AbeBooks Reviews 

Updated 17th January - book has finally arrived - dispatched from USA! Still doesn't alter my opinion and won't use them again. Far too many companies masquerading as based in UK or actually drop shipping.
Ordered a book via their website on 12th December which is supposed to be supplied by a UK company GreatBookPricesUK.
Not delivered and attempts to get information have been ignored.
Tracking info supplied says it's on its way to a processing centre in New Jersey. This seems unlikely.

I had bought a secondhand copy of a book from Amazon. Then I saw AbeBooks had a ‘new’ copy so ordered another copy. When it arrived, after a long delivery process, it was not new and had marks on the cover and grease (?) marks. On complaint they would only refund 18% of the total cost. I warned them I would give them a poor review. I will never use them again.

I ordered a book on 23rd November from the AbeBooks website, to be supplied by GreatBookPricesUK Woodford Green UK, and to date am still waiting for the item. I contacted the seller as advised on 20th December, repeating order details as requested, and have heard nothing since. The tracking number supplied on 21st December couldn't be accessed on the Royal Mail app, and because the company supplied a tracking number, AbeBooks will not process a refund. “Customer Support” does not support, and there’s no email address to contact AbeBooks directly. GreatBookPricesUK is rated as a five star seller, but this is not a rating by customers, instead it is based on a seller's completion rate: “Completion rate is the percentage of successful orders that have not been canceled or returned”. Er, as my order is now in perpetual transit, I can neither cancel nor return the item! AbeBooks used to be a trusted place to buy secondhand books: having read many other similar negative reviews on here, none of which have been responded to, I will be closing my account, and instead will deal with the sellers directly in future.

The book I ordered never arrived and when I contacted Abe books there was no response. Got my money back via credit card company.

Worst ever .. book never received. All automated replies so you won’t get a refund basically .. I m disputing the transaction through my bank card hopefully will get the refund.. horrible to deal with scammers and everyone says the same upon checking wish I could have read the reviews earlier..

I ordered and paid £68for a book. It was to come From America. It has never arrived. Abebooks give only automated responses and seem to take no responsibility whatsoever. The bookseller in the USA is the same = automated responses and no acknowledgment of responsibility.
I will never use or trust Abebooks again. Such a pity when once it was the best.

Very disappointed. Found a sought for item, listed at a reasonable price with stated postage. Placed order and paid the necessary price. Later received an email demanding extra postage as the item was a heavy tome under threat of rescinding the order completely if this was not paid. Surely you establish the actual cost of posting before stating postage fees?

If I could rate Abe books 0 stars I would.
I have had the same experience as another reviewer having ordered a book supplied by Greener Books.
The book hasn’t arrived, the tracking number isn’t recognised by Royal Mail and despite three emails to the seller I have had no response.
Abe books have been useless in offering support. I will not buy from them again.

Ordered a Christmas present from GreatBookPrices UK through Abe Books on 6 Dec. Was told it would arrive by 26 Dec, which seemed a long delivery lag. Not delivered by 27 Dec, so I should be entitled to a refund via Abe Books; however, they would not process the refund because the seller had provided tracking information, even though that just vaguely said the book was in transit. Seller rudely told me I must be confused by the delivery date. I have little hope of getting a refund - clearly a scam.

I ordered a book several weeks ago through AbeBooks, supplied by Greener Books, and am still waiting for the item. The tracking number supplied couldn't be accessed on the Royal Mail app, and because Greener Books supplied a tracking number, AbeBooks will not process a refund. The only option available to me was to contact the seller, who apparently should respond within 2 days. As yet I have contacted them three times with no response. Yet another scam company taking people's hard earned money. Avoid buying from them!

This used to be a decent company, a good place to find second hand books, however in the last year they have become untrustworthy and unreliable, claiming orders have been shipped but they never turn up. Then it is a real fight to get a refund despite the friendly emails claiming to have done so. It all feels like a scam now, avoid!

Ordered 2 books, 3 days later order was cancelled. Re-ordered the books after contacting the seller (Majestic Books, Hounslow) who assured me the books would be shipped in the next 1-2 days. 3 days later they cancelled the order again. Dreadful service from with people who have nothing better to do than waste peoples time in the mouth of Christmas

Only left one star because I couldn't leave zero. Absolutely disgusting customer service. Not only Abe books but the seller too. Neither replied when I told them repeatedly that my book never came. It's been over a month now, still no book, still no refund. But the worst part is still no response from either of them.

Well, the book that I ordered in mid November and paid in full, hasn't turned up. It was to give as a birthday present tomorrow 16/12/2025. I've sent emails to the company, with no response. They sent a date that the book should arrive by which was 13/12/3025, but that email was sent on the day of purchase in November. I am really upset about this and surely this is illegal? Try and do something nice for someone and get let down. This has stressed me out no end. I'd give zero stars if I could!

They sold me a book via Greener books, but the book did not arrive. When I tried to claim a refund via their website, they said I had to contact Greener books directly, but they don't answer their emails. They are basically a cover for this other company to take your money without sending products, but offering no support for complaints or refund. A total scam

Ordered a book on 2nd December which was described as being shipped from the UK. Turns out it is actually coming from USA. Company's listed address is Woodford Green in UK but clearly it is NOT based there. Reading other reviews on here, this is far from a one'off incident. The company is misrepresenting where it is based to secure UK sales and abe books is allowing it to continue this disingenuous practice. Very unhappy as the book will NOT arrive on time for a birthday. No longer trust abe books and won't buy from them in future.

I have recently ordered book from this lot, I say it like that because the book was appalling, nothing like advertised and wasn`t cheap. Tried contacting them several times, and no response whatsoever.
Anyone thinking of buying from them, DON`T. They are crooks, take your money and offer no after sale service. Avoid them at all costs.

Bought 2 book from them. 1 unfortunately I didn’t realise was in German. I returned the book to them. They have had it for 3 weeks now and I’m still waiting for my refund. No contact from them just automatic replies. Absolutely fuming. Awful service. Avoid.

No tracking details shipment. Expected delivery date was 3 days ago. By contacting the book seller, I am told that it will take 30 business days. I don't believe I will see the book.

I purchased A book from GreatBookPricesUK believing the seller was UK-based because I needed it quickly. A week after paying, I received tracking details showing it would not arrive until 3 December. The site states the book ships from within the UK, but my enquiries show the listed UK address is actually an accountancy firm and only the registered Companies House address for GreatBookPricesUK. The tracking link (ppxtrack.com) is unfamiliar and has shown no updates since 13 November. I believe this is a serious misrepresentation by the site and the seller, and I am concerned this may be a scam. I have contacted the seller twice and received no reply.

I tried to initiate a refund, and AbeBooks state that "You're eligible for a full refund of the purchase price, including shipping costs, if your book hasn't arrived as of the Estimated Delivery Date, up until 30 days past" this is also misleading, when I tried, I recieved a message "The bookseller provided the following information for tracking this shipment when the order was processed. We have not initiated a refund for this item. If you have any questions about this shipment, please contact either the shipping company or the bookseller directly."

Naturally, there appears to be no other way of contacting AbeBooks,

I really would excercise great caution when using this site, and in future will contact book sellers directly.