Accelerating the race to the bottom
December 1, 2010 10:52 PM Subscribe
Been looking around to buy some cheap used books, Amazon Marketplace, BN, even ALibris seem to all have a $3.99 media-mail shipping cost. But Abebooks seems to be $2.95. Is there a downside to buying used through Abebooks, or is that simply the best deal in town?
I in no way am trying to do a Pepsi Blue, I just wonder how it is that Abebooks didn't get the memo, or if there is something you know that I don't about why they'd be a dollar cheaper over there.
I in no way am trying to do a Pepsi Blue, I just wonder how it is that Abebooks didn't get the memo, or if there is something you know that I don't about why they'd be a dollar cheaper over there.
I've been very happy purchasing from Abebooks. I don't know how much difference it makes at the bottom (cheap paperback) end of the market, but the prices for hardbacks seem to be a fraction of the ones advertised on Amazon. And the sellers are often happy to combine postage - they don't seem to do that on Amazon.
posted by Joe in Australia at 11:35 PM on December 1, 2010
posted by Joe in Australia at 11:35 PM on December 1, 2010
Abe does not have a $2.95 shipping charge. The shipping cost is determined by the bookseller. Many have chosen to charge $2.95 but some, as you will find, are higher. I have been buying books there for many years and have no complaints whatsoever.
posted by TheRaven at 12:09 AM on December 2, 2010
posted by TheRaven at 12:09 AM on December 2, 2010
Another very happy Abe customer. Never had a problem at all, and the prices are generally unbeatable.
(I know it's an acronym, but even so I like to picture that guy Abe in his shop with his cat, still up at this time of night, sending out email to confirm my book orders.)
posted by tangerine at 12:34 AM on December 2, 2010
(I know it's an acronym, but even so I like to picture that guy Abe in his shop with his cat, still up at this time of night, sending out email to confirm my book orders.)
posted by tangerine at 12:34 AM on December 2, 2010
Yes, been very happy with Abebooks, as long as you pay attention to the description of the condition. They will sort by total price (book and S+H) which is very useful, and I guess this is the bottom line for the booksellers.
posted by carter at 3:24 AM on December 2, 2010
posted by carter at 3:24 AM on December 2, 2010
Check out thriftbooks.com -- they ship free in the US.
posted by apparently at 3:35 AM on December 2, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by apparently at 3:35 AM on December 2, 2010 [4 favorites]
check out BetterWorldBooks. They ship for free in the US (and their international rates are cheap too). I love buying from them.
posted by mirileh at 4:15 AM on December 2, 2010 [7 favorites]
posted by mirileh at 4:15 AM on December 2, 2010 [7 favorites]
I love Abebooks and have bought many books from sellers on it.
By the way, Amazon owns Abebooks -- Amazon acquired them a couple years ago.
posted by odin53 at 4:56 AM on December 2, 2010
By the way, Amazon owns Abebooks -- Amazon acquired them a couple years ago.
posted by odin53 at 4:56 AM on December 2, 2010
Secording Paperback Swap, especially if you have other books you'd like to be rid of. It takes time, because the books you list may not go quickly, but I have been able to quickly pick up 30+ used, out-of-print books for just the cost of shipping. It's a pretty sweet deal.
posted by bookdragoness at 4:59 AM on December 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bookdragoness at 4:59 AM on December 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
Seconding BetterWorldBooks; you don't get tracking with the free shipping, but then when it shows up it's like a surprise present of an obscure book you've always wanted! I've been very pleased with the selection and the condition of the books.
posted by nonane at 5:19 AM on December 2, 2010
posted by nonane at 5:19 AM on December 2, 2010
I have had some trouble with Abe books - I have made four purchases from them and two of those ended in the sellers admitting that they didn't actually have the books in question. That said, the process for the sellers admitting the lack of books was fine and left me only somewhat annoyed for having waited for a couple of weeks for them to come clean.
I don't know what kind of books you're looking to get. I was getting some fairly technical science stuff and a book of pictures of matchboxes. It may work better if you're getting more normal books.
TLDR: I had some issues but they weren't bad enough to prevent me from using them again, but I might look at the other sites first ...
posted by sciencegeek at 6:05 AM on December 2, 2010
I don't know what kind of books you're looking to get. I was getting some fairly technical science stuff and a book of pictures of matchboxes. It may work better if you're getting more normal books.
TLDR: I had some issues but they weren't bad enough to prevent me from using them again, but I might look at the other sites first ...
posted by sciencegeek at 6:05 AM on December 2, 2010
I third BetterWorldBooks; they have a ton of options if you do want something faster, too.
posted by cobaltnine at 6:07 AM on December 2, 2010
posted by cobaltnine at 6:07 AM on December 2, 2010
I pretty much only buy books through Abe (many of which come from BetterWorldBooks, for whatever that's worth). The selection is amazing, the search function is decent, and I like how it ranks the prices from low to high with shipping included. I've never had an issue with an order, and it's always been the cheapest option.
And yes, I also imagine my books coming from a fusty little shop with a cranky owner and a fat cat asleep on the counter, even though in reality it's probably big warehouses and disaffected minimum wage employees.
posted by Forktine at 6:12 AM on December 2, 2010
And yes, I also imagine my books coming from a fusty little shop with a cranky owner and a fat cat asleep on the counter, even though in reality it's probably big warehouses and disaffected minimum wage employees.
posted by Forktine at 6:12 AM on December 2, 2010
I've bought from AbeBooks tons of times, mostly without incident (one seller contacted me to say they don't have the book). As mentioned above, prices are determined by the seller - sometimes they're $2.95, sometimes more, often $1, and sometimes free.
I like BookFinder.com to look for the cheapest used book. It usually factors in shipping, so you get a true "lowest price" list. Occasionally it's not accurate, but on the whole I find it very useful since it searches through a bunch of sites.
posted by raztaj at 6:30 AM on December 2, 2010
I like BookFinder.com to look for the cheapest used book. It usually factors in shipping, so you get a true "lowest price" list. Occasionally it's not accurate, but on the whole I find it very useful since it searches through a bunch of sites.
posted by raztaj at 6:30 AM on December 2, 2010
ABE has always been my favorite used book seller site; they were around way before Amazon (all of my mopey Leonard Cohen and Richard Brautigan books of poetry I got for like 30 cents each when I was 13 came straight from them). Love them, always have. I remember being wary when Amazon started the marketplace thing, afraid for them...so glad they're still around.
posted by ifjuly at 7:31 AM on December 2, 2010
posted by ifjuly at 7:31 AM on December 2, 2010
Oh, to clarify: I mean ABE was doing used book central-type stuff way before Amazon.
BetterWorldBooks is on ABE along with lots of folks who do free shipping; doesn't matter either way too much due to the aforementioned "sort by price + shipping" feature.
And I am a teeny disheartened to learn just now that they were acquired by Amazon a while back anyway. Ah well!
posted by ifjuly at 7:37 AM on December 2, 2010
BetterWorldBooks is on ABE along with lots of folks who do free shipping; doesn't matter either way too much due to the aforementioned "sort by price + shipping" feature.
And I am a teeny disheartened to learn just now that they were acquired by Amazon a while back anyway. Ah well!
posted by ifjuly at 7:37 AM on December 2, 2010
It deeply saddens me that abebooks is owned by Amazon. I thought I'd found an alternative.
...well, they're still far superior IMHO.
posted by Stagger Lee at 7:50 AM on December 2, 2010
...well, they're still far superior IMHO.
posted by Stagger Lee at 7:50 AM on December 2, 2010
Last time I bought from Abe, my bank said it was in Canada and charged me a foreign exchange fee, even though the transaction was in US dollars. (I'm in the US and have an American bank.)
Completely not Abe's fault though. Their service was great. The fee was under a buck. Still pretty stupid though.
posted by massysett at 7:59 AM on December 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
Completely not Abe's fault though. Their service was great. The fee was under a buck. Still pretty stupid though.
posted by massysett at 7:59 AM on December 2, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yeah, an ABEBooks purchase on a credit card triggered a 3% foreign transaction fee for me, too--making the best deal not so great after all.
posted by Scram at 9:56 PM on December 2, 2010
posted by Scram at 9:56 PM on December 2, 2010
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A $3.99 media mail shipping cost is a bit inflated, anyway -- most paperbacks cost $2.38 via media mail. I know this because of Paperback Swap, which may be an even better source for cheap books...
posted by vorfeed at 11:24 PM on December 1, 2010 [3 favorites]