et la colonisation / Géographie historique des états Francs / L'organisation de la dé...Binding: Soft cover. Book Condition: Fine. Book Price: £ 250.30. Postage Price: £ 30.38.'
Back comes this message from the seller:
'Dear customer, Not available before one year because stock déménagement. Do you keep the order?'
Well, a year to wait is a bit much so I cancelled. These people didn't even try. They advertised. Then failed to deliver. Must be the high temperatures in Europe causing an outbreak of LAZINESS. Message: If you can't deliver - don't advertise, AbeBooks and Bookseller: Okmhistoire. Jointly useless.
We've ordered from AbeBooks in the past, but this time, my instructor assigned a book that wasn't easily acquired. AbeBooks rushed the order and it arrived on time. The book wasn't especially pricy, but AbeBooks packaged the book carefully so that it arrived as fresh as from a bookstore shelf. Thanks AbeBooks!
Don't order unless you want undisclosed import fees
The book I ordered was from Basi6 based out of Irving, TX USA and I am in NYS, USA so therefore this would not be international. However, I got billed from FedEx with a US Customs Import Tax for this book. At no point was this disclosed it was coming internationally and when contacting customer service because the seller doesn't respond to any emails, they tell me to order within my own country. Last time I checked TX and NYS are both in the USA. ABE Books are a complete scam and I will never use them again.
There is no support for this site. Their site is a total, frustrating disaster. Their site will not accept multiple tries of valid credit cards for a purchase. The process would never go through. I finally gave up and purchased the same book through Amazon, from the same bookstore ! ! ! I think this is my last try doing a purchase through this company, after only one previous success.
I don't know why they are getting such a bad review. I have ordered several times. The prices are good and I have been very pleased with the condition. The only thing some one may say is that the delivery is slow, but I'm not in a hurry!
Dorothy K
Ordered a book & paid immediately with Credit Card.
The Shipping charge was very high for a small book.
However I wanted the Book asa gift for a client.
The seller in the USA claimed he used UPS to ship the Book . He sent me on a UPS Tracking Number which was NOT recognised by either UPS in the USA or by UPS here in Ireland.
The Seller has my money - I have NO BOOK .
Nor will I get any BOOK - because as far as UPS are concerned - the Tracking No is NOT in their system .
Raised this with Seller & ABEbooks - with ZERO results .
Ordered a book in "good condition." The condition of the book was okay, but it was shipped basically in a thin plastic bag, with nothing else to protect the book.
Be Ware! Abebooks does not have customer service! I bought a book that was listed as "Like New" for $25. When the book arrived the pages were sticking together and had previous water damage that looked moldy. I did not want to give a moldy book to a child. The refund request process was horrible and very frustrating. When you contact customer support everything is forwarded to thrift books who kept telling me they couldn't do anything and to contact Abe books. Abe books does not have customer support. Their automated response leads you to think you can get a prepaid return shipping label, but they will not pay or reimburse for return shipping.
They closed my account for no reason. I asked them why and they couldn't even give me a legitimate reason. A man named Adam who replies to emails is very nasty. He should be fired. He's the reason why AbeBooks is declining. Avoid this website at all cost.
I have used Abebooks for a long time however in the last year i have had two unresolved experiences. The first was in purchasing a book I neither received the order nor a refund nor any communication whatsoever. This month I purchased a book and the wrong one was sent. Again I wrote in good faith asking for a correction and/or a refund. I have written several times with no response from the bookseller. In finding their telephone number on line I called only to be told that I was connected to a bookshop and that their online service via Abebooks did not have a telephone number nor land address and no way to communicate directly with them. Further, there is no way to communicate with Abebooks. I am greatly surprised at the low level of quality review Abebooks has this forcing me to look towards Amazon for future purchases.
Ordered very good quality hardback sent paperback in poor state
Ordered very good quality hardback , paid for that but received tatty paperback. No response to requests for help and hard to activate refund request. Do not recommend.
AbeBooks has a paperback travel book, A Civilized Traveler’s Guide to Turin for sale for $148!!!! It is sold on many other sites for $7-10. At best unethical! If I could give them ZERO stars, I would.
I recieved my book in about a week. It was well wrapped and was in almost mint condition. The seller was Dividing Line Books in Redgewood, NY so I guess this review is really for them. I'm so glad because this was a replacement for one of my favorite books that I loaned someone and they never returned it. (Claimed they didn't remember borrowing it. Never again!) Since it is long out of print I was go glad to get such a good one! Thank you Divine Line Books!
I ordered expedited shipping and didn't receive it. Abe books will not help. They do not care about their customers enough to have a contact option available. You're much better off using thriftbooks.com. I'm tired of doing business with companies who simply can't be bothered to provide normal support.
They want you to pay return shipping on damaged book
I ordered a kids book through a seller thriftbooks. The listing was for like new no marred pages no writing. I received the book with mildew damage throughout. I couldnt open the pages they were all stuck together. I took pictures and video and they wanted me to return the book at my expense. I let Abebooks know and they refuse to back it up. So basically any seller can sell you garbage and they will refund you if you pay return shipping. I cancelled my account and put the dispute in with the credit card company.
The first two orders arrived fine, the third order contained only two of the four books, and the final order of two books hasn't arrived at all!
Will not be using ABE books again!
The wrong book was sent. However the enclosed slip had the correct title and author. When zo looked into returning it, there is no phone number, everything is online and I wasn't getting anywhere with inputting the info. So I am stuck paying for a book I don't want and never received the book I ordered. Never again!
I wish i had seen these reviews prior to my purchase. An absolute trash company. Stay with amazon. I ordered a new book which required creating an account and giving my phone number and email...this was MANDITORY.
I ordered a new paper back and when i recieved it, it had apparently been someone elses vook and had a best wishes to such and such. All over the inside sentences and paragraphs were highlighted. It is literally impossible to contact them if you don't open your account and they have still not been reached.
Never again. Im blocking all of their contact. They probanly sell you email and phone number to 3rd party brokers.
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