Textbook Maniac Reviews 101

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.5

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

My buyback was received on 06-19-2025 and at the date of this review it has been over a month and I haven't received my payment. I have reached out several times and have only been given false promise... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

textbookmaniac.com is a SCAM DO NOT send your property (Books) to this company use world of books or bookrun

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I don't recommend selling to them. The shipping label they send is for Media Mail, which is notoriously unreliable. They quoted me an unbelievably high payout, so I picked them over other options. Wel... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I have not received payment after waiting over 3 weeks. There are several other 1 star reviews detailing a similar experience as mine. The textbooks will appear 'in transit' for a long time. Then even... See more

Company details

  1. University
  2. Association or organisation

Information provided by various external sources

Textbook Maniac buys college textbooks. When you sell textbooks to us, you get the best prices online. Students, faculty, book buyers, and others are welcome.


Contact info

1.5

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

101 reviews

5-star
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1-star

Hasn’t replied to negative reviews

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Horrible service

24 November 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

I tried finding your order to see what you were displeased with, but do not see one from you. I am sorry you were disappointed, and wish I knew why to better fix this situation.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Don't send them your books, they are theives!!!

I wish I could leave less than 1 star. I sent them my perfect condition textbook (that I originally bought from my university) and they claimed that my book was "counterfeit" and that they could not pay me for it but also could not send it back to me because it's "against their policy". Even after providing proof of purchase from the bookstore they still would not pay for or return my book. DO NOT SEND THEM YOUR BOOKS THEY ARE CROOKS AND THEIR "POLICY" IS STEALING FROM COLLEGE STUDENTS!!!!

21 November 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

Megan, I am so sorry for this experience. We have a system we go by to determine whether a book is counterfeit or not, and if a book follows under those guidelines, we have an obligation to the publisher not to allow the book to continue in circulation. We have this stated on our website that it is a possibility.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

Accused me of sending them two counterfeit books and won't return them.

9 October 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

I don't think you knew they were counterfeit when they were sold to you, so we are not accusing you of selling counterfeit books, but we have an obligation to the publisher not to allow counterfeits to continue in circulation. I apologize.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Stole my book!!!

I sent two books to textbook maniac. They emailed me informing me they didn’t receive the expensive book and have adjusted the total to the cheap one. I packaged both my books in the same box with the packing slip as the directions say. They have a great scheme going over there. I contacted the company and they say that they have many people check the boxes and cannot do anything. This is stealing!!!

I have sold books through various other companies and never had any issues especially like this!

20 September 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

Unfortunately, we cannot help what the Post Office does with boxes that have been opened/inspected or damaged, and at times, we receive packages without all the contents. We have several people go through our shipments to make sure we find everything, but this was an instance where the book never made it to our warehouse in the first place.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Shipped a book out on August 30th

Shipped a book out on August 30th, they received it September 4th. Haven't received my money, an email, or a response from their "customer service." Im waiting for a response back saying that there was damage or water though I shipped it in a protected binder and packaging. didn't check the reviews before I sent it. Highly suggest just going through Chegg. Customer service is phenomenal and received my money. Wouldn't trust this company or suggest them until I receive my money.

11 September 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

I just looked up your order and see that it has been placed in Awaiting Payment for the original quoted amount, so I am not sure what the issue is. Please contact us if you have a problem so that we can solve it for you!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

DO NOT SEND YOUR BOOKS HERE

DO NOT SEND YOUR BOOKS HERE. IT IS A SCAM.

I was quoted $60 for my GOOD AS NEW textbook (I barely opened it during the class). I bought it for about $100 from my school's bookstore. After sending it in, I was told that they suspected that it was "counterfeit" and therefore had to "recycle it" WITHOUT PAYING ME FOR IT. I GAVE THEM MY BOOK FOR FREE AND THEY REFUSE TO SEND IT BACK. This is a total scam and I can't believe I fell for it.

10 September 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

I am so sorry this transaction did not go as planned. When we receive a book that is counterfeit, we have a responsibility to the publisher to not allow it to continue in circulation. I wish we could just send it back to you, but we could get into trouble doing that.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

It’s been 3 weeks since I shipped my order

It’s been 3 weeks since I shipped my order. It barely got processed a week ago, and I still haven’t gotten paid despite them stating that it takes 5 business days to get paid via PayPal (which is the option I chose). Checked my order status this morning, and it says to contact customer. After reading the horrible reviews I have no doubt in my mind that they are going to try and completely change my quote ... if and when they do contact me.

Just the fact that they copy and paste their customer replies is enough to let me know that this company isn’t worth doing business with.

I will update my review if anything changes.

9 September 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

Kim, I am sorry you are not satisfied with the amount of time it is taking to process your order, but since there was something wrong with your book, it was flagged by our quality control team so that we could contact you about it, which makes the process take longer than just receiving and paying for a book. Please update, as you said you would, when you have been paid.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Tightly wrapped book delivered with a ripped cover? Don’t think so pal.

My book was sent in pristine condition. I mean, I only opened it three times and the access code was still unused. My book was shipped in a sturdy, bubble wrapped envelope that was folded in half to ensure the book did not move around in transit. I was quoted $34.80. When my book was “processed,” I received an email claiming the cover was ripped. New buyback total, $15.00. Will not be working with this company again.

27 August 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

I am so sorry. I can assure you we pay full quoted prices for books in good condition (we don't try to rip people off or we wouldn't be able to stay in business). The Post Office damages items in transit, and I can only assume this is what happened in this instance.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

After having an awful experience with…

After having an awful experience with another company I decided to try textbook maniac. I read the reviews on here and was a little reluctant but I had an excellent experience from beginning to end. I had a looseleaf book and made sure to leave it in the binder that I purchased to protect it and packed it the best I could to ensure it would not be damaged if thrown around by the carriers. It took about a week from when they received the book to receive payment but I received an email notification when I did. (I chose to receive via paypal.) Overall, an excellent experience and will be using them in the future.

20 August 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I will never sell to this company…

I will never sell to this company again. My book was in great condition, but they took half the offer back because they said it had staining and water damage. Terrible, shady company

12 August 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

Perhaps the water damaged happened during transit? If you are not happy with our offer, we are more than happy to ship the book back to you.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Don’t do it!! Crooks!

Don’t do it!!! The first time I used them I had no issues. This last time after quoting me $80 for a book they tried to tell me my book was counterfeit. I purchased the book new directly from the university bookstore. Our bookstore confirmed that they purchase books directly from the publisher. I had a copy of my receipt which I sent to them. Their response was that the could not accept “my word” or the “word” of the bookstore. Ironic because I’m supposed to accept their word. They are crooks!! Don’t fall for it.

7 August 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

I hate when things like this happen, but when we receive a counterfeit book, we have an obligation to the publisher, not to allow circulation to continue.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

First Timer, No Problem

Honestly at first the whole thing felt sketchy because it had been over a week since I shipped my package and I didn't receive some sort of email updating me on my payment. I checked the reviews on here and I started freaking out when everyone said the company was a whole scam and that they didn't receive their buyback money. HOWEVER, Textbook Maniac did mention that they had to fully evaluate and inspect the textbook to determine the buyback value, and of course they can't do that until my book got there. Can't blame them, I wouldn't want to pay someone until I see the actual product itself. I live in California and my textbook was delivered to Huntsville, AL, so no wonder why it was taking a long time for me to receive payment. Anyway it was little over a week and I finally got an email from Textbook Maniac saying they've received my book and have issued payment to me. The payment method I chose was PayPal. I received an email from PayPal saying that Infinity Books, Inc. had sent me my money and that I had to "Claim it by ________(insert date) or it will be returned to the sender". I did the steps to claim my money and I waited for 1-2 days to check my bank account to verify that I actually received the money. The money is in my account, and nothing sketchy seems to be going on and it doesn't look like they're trying to steal my money or rip me off. As for those who didn't receive their payment, I have no idea what went wrong for them. If you do decide to use this company to sell your textbooks, make sure you check your email (even your junk) for updates and READ IT THOROUGHLY. I had a window to claim my money so if you don't claim your money within the given days, it WILL be returned to the company and then you've basically just donated your textbook. Also track your package. Take a picture of your textbook and its condition before you send it (just in case they tell you that they received a damaged book, then you have proof it was damaged in the shipping process and not by you) and also pack it into a box in a way so that it won't get damaged. I also used USPS, which is insured. Don't use some form of cheap shipment then expect your books to get there the way you sent them. After reading other reviews it seemed that a lot had water damage and missing books, and idk if that's cause of the shipping process or some sketchy employee of the company. BUT, I was one of the few successful with using this company so that is why I am giving it 5 stars.This isn't a "fake" review.

2 August 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Scammers - steal your books - do business somewhere else

Here's how it works - you shop your used book online to sell and this company gives you an amount WAY better than anyone else (this should be your first red flag - too good to be true price for your book). You follow their instructions to ship your book and anxiously await your payment. A few weeks go by and amazingly, your book is damaged somehow and they won't pay you anything. And...if you want it back, you have to pay them to send it to you! If you don't, they'll "keep" it, which means they'll no doubt sell it at a lower price to someone, which amounts to them having basically stolen your book for the price of them paying media rate shipping. It the perfect scam...don't do business with these thiefs!!!

31 July 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

If the customer does not accept that their book contains damage, we always offer to send photos. Since we already paid $4 to receive the damaged book, we cannot again pay to send it back to the customer, so if they want it back, our website states (before they ship to us) that they are responsible for paying to have it sent back to them.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Pleasantly Surprised

After reading the negative reviews on this company I was hesitant to use them, but because they were the company who quoted me the highest for my textbook ($11.55) and the only one willing to purchase it without a minimum amount I decided I did not have much to lose by sending my book to them. I shipped it following the company's instructions and received an email 8 days later stating that the book had been received and payment issued. A few days later I received my check in the mail for the amount quoted. If I ever need to sell another textbook I will consider this company first.

28 July 2019
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If only I could give this 0 stars

If I could give this 0 stars, I would. At first, everything went smoothly when shipping this to them. I even received a confirmation email that they had received my book. Only a few days later, they sent another email saying that my book had bad binding and the new quote on it was $0.00. My book, by the way, was almost brand new and in excellent condition. They said they could return it to me, but I would have to pay shipping. Even though they payed the shipping for me to send it to them??? THIS IS A SCAM!

27 July 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

At times, books get damaged in transit to us, and this is probably what happened in this case, since it was the binding. When the customer does not agree with our assessment, we always offer to send photos of the damage. Unfortunately, in this situation, the book was not sell-able with this damage. Since we already paid $4 to have the book shipped to us, we could not also pay to send it back, but if the customer wants it back, we are more than happy to send it back once they pay postage.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!!

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!!! I wish I’d read the reviews before doing business with this “company”. I sent in 6 textbooks to these incompetent liars to which they told me I’d receive ~$140. I sent the books in using the postage they emailed me, and began to become suspicious after I tracked the package and saw it was delayed. I continued to track it and by this point the package was delayed about 3 weeks. It was documented that the package had arrived at the facility but still needed to be signed for. It remained in that status for days. I decided to read reviews for them and saw that people were not getting the money they were told they’d get due to “water damage” or “missing books”. Low and behold when they FINALLY processed my order (a month after me sending them in) they say there were three books missing. LIE. Now the payout has decreased drastically to $50. Seriously? You mean to tell me that hundreds of people all decided to just send in only HALF their order? Please. These people are scammers, liars, incompetent, and deceitful. Find another more reputable and trustworthy place to sell your books back to!

26 July 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

When a package gets lost in transit, this is beyond our control. When we finally do receive them, sometimes they have been damaged, and unless the customer paid for insurance, books can be missing from the boxes. When we find water damage, we always offer to send the customer photos if they don't agree with our assessment.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Do not do business with this company!

Do not do business with this company!! I sent my book back in great shape, but then got an email saying there was water damage and damage to the binding. They will offer you less money or make you pay for return shipping to get your book back. Total scam. Please, please return your book to another buyer. This place will 'offer' you the most cash back, but you will end up getting way less than other buyers.

25 July 2019
Unprompted review
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Reply from Textbook Maniac

If the customer does not accept that their book contains water damage, we always offer to send photos. Since we already paid $4 to receive the damaged book, we cannot again pay to send it back to the customer, so if they want it back, our website states (before they ship to us) that they are responsible for paying to have it sent back to them.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

SCAM!!

I bought a brand new textbook, never once opened it during the semester of my class and sent it to them and they claimed it had ripped and torn pages which is not possible. They will scam you, and make you pay money to get your book back.

24 July 2019
Unprompted review
Textbook Maniac logo

Reply from Textbook Maniac

If the customer does not accept that their book contains damage, we always offer to send photos. Since we already paid $4 to receive the damaged book, we cannot again pay to send it back to the customer, so if they want it back, our website states (before they ship to us) that they are responsible for paying to have it sent back to them.

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