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Alibris has a rating of 4.7 stars from 90,182 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.
Proactively asks for customer feedback
This company responds to reviews on average within 2 days
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!
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.
I made a deliberate choice to purchase ten books from the same seller, thinking that the individual shipping costs for each book would be waived and the total shipping charge based on the weight of a box containing 10 books. Apparently not - I was charged $30+ for the shipping. I took the box to my local post office to see what the actual cost would be to mail that same package - the price was half that amount ($15 - $17). Otherwise, I was pleased with the other aspects of this order.
A friend recommended it
Date of experience: October 16, 2024
I was very happy to find the books I wanted. One book was in poorer shape than had been described, but it was in one piece. My only criticism is the cost of the shipping - it was more than the books!
A friend told me that she uses it to find books she wants.
Date of experience: August 11, 2024
Alibris is well organized, easy to use, always there. The bo0ks are reasonably priced. I recommend Alibris to all my friends whenever buying books comes up. Moreover, I do not want to support Amazon's market control and domination efforts. Under-price Amazon and you'll be around for a long, long time! Thank you for being there, and persevere!
Alibris is well organized, easy to use, always there. The bo0ks are reasonably priced. I recommend Alibris to all my friends whenever buying books comes up. Moreover, I do not want to support Amazon's market control and domination efforts. Under-price Amazon and you'll be around for a long, long time! Thank you for being there, and persevere!
Date of experience: November 18, 2024
As usual---Alibris is well organized, descriptive, and has lower prices. I'd rather shop at Alibris than at any other online store, esp when the same books there are more expensive.
I always choose Alibris. See comments above.
Date of experience: August 31, 2024
As always: easy to use, clear entries and descriptions, reasonable prices, easy to pay for.
Date of experience: August 20, 2024
As always, easy to use, well laid out, useful descriptions, very competitive prices that are always better than the competition and are therefore why I always come back to Alibris and purchase here as often as possible.
As always, easy to use, well laid out, useful descriptions, very competitive prices that are always better than the competition and are therefore why I always come back to Alibris and purchase here as often as possible.
Date of experience: June 29, 2024
Very competitive prices, easy to use, info clearly presented, informative descriptions.
I always go to Alibris first and usually end up purchasing there. I much favor Alibris emotionally over its major rival, which is always more expensive. Alibris has very competitive prices, its format is easy to use, book information is clearly presented, and descriptions are informative.
Date of experience: June 25, 2024
Alibris is efficiently and well organized, has top of the line works as well as the full selection of those on the market, and solid, reasonable, and often lower prices than gr.dy sellers like A.zon! Also, Alibris has excellent verbal descriptions of books, so one knows what one's getting (or deciding not to get!). I also recommend Alibris to others.
I always go to Alibris first. If I check out other sellers, with very rare exceptions I always go back to Alibris.
Date of experience: June 5, 2024
Clear descriptions, reasonable prices. Very workable format altogether. I buy from Alibris whenever I can, not others. Lower prices than Amazon are a major factor.
The verbal description paragraphs are very influential in making my decision. If there is none, I skip the selection.
I wish there were more books featuring middle-aged and older men.
Date of experience: April 22, 2024
Easy as always, pricing offers well structured
"Details" not specific to each book, so not really helpful
Best, much preferable and less expensive than Amazon---the would-be monopolizer
Date of experience: February 15, 2024
It's very difficult to move down a page when the sidebar disappears. Fix this! Also, "gay" books are often written by women. What do they know to equip them to write about the emotional and sexual experiences of gay men? Leave them out! Also leave out any book by an author whose last name is Gay when the search is about gay fiction novels? Your search formula needs a lot of editing, esp if you don't want to lose gay male readers.
Inexpensive books and avoiding of Amazon.
* Alibris attempted to help this customer through the Sitejabber Resolution Center, but the customer did not respond
Date of experience: March 7, 2023
It is very aggravating and frustrating to want to move to the next page but there is no cursor next to the right hand margin to use. I had to go back to start to find a cursor. Then I had to repeat this process three times. Fix your system so that the right hand cursor is always there.
I do NOT wish to have to agree to your using my comments on public websites, in order to place an order. Give us a choice. I do NOT agree to your using my feedback on public sites. One of these days I will stop ordering from Alibris, because of the forced agreement and the problem described above, and go to other websites to order books---unless these problems are fixed. I'm sure I'm not the only one to complain about this.
Date of experience: February 4, 2023
Often the slide at far right used to move down from one book to another, or from books reviewed above, down to books not read does not work. The only way to move on down appears to be, sometimes, to click on the bottom book. Please fix slide so one need only slide the bar down to go on to the next books.
Reasonable prices and good selection. I hate Amazon for its need to control every market.
Date of experience: January 9, 2023
It's easy to find a book, and books are less expensive than elsewhere.
Alibris offered the best price.
Date of experience: August 21, 2022
Easy back and forth between sites pages of Alibris and another seller.
Very good experiences in the past, lower prices, and a desire not to increase any other book seller's great market advantage and dominance.
Date of experience: April 9, 2022
Lower prices than Amazon
Date of experience: January 22, 2022
Easy to use, needed information is clear, prices reasonable, competitive with Amazon. Buy on Alibris!
Date of experience: October 22, 2021
Always good, always easy, always well organized, always inviting.
Best price. Excellent service in the past.
Date of experience: February 1, 2021
It's good and fairly user-friendly. I just wish it were easier to switch between different version of books by the cover, so the customer could choose the cover they want easily and browse only that version of copies. But at least you guys have the different covers' images!
Half the titles I want are never at Barnes & Noble and I refuse to feed the monster that apppropriated the name of our most valuable rainforest.
Date of experience: August 31, 2024
I have no critique, which is rare. Excellent site, from my limited experience.
I despise Amazon and prefer any smaller seller than Barnes & Noble.
Date of experience: August 18, 2024
I've been looking for this book for a couple of years--since it's technically an academic book, prices tend to be higher even for used copies. I found a great copy here for significantly less than Amazon, and the seller shipped it so fast I was able to pack it with me for a trip in less than a week.
Date of experience: October 23, 2024
Shipping and delivery went well, pricing was good, books were in good condition. Will order from this store again in the future!
See above note
Reviews and recommendations
Date of experience: November 5, 2024
I have been an Alibris satisfied customer for years. They have the best assortment of books from research to pleasure. Plus, recycling books is satisfying and an easy way to be eco- conscious. And the prices are good too. Win,win,win.
Date of experience: December 6, 2024
I easily found a number of sellers for this book and descriptions of various volumes conditions. Priices were reasonable. I liked ordering from smaller business and not the big internet relator. I'vee used Alibris in the past and have always been pleased.
Good prices and a wide selection.
Date of experience: September 15, 2024
Great - Had some trouble finding the shopping cart to review selections.
Date of experience: March 22, 2023
I always look here first.
Date of experience: April 18, 2022
Went smoothly except for difficulty adding the state to the shipping address. The field would not take manual input including "Wi","Wisconsin" and others.
Always find great prices and availability.
Date of experience: January 17, 2022
I really like your system, it's beautiful and convenient in usage. I like that there's an option to edit my shopping cart right before the checkout, and that's all on one page. I like the way you categorize books, it's easy to find what I want. Great job overall!
Alibris hosted the seller that had the lowest price for the book I was looking for.
Date of experience: September 22, 2024
The books are cheap, in good condition, and it's nice to buy in bulk. The only thing that was mildly inconvenient for me was how long it took to receive my item. It was over 2 weeks for one book so I would recommend buying more and make the shipping costs worth it.
It was the cheapest way to find the book I wanted.
Date of experience: September 1, 2024
Searched your site for a favorite author; pleased to find a vast number of available books with a large selection of prices for each book. Was able to select vendors that I had dealt with before that once again gave me fast delivery.
Good quality, fast delivery, wonderful selection available.
Date of experience: October 11, 2024
I got a cookbook from the library and loved it. I wanted my own copy so I could make notes in it, etc. Since this version has been replaced by a new version, online retailers were selling this version for $50 or more.
I found this cookbook for under $18 with shipping, and I didn’t mind that it would be used, as I planned to write in it and use it in the kitchen. I just wanted this same version that I had from the library. It’s in great condition, appears to be never used, and I’ve already been marking off the recipes I’ve made!
Date of experience: September 29, 2024
I ordered four paperback books by James Baldwin. They were all listed as "Trade paperback" but arrived in what used to be called pocket-book size rather than the larger format I expected. I thought I may have failed notice the format, but I just checked the Alibris site, and paperbacks are paperbacks with no description of the size. One book was unreadable because the print contrasted so little with the deeply age-discolored paper. The cost of that book was credited back to my account. I also had failed to notice the rather high shipping cost. Books used to ship for minimal cost.
Bargains are there to be found, but books may not be adequately described.
Date of experience: September 28, 2024
The books I wanted were hard to find but Alibris had them at a great price. Delivery was prompt as projected with no surprises. Once books arrived the packaging was flawless and books were in great shape. Thanks. It's a pleasure doing business.
Like I said the books are no longer being published and circulated.
Date of experience: November 5, 2024
Found a book at S&T I had reviewed years ago, and evidently lent someone who never returned it. Eugene had a copy in near-mint condition for under $10, and put it in the mail within 24 hours in the recyclable packaging I requested. I'll be back.
Lots of selection; quick and easy.
Date of experience: September 8, 2024
Thorough and efficient, as usual. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Same reasons as above.
Date of experience: May 27, 2024
I'm a long-time customer. However. I suggest that account filters include a default shipping address, so one avoids mistakenly sending an order to the previous shipping address.
Date of experience: June 26, 2023
Reasons above. By the way, our family would like it if the seller filter included "uses recyclable packaging" or something like that. (Not easy, I daresay, but I try to go back to vendors who haven't sent me stuff wrapped in plastic.)
Date of experience: June 5, 2023
Quick and efficient, as usual. (It'll be 5 star when Alibris starts encouraging its vendors to use non-plastic packaging when mailing items.)
Because you're the best I know and (apparently!) not owned by Amazon; the day that happens, I'll stop being a customer.
Date of experience: May 11, 2022
Date of experience: February 22, 2022
Because the book I wanted was in stock; Powell's couldn't get it to my chosen destination until 3/30. My only suggestion would be for Alibris to persistently encourage their book stores/suppliers to use non-plastic packaging.
Date of experience: March 13, 2021
Overall satisfied with Alibris. Not expecting a quick delivery ( choose standard delivery) however despite a tracking number never could tell when the books would be delivered. The USPS expected delivery date changed a number of times and then the books showed up sooner than the last estimate. Not a problem, probably not you, just an irritation.
For certain books - like Osprey Duel and Men At Arms series - your basic book cost are less than Amazon and when combine with free shipping & coupon there is a substantial savings. When not concerned with delivery time this is preferable to Amazon. So I wait until enough new Osprey (or other books) books are included in your free shipping category to qualify for free shipping and if the total price is sufficiently less than Amazon I will go with Alibris. So other than those times I find myself a couple of bucks short of free shipping (I am sure you do that on purpose) I wait until the stars line up.
Date of experience: October 23, 2024
I love alibris and I recommend you guys to all my friends!
However, I noticed that I get a notification mentioning that I qualify for free-shipping on some of my orders even-though I live in Canada. It would be nice to update this notification so it doesn't show as it is confusing since, from what I understand, shipping to Canada doesn't include any discounts.
I love your service nonetheless, have a good day!
Best variety of options and competitive pricing.
Date of experience: August 27, 2024
I have been reading an author and her book series for years. Was having trouble finding her books, either in paperback or hardback. Every on line store just had Kindle or the books were priced too high. Found Alibris and price was right! Both books were hardback and in excellent condition!
Had the books I was searching for. Price was right. Shipping was within a day or two of placing order. Will definitely use this company again when looking for books!
Date of experience: November 4, 2024
I purchased from a seller from my state who claimed they shipped on 10/14. My book was delivered on 10/31. If the seller's location is 40 minutes away, I have a hard time believing they shipped as reported even via media mail. Same book was available on Amazon with guaranteed delivery.
I used Alibris in the past and found the book needed with them.
* Alibris attempted to help this customer through the Sitejabber Resolution Center, but the customer did not respond
Date of experience: November 4, 2024
Everything was good except that a previous owner had marked up the text pretty extensively. I don't recall how the description of the book's condition was worded, but I don't recall any reference to the marking up. In several internet-initiated purchase experiences this is the first time I have been disappointed.
I looked up the book online and ordered the first option that appeared attractive. It is often not clear to me whom I am ordering a book from. Sometimes the book arrives seemingly sent by a different entity than I thought I was ordering it from. Thus I don't have a clear sense of how many of the books I have ordered online came from Alibris.
Date of experience: November 10, 2024
I got the book I ordered (The Mezzanine, by Nicholson Baker - brilliant book, btw) very, very quickly. It was in pristine condition, exactly as described by seller, and safely packaged (pretty much recyclable materials). Excellent experience.
Always looking for used books and Alibris is an easy site to browse.
Date of experience: October 8, 2024
I would have preferred to speak to a real, living human being, and to also not have had to give you my credit card information to be maintained on your computer system, whose security method is only God knows what.
JCH
Recommendation from my local bookstore.
Date of experience: September 15, 2024
The vendor said my product shipped and I got an email stating as such, but all they did was put the order number into the shipping field. In reality, my order had not shipped. When I contacted the vendor they kept saying it would ship and then gave excuses. When it finally did "ship" - they gave me the USPS tracking number but the item didn't reach USPS hands for another 4 days. In total, I made the order on 10/20 and received the book on 11/12. Honestly, if they had just said "your order has been delayed" that would have been better, but they lied to me and stated the order shipped the day after I placed the order. Your vendor has some shady practices.
Alibris says it sends products in two days, but the vendor they work with used misleading tactics to pretend that the product was shipped when it was not. When I contacted the vendor directly for the shipping information, they were evasive and could not provide it. The book was eventually shipped around 18-19 days after I ordered it. I received the book 23 days after ordering it. During this whole process, Alibris customer service was a bit difficult to work with. I asked to cancel my order and the vendor and Alibris customer service both avoided my requests for over a week even though the product had not shipped. The book I received is great, but I will not be using Alibris in the future.
I've used them before for many book purchases, but will be looking at other sites instead in the future.
Date of experience: November 15, 2024
Needed book; Alibris had it.
I hate to have to buy a book that I'm not interested in owning just because I can't get it at the library---which often happens with books selected by other members of the book group I'm in---but when there's no other option, I do so. That's the nature of my relationship with Alibris.
I couldn't find a better price. Also, when a book sold through Alibris is described as being in good or excellent condition, it is. That's nice.
Date of experience: October 22, 2024
Alibris is my go-to bookseller.
Date of experience: May 10, 2024
I had been trying to find the vol 2 Future Press Elden Ring guide and was lucky to find a used copy on Alibris for very cheap. Placing the order and tracking the package was easy and delivery timeframe was reasonable. There was slight damage to the book itself but don't know if that's just because it's used or due to transit, so that's my only complaint. A picture of the book condition before purchasing would have been great but it's hard to complain because the price was so cheap. Overall very pleased.
They had the book I wanted that is sold out everywhere else.
Date of experience: September 28, 2024
The selection of books and conditions is great, but shipping for $4.49 per book is rather high IMHO. Another fine seller of used books only charges $1.49 per book up to a book total of $15, then shipping is free. I always check them first. Shipping time for both sellers is about the same so that's not an issue. But Alibris does have a wider selection of books.
They had the book that I wanted in the condition that I wanted.
Date of experience: September 16, 2024
Finding the book I wanted was quick and easy, and the price was excellent.
The price was excellent, especially for a new book.
Date of experience: July 26, 2024
They had both books that I wanted in paperback, one of them in new condition. The book prices were good, but the shipping cost was somewhat high.
The other book store didn't have what I wanted.
Date of experience: May 2, 2024
It was very easy to find the book that I wanted, and the price was just right.
Recommended by a great bookseller.
Date of experience: January 2, 2024
Shipping costs are a little bit high, but finding the book that I wanted makes it worth it. And I got it at a very good price.
The other seller that I buy from had only one copy, and the price of it was too high.
Date of experience: December 12, 2023
There's a good choice of books here. I found just about what I wanted. Shipping is just a little bit high though.
I chose Alibris because I couldn't find the books I wanted in the condition I wanted at the other online store I shop at.
Date of experience: October 21, 2023
The print on a cellphone is so tiny it's hard to maneuver through your website, especially lists. I'm using your app.
You had what I wanted.
Date of experience: September 1, 2023
As always, finding and buying books here is truly a pleasure.
They had exactly what I wanted in new condition.
Date of experience: August 23, 2023
The book had the price and condition I wanted.
Date of experience: February 19, 2023
Great choice of books.
Date of experience: February 17, 2023
Of the orders that I have placed so far, every one has gone as smooth as silk.
Alibris had the book I wanted at a very reasonable price, and in a condition that I will be happy with.
Date of experience: February 2, 2023
We love browsing books, drinking coffee, and talking with people who love good stories.
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.
