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    Alibris

2024 SITEJABBER AWARD

Alibris

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Overview

Alibris has a rating of 4.7 stars from 90,174 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
    528
  • Value
    5867
  • Shipping
    5858
  • Quality
    5856

Proactively asks for customer feedback

This company responds to reviews on average within 2 days

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 93.2%
Positive
18,519
Neutral
800
Negative
553
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 (90,174)

Rating

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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 m.d22
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 19th, 2024
Verified purchase

As many folks know, gradually, even inevitably, CD's are becoming passe, impossible to purchase, especially at reasonable prices and newer technology is being marketed aggressively.
At the same time, CD's are still a wonderful item, especially for classical music collections. In this light, Alibris is a valuable find and this is deeply appreciated by this consumer.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: December 9, 2024

Thumbnail of user sic10
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 21st, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

Alibis has been my go-to source for used & hard-to-find books for over a decade. I have never been disappointed.

My only request is to please make it easier to search/sort by individual sellers, which would make it easier to buy several books at once from a single store.

Thanks, and keep up the good work!

Reason I chose this business:

I want to support used book stores!

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 11, 2024

Love you guys!
April 5th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Love you guys! My only complaint is that I can't search by seller. It would really help if I could search a seller for other books I want, cutting down on shipping costs (& carbon footprint!). I live somewhere without bookstores, so you are my Go-To and I am so grateful.

Reason I chose this business:

See above. Love you guys.

Date of experience: March 26, 2024

Thumbnail of user agentp3
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 8th, 2024
Verified purchase

I've been a book collector my whole life. I absolutely enjoy Alibris so much. From looking to buying to finally receiving my books is a pleasure. I will always check in with them first when I am hunting down a collection. Much appreciation for your whole team. Stellar company 🙏🏼

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 28, 2024

Thumbnail of user anav314
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 6th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

All sorts of books, from classics to modern, mostly in good condition and at a reasonable price. Shipping may make the books more expensive than their cost. I never received the coupons I signed up for. Thank you

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: August 27, 2024

Alibris is a great resource for book lovers who want to extent the lifetime of wonderful books!
June 13th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I usually find the books I need in Alibris. And I love it because I can find top class literature in Spanish as well.

Reason I chose this business:

I've been a customer for a long time.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: June 3, 2024

I was not able to apply any coupon and the shipping...
May 16th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I was not able to apply any coupon and the shipping is costly

Reason I chose this business:

I've been a customer for many years and I always find what I'm looking for.

Date of experience: May 16, 2023

Thumbnail of user stevenm5025
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 8th, 2024
Verified purchase

Great first experience. Was able to quickly find what I wanted at a price I was please with and my book arrived in relatively short order. I have already returned to the site and purchased another book just yesterday. This will be my first stop for books that are not new to market.

Reason I chose this business:

Not sure how I came across your website.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 29, 2024

Thumbnail of user ronniec113
Kansas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 23rd, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

I'm a used-books person. I don't need new. I believe in responsible reuse of produced goods. As such, I find Alibris to be a good online marketplace to easily find titles, in gently used condition that are attractively priced. Alibris is an easy and intuitive site to use, but do check the reliability and ratings of the different sellers, to better assure a good shopping experience.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 13, 2024

Logical and easy to move about and very relevant and...
June 8th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Logical and easy to move about and very relevant and helpful detailed information

Reason I chose this business:

Great site to shop

Date of experience: May 29, 2024

Easy, well-organized, content, navigation, and shopping
March 8th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

For the last many years, Alibris is where I buy almost all my books.

Date of experience: March 8, 2024

So easy to find books; love the customizable Wishlist...
June 28th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

So easy to find books; love the customizable Wishlist feature; seems to be a good marketplace of credible merchants.

Reason I chose this business:

Because I always shop for used books from Alibris, because it's such a facile experience

Date of experience: June 28, 2022

Straightforward and easy to search via preferences;...
May 9th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Straightforward and easy to search via preferences; love the comprehensive and easy-to-search Order History, along with the detailed Seller Ratings

Reason I chose this business:

Because I always shop Alibris first for books; dislike having to resort to Amazon.

Date of experience: May 9, 2022

It's a good shopping experience: intuitive, easy to...
February 5th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

It's a good shopping experience: intuitive, easy to use, reputable merchants, good communication

Date of experience: February 3, 2021

Thumbnail of user penelopeb169
District of Columbia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 15th, 2024
Verified purchase

I was able to find the book I was looking for. It was in *perfect* condition! It came relatively quickly. The only thing I would change would be if there could be more detailed tracking for the shipment. We live in a hi density area and there are many "porch pirates" here. Plans have to be made if things might be delivered when we're not home.
It all worked out well this time. Since it was only one book, it fit in my mailbox (so I'll try to keep it in mind when I order again - only one, smallish book at a time)

Reason I chose this business:

That's just where I look first for some reason. Don't remember how I found Alibris at first but that's my go to.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 5, 2024

Thumbnail of user rayb401
New York
3 reviews
0 helpful votes
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September 20th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

The book and delivery were great. BUT it's sad that Alibris doesn't name the book when inquiring whether I have received it, It's absurd that I have to search through my files just to find out which book Alibris is referring to. It would be so easy to give the book's title on the initial inquiry!
I can't recommend Alibris with conviction because of this failure to provide basic information that saves me time in responding to your inquiry.

Reason I chose this business:

Cheapest option for this book

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 10, 2024

Fine, but getting the book is what matters
June 18th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Fine, but getting the book is what matters. No-one should have to rate before receivinbg the merchandise

Date of experience: June 8, 2024

What matters is receiving the book, not commenting...
January 9th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

What matters is receiving the book, not commenting on requesting it!

Reason I chose this business:

Book price & descfiption

Date of experience: January 9, 2024

Fine, but what I need ks the book
November 22nd, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Fine, but what I need ks the book. Ask the question if/when I receive it! Instead of this intro message, I'd prefer just the follosw up, but because you make work with intros, K prefer not to provide folloew-up unless I have a big problem/

Date of experience: November 22, 2023

So far, fine, but it's only when I get the book that...
October 14th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

So far, fine, but it's only when I get the book that I can say anything useful

Date of experience: October 14, 2023

Great
September 11th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Great --- but what I need is the book, and all will be resolved when it arrives

Date of experience: September 11, 2023

Fine, but I won't be happy till I receive the book!
September 7th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Date of experience: September 7, 2023

Great, as long as I get the book!
September 1st, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Date of experience: September 1, 2023

Doesn't mean much till I get what I think I'm buying!
March 30th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Date of experience: March 30, 2023

So far, great...
February 19th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

So far, great... but what matters is receiving what I have ordered!

Date of experience: February 19, 2023

Fine so far, but what matters is whether I receive...
July 29th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Fine so far, but what matters is whether I receive the book, how fast, and in what condition!

Reason I chose this business:

Cheapest option

Date of experience: July 29, 2022

Wonderful, but that means nothing till I receive the...
May 10th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Wonderful, but that means nothing till I receive the book!

Date of experience: May 10, 2022

So far great, but what matters is getting the book!
April 27th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Date of experience: April 27, 2022

So far, fine, but what matters is getting the book...
April 1st, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

So far, fine, but what matters is getting the book in good condition!

Date of experience: April 1, 2022

Fine so far!
October 30th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Date of experience: October 30, 2021

Fine!
October 9th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Fine! Fine, fine

Reason I chose this business:

Best offer linking condition to price

Date of experience: October 9, 2021

This is crazy
September 23rd, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

This is crazy. I haven't received the book yet, so i can't evaluate my experience!

Reason I chose this business:

Cheapest copy available

Date of experience: September 23, 2021

So far great
March 16th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

Cheapest good option

Date of experience: March 16, 2021

Thumbnail of user misse63
Utah
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 7th, 2024
Verified purchase

The shopping experience was really good and easy for that I would give you the 5 star rating, it's the shipping costs that sock it to you and you don't know them ahead of time. I went through with my order anyway even though the cost on one was 4-5 x's more expensive than the book I ordered. Flat rate cost that much?

Reason I chose this business:

I have dealt with you before and you can find ANYTHING! I am also hoping to sell you some cookbooks, once I get organized. Do you have a phone #?

Date of experience: October 28, 2024

Thumbnail of user carolel301
GB
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 11th, 2024
Verified purchase

The book is in good condition and exactly as described. It took a few weeks to arrive here in the UK but that didn't really matter. Overall, a good shopping experience and I would definitely use this seller again.

Reason I chose this business:

I chose the book on eBay. Alibris happened to be the supplier.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 1, 2024

Thumbnail of user jameya14
California
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 19th, 2024
Verified purchase

If you take PayPal, it should be unnecessary to enter personal information manually, since PP provides this automatically. But that you take PP is not listed until after the personal information has been entered. So no one will know PP is an option. Please consider simplifying.

Reason I chose this business:

It came up as an option from a search, and had the best price I found.

Date of experience: December 9, 2024

Thumbnail of user robertd5873
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 12th, 2024
Verified purchase

From the beginning, this was miserable! I needed help with the first coupon, but nobody ever got back to me before it expired. Then, trying to get enough for free shipping was a nightmare! Finally, it was difficult to get my Credit Card to go through. Without phone support, I will never do this again!

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

Date of experience: October 2, 2024

Thumbnail of user aloysiusb23
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 25th, 2024
Verified purchase

Alibris makes available tons of good and sometimes hard to find books at very good prices. It's by no means instantaneous -- it might take a little longer than with, say, Amazon -- but it's by no means a drag. Usually, the order is on its way in a day or two and arrives within a week.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 15, 2024

Thumbnail of user cameronr392
Washington
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
September 9th, 2024
Verified purchase

I was looking for a book that I could not find on any of the major online retailers. Amazon? Nope. Walmart? Nope. Heck even Barnes & Nobles had it but at a significant premium and expensive shipping options. Alibris had the same book, same quality as B&N but cheaper all around. Came quickly as well.

Reason I chose this business:

Only used book option I could find.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: August 30, 2024

Thumbnail of user lucyb428
Pennsylvania
0 reviews
0 helpful votes
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October 16th, 2024
Verified purchase

Shopping is easy, getting my earned discount is always a fail because I buy books on a whim, never 4 or 5 at a time...I can never spend enough to use the reward. To me, it seems useless. I'd love to have you restructure your reward system so I can save too.

Reason I chose this business:

No special reson, I buy used and new from many sites.

Date of experience: October 6, 2024

Thumbnail of user deboraha998
Colorado
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
December 20th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

You guys wait too long to send this rating email. I mostly have forgotten the experience, because I order so many separate orders from you. If I had a bad experience I would remember, but otherwise I just feel fine about my orders, but getting specific is not possible!

Reason I chose this business:

Width of inventory, and generally, price.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: December 10, 2024

I want to skip reviewing
November 2nd, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

My experience, as always, was mixed. The best part is the adequate descriptions provided for the merchandise,

Reason I chose this business:

Because there is a good choice of books

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 23, 2024

So far it is fine
November 29th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

Because Jeff Bezos doesn’t own it—I think.

Date of experience: November 29, 2023

Inconvenient and inconsistent
December 23rd, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

Because not owned by Jeff Bezos

Date of experience: November 23, 2022

I wish customers could phone you
December 15th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I wish customers could phone you. It makes the shopping experience feel better.

Reason I chose this business:

Because I wanted to avoid AbeBooks.

Date of experience: December 15, 2021

Thumbnail of user scottw4133
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 17th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

Really thought I would not have much luck finding what I wanted. But after looking a little while I was brought back to when cd's were new and just came out. One look here and I found everything and more,and the prices were very affordable. I would suggest to anyone who wants a hard to find most of the time cd of any kind, to look here.Thanks

Reason I chose this business:

Can't remember.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 7, 2024

Very easy to find what you're looking for and the prices...
November 6th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Very easy to find what you're looking for and the prices are very low. Thanks

Reason I chose this business:

I knew I would have had a hard time finding it somewhere else.

Date of experience: October 27, 2024

Thumbnail of user tedh532
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 1st, 2024
Verified purchase

This was an extremely pleasant experience. I found just what I was looking for, at a very fair price, and it was delivered well before I ever expected it! As a bonus, I didn't have to buy it from a corporate giant or chain store - it came from a real bookstore. This was my third experience with Alibris, so now I'm confident the prior experiences were the norm, not the exception.

Reason I chose this business:

Prior good experiences, consistently good service at a fair price.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 21, 2024

Thumbnail of user alexisc697
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 30th, 2024
Verified purchase

When the order was "shipped", I was given a tracking number that didn't exist. I decide to be patient until days went by -- about 5 days after the latest day the order was supposed to arrive -- and I emailed them about it. The next day, there's suddenly a real tracking number and the item is on its way. In their response, they claimed that they'll "have someone look into it"; I don't think they realised that the tracking number means I can see that they did not even give the postal service my item until *after* I messaged them.

After the item's arrival, I realised it was also incomplete, missing the print book that is a part of it. They didn't even have the book at all, so I ended up getting a refund so I can buy what I actually needed. I am very grateful to Alibris for doing what they could to rectify this seller's many mistakes.

Reason I chose this business:

Good price on a textbook.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 20, 2024

Thumbnail of user saras2857
Alaska
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 28th, 2024
Verified purchase

Everything about the shopping experience was great, all my books arrived in perfect condition. My only complaint is that it arrived well past the estimated delivery date, but I think that was more on USPS than on Alibris. Would shop here again!

Reason I chose this business:

Alibris is a trusted bookseller that has been around for a loooong time. My mom used to shop on here often. :)

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 18, 2024

Thumbnail of user danielg4497
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 11th, 2024
Verified purchase

Easy to order. It took about 3 weeks for the books to arrive. I bought new editions, which I am very happy I did. This book (two volumes) is very poorly transcribed in online versions and the reproduced volumes are well done.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: December 1, 2024

Thumbnail of user kristinc527
Virginia
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
September 28th, 2024
Verified purchase

Very difficult web site. I wanted expedited shipping, Didn't get that. I was going to order more shipping too expensive & slow. Difficulty checking out as a guest. I have avoided ordering for a long time cause signing in was a pain

Reason I chose this business:

Wish I hadn't because my CD won't get here in time like I thought

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

Date of experience: September 18, 2024

Thumbnail of user leilaw49
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
November 8th, 2024
Verified purchase

Would have liked to see my wish list books to add once I found the coupon codes. Those codes, by the way, should be shown on page 1 for those going to the site. It's all about providing an efficient shopping experience.

Reason I chose this business:

Got an email saying I had $20 credit, which I couldn't find in this purchase. I would have bought 5 more books, but each came with a $4.95 shipping charge--way over what Abe books or Amazon charges. You have to reduce that to get more business. Better to sell more and cut back on inventory.

Date of experience: October 29, 2024

Thumbnail of user chantaly9
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
September 17th, 2024
Verified purchase

Very easy checkout process and it was securely purchased using Paypal. Love that y'all don't charge an arm and a leg for these college course textbooks. It's not cheap to be in school so THANK YOU for being an affordable option! Plus, I own it!

Reason I chose this business:

Another classmate told the class of this company.

Date of experience: September 7, 2024

Thumbnail of user ronk1453
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
  • Send Message
November 21st, 2024
Verified purchase

Overall, my experience with Alibris has been good. The only time I get annoyed is when I am told by the bookseller that they no longer have the book, which leads me to think that they should have taken said book off their list! And this has happened to me a number of times.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 11, 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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