AbeBooks Reviews 

1,109
TrustScore 2 out of 5

1.9

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 143 reviews, most reviewers were clearly unhappy with their experience overall. Many consumers frequently struggled with missing deliveries, noting that purchased items often arrived extremely late, showed invalid tracking details, or never showed up at all. Buyers also experienced major frustrations when attempting to secure refunds or dealing with customer support agents who offered little to no assistance. Some people were genuinely satisfied with fast shipping times and found that their items arrived safely in great condition. A few reviewers mentioned that they successfully received their orders quickly and were thoroughly pleased with the overall quality of the books they purchased.

What people talk about most

Product

Consumers find product to be ambiguous, experiencing a mix of satisfactory purchases and significant issues... See more

Order

Reviewers express mixed feelings regarding their order experiences, highlighting both smooth transactions and... See more

Delivery service

Clients share negative opinions on delivery service, frequently reporting delayed shipments and packages that... See more

Refund

Customers consistently note negative experiences with refund processes, citing severe delays and missing... See more

Website

Users describe ambiguous interactions with website, noting both helpful tools and significant risks. Some... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

8Impossible to contact their customer services after poor treatment from one of their sellers. I recently placed an order on AbeBooks from Invisible Books, Brighton. I received no contact from Invisib... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I was about to buy 3 books from this online store but emptied my basket when they insisted on having my phone number in order to make an account. I don't give my phone number to any organisation or ch... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

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... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

It is always hit or miss at AbeBooks. Most of the dealers are very bad at describing their books. There are far too many "dealers" like ThriftBooks and HalfPrice books that do not have the book they a... See more


Company details

  1. Book shop
  2. Rare Book Shop
  3. Second-hand Book Shop

Information provided by various external sources

Your source for used, new, rare and out-of-print books. Find classic collectibles, rare signed editions, used textbooks, and inexpensive bestsellers in our 80 million books.


Contact info

1.9

Poor

TrustScore 2 out of 5

1k reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
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1-star

No history of asking for reviews

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1.9

All reviews

(1,109)

146 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Worst ever .

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..

4 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Never again

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.

11 October 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Very disappointed

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?

31 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

If I could rate Abe books 0 stars I…

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.

17 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Scam company

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.

27 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Do not order from this company!

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!

10 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible scammy company that used to be good

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!

18 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cancelled 2 orders without explanation

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

19 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Only left one star because I couldn't…

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.

4 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Dishonest and unreliable.

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!

13 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No support with missing items

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

15 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disingenuous

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.

2 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Shocking after sale service.

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.

5 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No refund after 3 weeks

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.

23 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Scam. 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.

9 December 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Misleading Site, Potential Scams, Be Aware

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.

13 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Another disappointed customer of Abe…

Another disappointed customer of Abe Books UK.
\Ordered a book. Didn't arrive. Tracking number not valid. Contacted seller; no response. Abe says you have to wait 24 days(?) after the predicted delivery date before you can initiate a refund claim.Tried to get order cancelled /refund but told too late! Tried to cancel my account - there is no way to do so!!!! Why did I give only one star? Because I can't give zero stars!!!

20 November 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Really good experience.

I ordered my book before I looked at other reviews and tbh was a but worried after seeing some of the other comments. My experience couldn't have been better though - the book i ordered was good value, is in perfect condition and was delivered quickly.

28 November 2025
Unprompted review

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