AbeBooks Reviews 

1,092
TrustScore 2 out of 5

2.0

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 147 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Numerous customers frequently complained about missing deliveries, invalid tracking numbers, and major difficulties obtaining refunds when items completely failed to arrive as expected. Many online buyers also received items in very poor condition, sometimes differing entirely from what was originally described on the platform. Though some customers encountered delivery and product issues, others were genuinely pleased to find their books arrived quickly in perfect condition. A few reviewers additionally appreciated swift shipping times and exceptional overall value when purchasing second-hand items from various independent sellers.

What people talk about most

Product

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with product quality and descriptions. Many reviewers... See more

Order

Consumers find order experiences mixed, highlighting both frustrations and occasional satisfaction. Reviewers... See more

Delivery service

Reviewers mention negative feedback about delivery_service, frequently highlighting delayed shipments and... See more

Refund

Users describe negative interactions with refund processes, citing significant frustration and delays in... See more

Website

Clients share ambiguous opinions on website experiences, often finding the platform to be a hit or miss due... 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
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1-star

No history of asking for reviews

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2.0

All reviews

(1,092)

143 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Another disappointed customer of Abe…

Another disappointed customer of Abe Books UK.
\Ordered a book. Didn't arrive. Tracking number not valid. Contacted seller; no response. Abe says you have to wait 24 days(?) after the predicted delivery date before you can initiate a refund claim.Tried to get order cancelled /refund but told too late! Tried to cancel my account - there is no way to do so!!!! Why did I give only one star? Because I can't give zero stars!!!

November 20, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Really good experience.

I ordered my book before I looked at other reviews and tbh was a but worried after seeing some of the other comments. My experience couldn't have been better though - the book i ordered was good value, is in perfect condition and was delivered quickly.

November 28, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Help!

Ordered a book through abe books thought I had cancelled as shown on account return/refund initiated. Book turned up and now purchase not listed on my orders so no return info. Have contacted both abe books and great book prices uk. Great books do not reply and abe books is monitored by a bot which does not answer the question.

November 8, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Another customer who won't use AB…

Another customer who won't use AB again.

Book described as 'Good', but arrived with many pages marked with purple highlighter.

If a product is not as desribed the buyer is not liable for carriage costs for a return and refund, but there seems to be no way around this.

Contacted both the seller and AB about this, but no response from either.

UPDATE: AbeBooks did make a refund eventually.

November 6, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

one of the worst platforms to sell one

one of the worst platforms to sell one, i left them as lets be honest there poor to work with and they just keep trying to take money every month and this has been going on for a year now, they dont respond to emails at all.

December 13, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I've paied for a book I have not received

I've bought a book on 15 October with express delivery, for a total of USD 225, estimated to be delivered by 27 October. I did not receive the book. I wrote to the seller via the ABEBooks website on 31 October and informed the seller of the lack of delivery. I received a receipt saying 'allow 2-5 working days for an answer'. I did not hear anything. So I wrote again on 5 November and received the same receipt, still without any answer and no delivery. I cannot get in contact with anybody. The 225 USD was collected from my account on 15 October, and I still haven't heard anything. This is the last time I have purchased through ABEBooks, and I strongly recommend others to find other solutions. Of course, I have contacted my bank to get the money returned.

October 15, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Effectively theft. Abebooks are refusing to process my…

Abebooks are refusing to process my refund for a book as they claim they are facilitating a "transactional purchase" (forwarded order) and continually refer me to the seller AZ books who have not replied to any emails. My credit card provider states clearly Abebooks has taken the money but they wont deal with the refund. Theft effectively.

November 7, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Do NOT buy from this site

I ordered a book which said it would be delivered on or before 31st October. It's now 4th November and no sign of package delivery. The royal mail tracking number they provide in the purchase receipt isn't recognised and emailing the company is met with no response. This absence of delivery, fake tracking number and lack of response seems to mirror what many others people have said here. DON'T buy from them, they're a scam and I've given up all hope of ever getting my money back.

November 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They took very long to deliver, and just dropped at the building entrance

They took very long to deliver, and when they did, they just left unattended on the building entrance without contacting me or anyone in the flat.
You should not just drop it, take a photo and leave. The books were taken by someone else, or stolen or miss taken. This is not good, and than other companies complain about the service of Amazon, i will from now on pay more expensive from a trustful company that knows how to deliver.

November 3, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I only ordered from them twice

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.

November 3, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Scammers

Scammers! Don’t buy from them!
Bought a book and was sent a Royal Mail tracking number and email receipt. Book never arrived. Royal Mail didn’t recognise the tracking number. All emails sent to company requesting information ignored.

November 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Library book resold

Recently ordered a second hand book, and was surprised when it arrived to find that it had a label from Nottinghamshire County Council inside. Made me feel uncomfortable that someone is reselling library books, unless the library sold it on.
Condition of the book itself was fair and it arrived quickly.

October 31, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

SCAMMERS

I selected one star for the sake of leaving a review otherwise it’s 0. I ordered a book and it’s now 5 days after the expected date of delivery but the book still hasn’t come despite receiving numerous notifications saying your book is arriving today.
I contacted the seller and never heard from them. Please don’t waste your money for anything on AbeBooks.
The order said Evril will deliver and when Evril are expecting to deliver parcels they send notifications to say we are expecting your parcel from this company and will let you know once it gets here. When they receive they say we have received your parcel and will deliver ASAP. For this order, I didn’t receive any notification from EVRIL meaning it was not shipped

October 27, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Avoid this company at all costs

Avoid this company at all costs. I was sent a book from Germany describing the book as signed by a famous artist. It has been a nightmare trying to send this book back. They requested I send back the book at my expense and they would re-imburse the cost. I have done that, they have received the book but despite me chasing them I still have not received a refund or my costs for sending the book back which was nearly the cost of the book. The worst company I have ever dealt with!

October 24, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Poor Customer Service

I purchased a book from Greener Books, via Abe Books.

Three weeks on and still no delivery despite making three requests for updates and, finally, a refund.

Abe Books merely forwards the messages on to seller who refuses to respond. Abe Books now are refusing to refund as the seller has provided a Royal Mail tracking number which no appears to be fictitious.

Luckily I paid by card so have the right of chargeback. Will never use Abe Books again so be warned.

October 28, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I ordered a book on 28th September and…

I ordered a book on 28th September and the delivery was supposed to be on or before 18th October. It is now 23rd October and it still has not arrived. I've contacted the seller and they have ignored me. So then I messaged Abebooks to tell them about this and they have ignored me as well. I will NEVER use Abebooks ever again! In future I will use Amazon UK

October 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

The booksellers are pushing out books…

The booksellers are pushing out books which do not fit the descriptions on conditions so beware. If you ask for a refund you might get one or be ask to return the book at your expense. I will not be using ABE books again as I do not trust them. There also appears to be no way of contacting their support which sends you in the usual loops

October 1, 2025
Unprompted review

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