Is AbeBooks Legit?

By Irene Daraman Written by Irene Daraman Expertise: Technology, Learning, and Money Title: - Author and Freelance Writer Education: - Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of La Salette Work Experience: - Registered Nurse with 10+ years of experience in BPO and healthcare industries - Management position in a Fortune 500 company, driving operational excellence and exceeding targets - Designing and implementing business plans and strategies to promote the attainment of goals, including financial (money matter), technology, and internal learning and development - Patient care coordinator in a California-based private practice - Experience as a personal injury medical records reviewer and demand letter writer in a Texas law firm - 5+ years of content/article writing experience, delivering engaging and informative pieces across various domains About: I am a Registered Nurse with 10+ years of experience in BPO and the healthcare industry. With a specialization in public and community nursing, I possess a deep understanding of patient care. Currently working in a management position at a Fortune 500 company, where I drive operational excellence and exceed targets. I am responsible for using technology at work, and driving learning and development. I am an expert in technology, learning, and money related topics from my corporate work experience. Public Profiles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-daraman-496a94152/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094593561818
Updated on August 13, 2023

The legitimacy of the store is a great factor for buyers to decide whether to buy or not. AbeBooks is a subsidiary of Amazon that offers used books, magazines and periodicals, manuscripts, maps, photographs, fine art, prints, and posters through seven websites in more than fifty countries worldwide. Still, some ask, is AbeBooks legit?

Many consumers doubt the legitimacy of AbeBooks because it’s super cheap compared to others in the market. Though it seems that prices are too-good-to-be-true, AbeBooks is a reputable and legit company. However, not all sellers are legitimate. Therefore, it is best to check the seller’s rating before purchasing anything.

Is AbeBooks Legit?

How reliable is Abebooks.com?

Just like any other e-commerce platform like eBay, AbeBooks similarly has issues with scammers. However, if we talk about AbeBooks.com perse, we could say that they are a reliable and reputable e-commerce business. You can always check specific bookseller ratings to know the reliability of an individual vendor. You can also review the offer and check if it is too-good- to-be-true. Know the red flags when the offer is a bit shady. 

Is AbeBooks owned by Amazon? Is AbeBooks legit? 

Abebooks was founded in 1996. In December 2008, Amazon acquired Abebooks after 12 years of being around in the e-commerce business. Dr. Hannes Blum, the CEO of AbeBooks, sent correspondence to its booksellers to announce its acquisition by Amazon Inc. However, it was made clear in the press release that the company would continue to operate as a stand-alone business.

Is it a good option or a bad scam? 

Although AbeBooks doesn’t receive a high rating in several surveys online, AbeBooks continues to offer great deals. Most of their sellers are legit book antiquarians and legit business owners. Books offered are relatively lower than many in the market. Therefore, consider the condition of the book when it is cheaper. Set your expectations about the quality of the book. Sometimes, copies are fairly beaten up or have some annotations in it.

In conclusion, to say whether AbeBooks offers a great or a bad scam depends on the reliability of a bookseller and the quality of the item. Hence, review the seller’s rating before continuing the purchase. Also, it is important to consider the price and remember the rule of thumb, ‘You got what you pay for’.

Is AbeBooks legit? Reviews of AbeBooks on Reddit

Most of the reviews posted on Reddit show above 50% satisfactory rate for AbeBooks. Registered Reddit members upvoted for Reddit reliability and still believe that AbeBooks is a trustworthy and reputable company. A big percentage of the Reddit community believes that AbeBooks is still one of the best and most cost-efficient ways to own a book that you need.

Is AbeBooks legit? Reviews of AbeBooks on SiteJabber 

According to Sitejabber, AbeBooks has a consumer rating of 1.79 stars from 561 reviews showing that the majority of the consumers are dissatisfied with their purchases.  They mostly complain about poor customer service and credit card issues.

Reviews of AbeBooks on SiteJabber 
Reviews of AbeBooks on SiteJabber 

Reviews of Abebooks on TrustPilot

Trustpilot rated AbeBooks with 2.3 stars out of 5, indicating that generally, customers are unhappy with their shopping experience with AbeBooks. Top comments included delays in shipment, issues with the seller canceling the order, and the order did not arrive at all. There are very few pleased customers that gave 4 and 5- star ratings.

Reviews of AbeBooks on Yelp

Despite having the most affordable price in the market, Abebooks got a 1.5 rating from 156 responders on Yelp. Most complaints include delays in shipment, seller errors such as sending incorrect items, poor customer service, and dishonest sellers. With its current rating, we can conclude that the general population of Abebooks consumers aren’t happy about their experience with the e-commerce platform. 

Reviews of AbeBooks on Influenster 

Unlike other review websites, Abebooks got a good rating from Influenster.com with 4.4. rating from 373 responders, indicating satisfaction from their consumers. Generally, consumers commended the affordability of the books you can buy from Abebooks. They are satisfied with the quality of the books they got at a more affordable price. Some also commended the store’s fast transaction and delivery of the item. Most consumers are students looking for more affordable books for their studies.

What are the common AbeBooks problems? Is AbeBooks reliable?

AbeBooks offers most of the best deals for literary pieces such as old books, rare collections, art, etc. It is also a great platform to sell your pre-loved books and collectibles conveniently. However, they still receive a bad rating from some consumers. Both buyers and booksellers mostly complain about poor customer service, tracking numbers, shipping issues, and business days trouble. 

There are huge profit losses for sellers because of the fees associated with the platform. AbeBooks’ commission from its sellers is high. The sellers must pay a monthly membership fee of $25 and a fee of 13.5%. Sellers also pay a 5.5% transaction fee and cash-out processing fee.