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    Alibris

2024 SITEJABBER AWARD

Alibris

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Overview

Alibris has a rating of 4.7 stars from 90,204 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. Reviewers satisfied with Alibris most frequently mention great prices, good price, and shopping experience. Alibris ranks 1st among Used Books sites.

  • Service
    530
  • Value
    5879
  • Shipping
    5870
  • Quality
    5868

Proactively asks for customer feedback

This company responds to reviews on average within 2 days

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 93.2%
Positive
18,524
Neutral
803
Negative
551
View ratings trends
30
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How would you rate Alibris?
Top Positive Review

“Very impressed w/ orderly arrangement of products for...”

Cate Z.
9/16/21

Very impressed w/ orderly arrangement of products for sale, e.g., music, books, movie, etc. Makes sense! Also, the choice of sellers is easy to understand & navigate--I contacted one book seller Solr by email to find out if the used book they were selling was highly dusty (allergies) & they emailed back w/ details & evident concern. Alibris is now my "go-to" source for great prices, selection & quality of sale. Thanks for doing a great job!

Date of experience: 9/16/21
See positive reviews
Top Critical Review

“Very Difficult to change shipping address”

Stephen I.
5/17/21

Very Difficult to change shipping address. Had to quit internet browser and log back in again. Shipping choices limited. I know from past purchase that independent sellers can take their sweet time shipping items and often do. Why does alibris appear to charge at 1st class parcel rates and deliver at slower and cheaper media mail rate? Delivery window excessively wide.

Date of experience: 4/17/21
See critical reviews

Reviews (90,204)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Reviews that mention popular keywords

shopping experience (1087) web site (334) use site (204) credit card (484) billing address (196) coupon code (234) shopping cart (173) email address (78)
Thumbnail of user dennish1492
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 4th, 2024
Verified purchase

This was my first time ordering from an online new and used book store. I was skeptical at first despite all the recommendations I was seeing online or from YouTube, but everything came within a reasonable amount of time and described condition.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 24, 2024

Thumbnail of user briang2961
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 26th, 2024
Verified purchase

Excessive shipping charge from a single shipper to a single address.
Please credit me something back for the excess actual shipping.
That is, if you want me back as a customer.
Your choice now... my choice for future orders.
Thanks.
Brian Gross

Reason I chose this business:

Email coupon timely.

Date of experience: October 16, 2024

Thumbnail of user teresas2576
North Carolina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 27th, 2024
Verified purchase

Alibis is always a reliable source. Their prices are always very reasonable. I would say the only negative is the time it takes to receive the item can be a bit long. But if you can wait, they are a great option.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 17, 2024

Thumbnail of user roberty1863
Oregon
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 19th, 2024
Verified purchase

It was not clear if you had only one copy of The Prayer That Turns the World Upside Down, i wanted to buy more. Do you have real people one can talk to?
If i did buy more copies would i need to pay $4.95 shipping on each copy?

I would like to get 10 copies of The Prayer That Turns the World Upside Down at $3.00 each, hard back if possible. That would be a real bargain.

Reason I chose this business:

Just bumped into Alibris on the web.

Date of experience: November 9, 2024

Thumbnail of user robertm14714
Utah
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 21st, 2024
Verified purchase

First I had to get my original ordered cancelled. Some cryptic $#*! about that's tnot available, but we might have an alternative already in your cart. So I followed your link and tried to be efficient and use my phone to complete. Then your $#*! failed repeatedly on mobile, so then I got to dig out my laptop and see if a laptop can do it. Just. Look, man. I already been fighting problems and solving things all day. I don't one more lame tech application not working. Seriously. How did I buy a book not available? How does your $#*! not work on an iPhone? JFC 24 minutes trying to figure out how to just click back through all the same information.

Reason I chose this business:

I barely did. Because I was just trying to complete man damn order.

* Alibris attempted to help this customer through the Sitejabber Resolution Center, but the customer did not respond

Date of experience: November 11, 2024

Thumbnail of user stephenb1485
South Carolina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 29th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

I often buy unusual and rare books from Alibris and have done so for yrs. The scope of selections and the prices are excellent. Quality ratings are almost always better than the ratings Alibris gives them. I will continue ot shop here.

Reason I chose this business:

I have been a previous customer and have almost always been pleased with product and price.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 19, 2024

Wide range of purchases.
December 15th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I have been an Alibris customer for a number of years. I buy a wide variety of books, including old science fiction, current events, rare txt books and specialty books as gifts. I have been extremely satisfied with the cost, the condition of the books, and the delivery. It is only rarely that I would go elsewhere, e.g., hunting for a rare book. I think the whole Alibris experience is excellent and I frequently recommend Alibris to other.

Reason I chose this business:

Long term customer.4

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: December 15, 2024

When I am looking for somehting unusual and inexpensive...
October 22nd, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

When I am looking for somehting unusual and inexpensive I almost always find it on Alibris!

Reason I chose this business:

Years of previous experience.

Date of experience: October 12, 2024

Very easy to find book, easy to evaluate difference...
May 21st, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Very easy to find book, easy to evaluate difference between good and very good, and checkout/payment easy for routine customer like me.

Reason I chose this business:

Repeat customer

Date of experience: May 10, 2024

Easy to find the old book I was looking for
January 23rd, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Easy to find the old book I was looking for. Plus the description made the specific copy easy to identify.

Reason I chose this business:

Repeat customer for many years.

Date of experience: January 23, 2024

Easy to find physics book I was looking for and changing...
July 11th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Easy to find physics book I was looking for and changing credit card easy!

Reason I chose this business:

Previous customer for many years.

Date of experience: July 11, 2023

Found books I was looking for and the ordering process...
April 1st, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Found books I was looking for and the ordering process was clear and easy.

Date of experience: April 1, 2023

Great selection of older titles from British authors
September 28th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

Repeat customer for years.

Date of experience: September 28, 2022

Old physics and math book selection if excellent, the...
September 14th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Old physics and math book selection if excellent, the best available.

Reason I chose this business:

Excellent prior experience.

Date of experience: September 14, 2022

This is an outstanding vendor!
June 16th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

This is an outstanding vendor! I have often used it to find all different kinds of books, many of which I read in the '60s. Some have been technical, others sci-fi.

Reason I chose this business:

One stop shopping for all manner of old books. I've used it many times and have always been satisfied.

Date of experience: June 16, 2021

Thumbnail of user nottobeknownf
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 1st, 2024
Verified purchase

Nothing pissed me off more than being asked to complete a survey on a service or product. I know the bean counters love them and not completing them hurts the provider but really, don't you have anything better to do with your time, like really work on your product or services? I certainly have MUCH better things to do with my time than deal with your ridiculous surveys.

Reason I chose this business:

I was looking for a particular book. You had it for sale online.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 21, 2024

Thumbnail of user jana374
California
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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September 29th, 2024
Verified purchase

I was able to locate the book I wanted. I tried to buy it at Abe books for $2 less but they would not accept my card and they did not have a way to directly contact them. My bank said my card was active and not blocked on their end. I have been trying to get my purchase to go through since last night. It has been one big pain in the butt. I came to Alibris and I was done in 5 minutes. It was worth paying $2 more.

Reason I chose this business:

Because I could not get my payment to go through on Abe Books for $2 less.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 19, 2024

Thumbnail of user michaelr7390
Colorado
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 19th, 2024
Verified purchase

I have purchased many books through Alibris over the last ten years. All of my experiences have been positive. I have had particularly good experiences buying various cook books that I wanted to own but didn't want to pay the price for new versions. I have recommended Alibris to many of my friends who have also had good experiences in purchasing books.

Reason I chose this business:

Alibris is my go to website for books.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 9, 2024

Thumbnail of user antoninam10
New York
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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September 9th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

I belong to a book club, we have already discussed one of your books.I like the way the way the author tells a story. I like being able to order books online & in good condition…when I'm done reading your books I donate it to our community clubhouse library. Thank You

Reason I chose this business:

I’m familiar with the author…we recently had a book discussion & I want to explore more of his books.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: August 30, 2024

I was born & raised in Brooklyn….this book is our July "book of the month" club discussion
June 11th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I needed this book for our forthcoming book club discussion…ordering online with you made it easy, when done with the next month feature which is "Brooklyn", when the discussion has taken place, I will gladly donate this book to our community library room.Thank You!

Reason I chose this business:

I needed this book “Brooklyn” as its our next month feature discussion with our Book Club…also I was born & raised in Brooklyn.I’m looking forward to this book as to this day I love Brooklyn, my home town….Alibris was selected out of the group I saw on my computer & reasonable price…

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: June 1, 2024

Thumbnail of user douglass2331
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 15th, 2024
Verified purchase

When I'm buying books, my first choice is a local bookstore, but they can't carry everything and they can't get everything. Alibris can get any book (that I can think of) and they do it reasonably fast. It isn't as cheap as Amazon, a lot of the times, but using Alibris means not enriching the far-right plutocrats.

Reason I chose this business:

Customer service, virtually unlimited stock, small business patronage.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: December 5, 2024

Thumbnail of user phelanw
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 11th, 2024
Verified purchase

When I try to proceed to checkout I have encountered errors numerous times as I try to pay with a card. This added an extra 15 minutes onto my checkout process. I wish there was some shipping estimation available before checking out. Seeing my order almost double in price as I am paying is a pretty daunting feeling.

Reason I chose this business:

To save money.

Date of experience: September 1, 2024

Thumbnail of user matthewb2734
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 11th, 2024
Verified purchase

I've used Alibris for a while and love it as an alternative to big box retailers and Amazon. However, i do wish the prices were just a little lower (tho they often are as good or better than amazon!) and I wish the shipping could be just a little faster. But whatever, I like that I pay a little more for shipping knowing that it's not going to Amazon so it's all good with me.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 1, 2024

Thumbnail of user johns22377
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 21st, 2024
Verified purchase

Finding the book that I wanted was easy and while it is a lightly used book that is exactly what I was looking for to pay partial cost on an expensive book. The price was good shipping time was good can't wait to find more things to read so I can come back and shop.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: December 11, 2024

Thumbnail of user scottb3882
Australia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 3rd, 2024
Verified purchase

This has been a disaster. I have ordered Ellery Queen Masterpieces of Mystery three times now, and each time I've received Supersleuths, not Supersleuths Revisited, a completely different book! I'm ready to tear my hair out.

Reason I chose this business:

Goodness knows. Probably because Bookfinder took me there.

* Alibris attempted to help this customer through the Sitejabber Resolution Center, but the customer did not respond

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 23, 2024

Thumbnail of user robertag532
North Carolina
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 13th, 2024
Verified purchase

Easy form to order. Shipping price are higher than expected. There aren't coupons or discounts associated with this order and most of my order was used books. It would have been nice to have free shipping with a purchase over $100. Can't wait to receive my order none the less.

Reason I chose this business:

Lower prices.

Date of experience: December 3, 2024

Thumbnail of user susanr4004
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 29th, 2024
Verified purchase

I got what I wanted when I expected it. I hate being forced into surveys however, so I find this aspect very unappealing. The email asking users to confirm delivery is slightly deceptive and off-putting.

Reason I chose this business:

Best price for the book I wanted with reasonable delivery date

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 19, 2024

Thumbnail of user felicial184
Pennsylvania
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 24th, 2024
Verified purchase

I did expect my book that I ordered to arrived a bit sooner than it did. However, I did wait too long to order it. My stress may have been from my own doing. Thank you for the product it is in great condition.

Reason I chose this business:

Found on google

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 14, 2024

Thumbnail of user janiced257
Maine
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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September 25th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

Went to Alibris To find some books on hiking the Appalachian Trail. As usual, Alibris did not disappoint. Found three that were great prices and in great condition and they were delivered promptly. Will be searching for other things in the future on Alibris

Reason I chose this business:

I am always able to find what I need here.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 15, 2024

Why is hippo books charging me almost $10 for two very...
January 6th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Why is hippo books charging me almost $10 for two very thin books?

Reason I chose this business:

Couldn’t find the books anywhere else

Date of experience: December 30, 2023

Easy to find items. Lots of choices
May 31st, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

Best prices!

Date of experience: May 31, 2022

I always manage to find what I am looking for
April 25th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I always manage to find what I am looking for. Easy, User friendly... Love this app.

Reason I chose this business:

I use Alibris to find a less expensive way to purchase books.

Date of experience: April 25, 2022

Recently went shopping for large print books for an...
January 13th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Recently went shopping for large print books for an assisted living home and only 2 out of 7 books that were advertised as large print actually were large print. Disappointed, but still love Alibris

Reason I chose this business:

Looking for more large print books but contacting buyers first.

Date of experience: December 14, 2021

Always easy to find what I'm looking for and for a...
November 29th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Always easy to find what I'm looking for and for a price I want.

Date of experience: November 29, 2021

I always find what I'm looking for and at a reasonable...
November 6th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I always find what I'm looking for and at a reasonable price.

Reason I chose this business:

Checked to see if prices were better... and they were.

Date of experience: November 6, 2021

Usually able to find whatever I am looking for...
February 26th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Usually able to find whatever I am looking for... and much more. Shipping is quick and prices are always right.

Reason I chose this business:

Was checking for better prices than big bookstores.

Date of experience: February 26, 2021

Thumbnail of user marylyne4
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 26th, 2024
Verified purchase

I ordered a book about character actors. I was looking for something I remembered from my parents' library of 50 years ago. I used to pour over that book and recognize so many actors and was pleased to know their names. What I received was not exactly what I was looking for but it was helpful and in good condition.

Reason I chose this business:

It just came up.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 16, 2024

Thumbnail of user elizabethv1326
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 21st, 2024
Verified purchase

Always find the odd, obscure, out-of-print, and niche booksI'm looking for on Alibris. It all started with a 1930s book about nurses turned airline stewardesses that I had as a kid but was lost in a move (I was the kid adults gave their old childhood books to).

Reason I chose this business:

Wanted to find yet another niche book that has an essay I’ve wanted to read for ages.

Date of experience: October 9, 2024

Thumbnail of user elizabethd1918
Puerto Rico
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
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October 26th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

The search engine works very well, and I was able to find exactly what I was looking for. The descriptions were accurate and succinct, and I appreciated how clearly the books were described whether fair condition good condition, etc. Check out process was very smooth and I was able to place my order quickly. I have used Alibris many times, and have always been pleased.

Reason I chose this business:

You had the least expensive copy of a book I was looking for, even including shipping.

Date of experience: October 16, 2024

I love being able to choose new or used books
June 30th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I love being able to choose new or used books. Great selection.

Reason I chose this business:

I did a Google search on the desired title, and Alibris had the best price even with shipping.

Date of experience: June 20, 2024

After I entered my info to log in, I had to enter it...
April 29th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

After I entered my info to log in, I had to enter it all over again in the shipping section of the order.

Date of experience: April 29, 2023

Thumbnail of user teresah1560
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 21st, 2024
Verified purchase

I received my book on time, and it was in excellent condition. The only disappointment was that the book's paper cover was missing, but I understand how covers can be removed, destroyed, or lost. I worked in a library, and the library immediately stripped the covers from books before putting them on shelves. So, considering the book was used, that was not a big problem; otherwise, everything was top-notch!

Reason I chose this business:

I have been ordering from Alibris for years! It's an awesome resource for books!

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 9, 2024

Thumbnail of user nicolan52
GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 1st, 2024
Verified purchase

The books arrived in good time, with lovely secure packaging and in wonderful condition - they seem virtually new, even though they are over 20 years old! Considering this condition, the price was extremely reasonable, although the postage pushed it up a bit (but I was shipping from US to UK). More than happy with this purchase, would definitely recommend and buy from EdmondDantes Bookseller again.

Reason I chose this business:

They had a mixture of the best condition for the lowest price.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 21, 2024

Thumbnail of user jamesj4508
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 27th, 2024
Verified purchase

The free shipping icon did not initially appear to be honored, so I put back quite a few of my selections. The paid shipping was outrageous, and convinced me to get some other selections via other means.

Reason I chose this business:

I was emailed a coupon code.

Date of experience: October 17, 2024

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From the business

We love browsing books, drinking coffee, and talking with people who love good stories.

Business History

Born from Interloc, a database for proffesional booksellers, Alibris has spent over two decades connecting book lovers to book sellers. It's the premier marketplace for textbooks, used books and rare, out-of-print books and supports countless small booksellers across the country. With over 270 million books, Alibris has something for you.

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user mikef1003
Mike F.
Director of Client Services
Typically responds within 2 days

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