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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 louish1016
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 27th, 2024
Verified purchase

As a former librarian and long-time book collector, I appreciate full and accurate descriptions of "wanted" books. Booksellers offering items via Alibris do, on a whole, offer the kind of description I appreciate. I also "skip" those not telling me all I want to know.

Reason I chose this business:

Ease of payment; fast shipment.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 17, 2024

Thumbnail of user carenf37
Massachusetts
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 19th, 2024
Verified purchase

Great price. Don't like the shipping fee at all. I do wish there was a better price that reflected the actual price for media shipment. It's it Fair to make me purchase a book that only costs you 1$ to send me and you pocket so much off of this purchase.

Reason I chose this business:

I had no choice based on price. How about a book subscription for annual fee to cover all book purchase shipment.

Date of experience: December 9, 2024

Thumbnail of user merryw8
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 26th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

I'm so excited about my purchase, I have been waiting for over a year to find this book. Thank you for researching those hard to find books and such. Delivery is timely and the shipping is very reasonable

Reason I chose this business:

A long waited itm on my search list came in

Date of experience: September 16, 2024

I like that I can find books that I am unable to find...
April 7th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I like that I can find books that I am unable to find on other online book stores.

Reason I chose this business:

I couldn't find this book on other sites

Date of experience: April 7, 2021

Thumbnail of user michaeld7056
Georgia
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 10th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

I've been a long time customer of Alibris. When ordering a single book I often come to Alibris first because the prices are very competitive. I've not suffered a loss, wrong or damaged book in nearly 20 years.

Reason I chose this business:

Best Price for a good hard cover copy of a book I've wanted.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 30, 2024

Best copy for the best price
May 11th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

Done business with you before.

Date of experience: May 1, 2024

I've been buying books from Alibris for over 20 years
January 14th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

It's where I found the Author and book edition I wanted. And at a Great price too.

Date of experience: January 14, 2024

Thumbnail of user daehok2
KR
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 21st, 2024
Verified purchase

I took extra two weeks from the estimated delivery period ( I am writing this from South Korea), but the book came safely with perfect condition. The customer service was fast in response and assuring.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 11, 2024

Thumbnail of user taras1113
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 23rd, 2024
Verified purchase

I wish shipping was posted before the last step of checkout, it would make it easier to keep tabs on my budget without having to do the math before checking out then adding or subtracting books then going back and forth until I have the price I want.

Reason I chose this business:

Reading on a budget

Date of experience: November 13, 2024

Thumbnail of user annm1298
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 29th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

Shipping cost is way too expensive. I can pay $1.99 on thrift books. But since these prices on the books themselves were better I came to you. And I know post offices charged less for shipping books than other packages so I don't understand why they're so high.

Reason I chose this business:

Cost of book vs thriftbook availability

Date of experience: September 19, 2024

Most times great prices but shipping costs pricey
November 28th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Most times great prices but shipping costs pricey- cost more than the books. Also if same company I thought shipping cost was cheaper than $4.99 per book

Date of experience: November 21, 2023

Ship $ high
November 19th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

Best prices

Date of experience: November 19, 2023

It seems the 2 goodall books are similar and cannot...
February 9th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

It seems the 2 goodall books are similar and cannot tell the differnce between my life with chips nd seeds of man. Do not know what "trade book" means.? Also one mentions cds included but could not see that on some of the descriptions

Date of experience: January 10, 2021

Thumbnail of user janieh159
Arizona
0 reviews
0 helpful votes
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October 15th, 2024
Verified purchase

I ordered this book on Sept 17. Delivery was to be between Sept 20-25. I needed this book for a class that started on Sept 19. The book sat in Illinois for about 2 weeks before finally moving anywhere. Once I saw movement, I had it in a few days. Alibris is located in CA, but the book came from another party in IL. Will not be ordering here again.

Was told to contact them if I did not receive the book by Oct 8 for a refund. Nothing else.

Reason I chose this business:

According to the site, I would have received this book shortly after class began, BEFORE other sellers.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 5, 2024

Thumbnail of user heatherm1896
Oregon
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 25th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

Per their usual, Alibris came through with my order in a very timely manner and the condition of the books was better than expected/described. I guess I should just assume that that's the case with this seller!
Thank you, Alibris, for being a great source of used books.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 15, 2024

Ordering is easy, checkout is clear
April 19th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Ordering is easy, checkout is clear. I like the ease of navigating the website; the layout is simple and one can make selections readily.

Reason I chose this business:

The book I was looking for was available at a very good price.

Date of experience: April 9, 2024

I love the quality and availability of used books at...
January 18th, 2023
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I love the quality and availability of used books at Alibris.

Reason I chose this business:

Prior experience, had the best price on the book I wanted.

Date of experience: January 18, 2023

Clear navigation between titles, ordering and checkout
September 18th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Clear navigation between titles, ordering and checkout. I'm grateful you have the book I'm looking for!

Reason I chose this business:

Alibris had the book in a used copy that I was looking for.

Date of experience: September 18, 2022

Thumbnail of user aben18
Kentucky
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 26th, 2024
Verified purchase

Overall the shopping experience was very smooth. I've never shopped with this company before but they had the title I was looking for, at a very reasonable price, and in very good condition given that it's a paper back volume. Shipping was prompt, and I have no complaints.

Reason I chose this business:

It was recommended by my prof.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 16, 2024

Thumbnail of user arelisw2
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 12th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

Charging shipping per book is too much. The books may be cheaper, but your killing any savings with shipping. I appreciate the company getting back with me regarding shipping costs and providing information for ways to save on shipping. I have not received my books yet, but I have never had an issue with the product or shipping. Thank you again.

Reason I chose this business:

I have used this site in the past.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: December 2, 2024

Charging shipping per book is too much
December 10th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Charging shipping per book is too much. The books may be cheaper, but your killing any savings with shipping.

Reason I chose this business:

I have used this site in the past, but only purchased one book.

Date of experience: November 30, 2024

Thumbnail of user juliak707
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 27th, 2024
Verified purchase

You should show the shipping cost with the book cost so people can decide which seller offers the better deal - they only show up next to the book on the very last page before confirming the order - I had already hit purchase before noticing a $3 book had $15 shipping charge! Would have never bought it, but it was too late.

Reason I chose this business:

Only one with the titles I wanted - would use a more price-transparent site if possible

Date of experience: September 16, 2024

Thumbnail of user dinas220
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 25th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

I love Alibris so much. Lost one star this year because of the everchanging coupon situation. $10 one day $20 another day. I am busy, please just pick a discount and give me a.minute to fill my cart before you change it.

Reason I chose this business:

My favorite book shopping site. I can find thongs here that I can't find elsewhere

Date of experience: November 15, 2024

The selection is great, but my favorite thing is the...
June 15th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

The selection is great, but my favorite thing is the detailed description of the book: the edition, the cover, the condition, etc. I am often trying to fill out a set that has a missing book and obviously want the matching edition.

Reason I chose this business:

Because I wasn't sure that I could find all five in hardback anywhere else.

Date of experience: June 5, 2024

Thumbnail of user alicer634
Oregon
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 17th, 2024
Verified purchase

Took too long to receive. Paper quality was stepped down from Original Version in this New, Updated 50th Anniversary Edition; so, not happy totally with book quality either. The verbiage part of book is excellent.

They followed up on when my book when be coming in the mail - it had no tracker until they put one on it, too.

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 7, 2024

Thumbnail of user artieb45
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 14th, 2024
Verified purchase

This is my second time using Alibris to purchase books and I'm satisfied. The website and ordering process is convenient and pricing is good. One of the sellers I bought a textbook from sent the incorrect book but i was promptly refunded and told to keep the book. It's unfortunate that it happened and I felt the need to look elsewhere to be sure I received the correct book on time. Otherwise, I've been happy with Alibris offerings.

Reason I chose this business:

I’ve had a positive experience in the past browsing and buying cheaper used titles.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: November 4, 2024

Thumbnail of user lynnek321
Michigan
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 16th, 2024
Verified purchase

We've all been spoiled by the shipping speed of Amazon...This took longer--2 weeks or more. I did get my books, in good condition, at a fair price, so no complaints--just glad that I wasn't in a hurry!

Reason I chose this business:

Had the book I wanted.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: December 6, 2024

Thumbnail of user rosemaryj180
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
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November 28th, 2024
Verified purchase

I also sell on Alibris but I couldn't get my seller account log-in to work as buyer. So created a new guest log in under another email. I feel like sellers should be buyers too. On Biblio one log-in works for both...and they give a dealer discount sometimes.

Reason I chose this business:

Had a book that I was looking for.

Date of experience: November 18, 2024

Thumbnail of user dougm1322
Canada
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 31st, 2024
Verified purchase

Be careful with direct listings from 'Alibris' that show 10+ copies available. This is likely incorrect, and Alibris customer support couldn't confirm why my order was cancelled. Alibris shipping rates are reasonable, at $10.99 for the first book and $6.49 for the second book, and they have a great selection. However, aside from first issue, the biggest issue is when orders are cancelled, they refund you in USD, so if you have an international (Canadian, in my case) credit card, you will experience a small foreign exchange loss. Until Alibris changes this to charge credit cards once shipped instead of once ordered, I will buy through AbeBooks, Better World Books, and Blackwells.

So so. Reasonably prompt responses, but too scripted. Couldn't get to the root of the problem of my order from 'Alibris' was cancelled.

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

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 21, 2024

Thumbnail of user michaelah75
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 27th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

Over all I appreciate the service Alibris is offering. I highly value supporting independent/small business and more environmentally responsible means of consuming.

If I could give a suggestion? Making it easier to cross reference my wishlist or multiple titles or authors at a time with each vendor would be a great improvement. Having to manually enter each individual title with each individual store seems inefficient. As a consumer who wants reduce buying from multiple vendors to lower their carbon footprint this would be a more effective way to online shop.

Reason I chose this business:

I could not find these titles locally

Date of experience: September 17, 2024

Love this website
May 7th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Love this website. I buy most all the books I cannot find locally here.

Reason I chose this business:

Because it is not corporate

Date of experience: April 24, 2024

My only source for books I cannot locate locally
November 13th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Date of experience: November 13, 2022

I love this website!
September 22nd, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I love this website! Buy all the books I cannot find locally here.

Reason I chose this business:

It's second best to shopping local

Date of experience: September 22, 2022

Excellent book selection while supporting small business
July 28th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Excellent book selection while supporting small business. Anything that isn't amazon is a win for me!

Date of experience: July 28, 2022

Thumbnail of user dianav573
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
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September 19th, 2024
Verified purchase

I don't mind a used book. An old copy that is well worn or even lovingly marked up. But anytime a hardbound book has already been tampered with, even if it's a pretty good repair job in the binding, it should be considered fair at most. Certainly not good.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: September 9, 2024

Thumbnail of user jessicas5460
Massachusetts
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 10th, 2024
Verified purchase

Cheapish prices but it's been an absolute headache getting anything shipped. 4 out of 5 shipments have been cancelled on me stating the book was unavailable. If that's the case why was I able to even purchase it in the first place?
Update 12/3/24 reordered the cancelled books and got yet another cancellation LMAO

Value
Shipping

Date of experience: December 3, 2024

Thumbnail of user stanleys508
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 22nd, 2024
Verified purchase

I am pleased with the availability. I am curious about an email you sent me saying I can save $15.00. But there was nothing to tell me that I had. Also, there was a 77 cent discount for my order. But somehow that $53 after the discount became $57.99. These are my comments. Otherwise Alibris for me is better than Amazon. Have a good Thanksgiving.

Reason I chose this business:

I have purchased from Alibris before and prefer it to Amazon.

Date of experience: October 12, 2024

Thumbnail of user colinl355
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 14th, 2024
Verified purchase

I am being forced to interrogate a process that is complete and was completed adequately and now is being made measurably worse by having to write a book report on it. Stop outsourcing your QA process to the customer. Hire people and pay them a wage worthy of their ability to do so.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: December 4, 2024

Thumbnail of user josephg2764
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
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October 12th, 2024
Verified purchase

Alibris is my go to for books. Lots of options for price and quality and an assurance that the delivery will range from surprisingly fast to postal decent. This particular order was a single book that arrived within the time it takes USPS to move it from the shipper to me. No delays.

Reason I chose this business:

Excellent, reliable service

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: October 2, 2024

Thumbnail of user danap440
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
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December 16th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Updated review

What can I say? I have loved you for a very long time. I believe in sharing, recycling, and not wasting anything. Your prices are good. You have much that is otherwise hard to find. You have never let me down.

Reason I chose this business:

I always choose Alibris.

Date of experience: December 6, 2024

You guys are great
November 24th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

You guys are great. The site is great. I find books here I can't otherwise find.

Reason I chose this business:

I always choose Alibris.

Date of experience: November 14, 2024

You guys rock!
September 7th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review

I've had nothing but superb experiences with Alibris and recommend you to everyone I know.

Reason I chose this business:

I love that there are so many used books -- I believe in that. Also, I've found hard-to-find items.

Value
Shipping
Quality

Date of experience: August 28, 2024

Always happy with you guys
February 25th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

It's my go-to. I like buying used.

Date of experience: February 25, 2024

Easy to navigate
January 9th, 2024
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

I prefer to buy used books.

Date of experience: January 9, 2024

This site is great
August 25th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

I always do.

Date of experience: August 25, 2022

Awww...
August 8th, 2022
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Awww... I love you guys.

Date of experience: August 8, 2022

I love you guys, hands down
November 28th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review
Reason I chose this business:

Because I love you guys.

Date of experience: November 28, 2021

Aww, what can I say?
April 13th, 2021
Verified purchase
• Previous review

Aww, what can I say? I'm so glad you guys are here!

Reason I chose this business:

You're my go-to.

Date of experience: April 13, 2021

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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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