ThriftBooks: My Experiences With This Online Used Book Store
What Is It?
Thriftbooks is an online used book seller that also sells new books; used books range from $3.99 to $4.50, but they also sell boxed sets, books in different languages, and collectibles.
My Experiences
I bought some books to add to my library in honor of the end of the school year, and there was a sale going on at the time where you could get 15% off of orders of $15 or more; however, this order is still being shipped, so I haven’t received any of these yet.
The Pros
They give you points for each book you buy, and when you reach 500 points (which appears to be surprisingly easy to achieve), you get a free book. Ex-Library Books are easy to find, and they’re upfront about it being an ex-library book.
The Cons
They allow you to track your package through USPS (and again, this isn’t necessarily Thriftbooks’ fault), but it wouldn’t give me an arrival date until it was already in my city, which is just stupid. This is what irritates me the most about books being shipped in bags. One book was shipped from Portland, Oregon, and the other from Reno, Nevada.
Conclusions
I like their selection, rewards program, and ordering process as a company; my issues stem from their shipping process, which may be beyond their control. Will I order from them again? Not for a while because I can’t keep buying books at this rate.
Can ThriftBooks be trusted?
ThriftBooks has a 2.57 star rating based on 192 reviews, indicating that the majority of customers are dissatisfied with their purchases. Customers who complain about ThriftBooks most frequently mention customer service, good condition, and dust jacket issues. ThriftBooks is ranked seventh among Used Books sites.
What does library binding mean on ThriftBooks?
When Amazon says “library binding,” they mean a book that has been rebound by one of the many companies that do so for libraries (or used to). For ISBN books, the library binding should have its own ISBN.
What does ex library mean on thrift books?
Is Better World Books a safe site?
BetterWorldBooks has a 4.7-star rating based on 2,054 reviews, indicating that the majority of customers are happy with their purchases. Customers who are happy with BetterWorldBooks frequently mention good condition, free shipping, and prompt service. BetterWorldBooks is ranked third among Used Books sites.
What is the best online bookstore?
The Top 20 Online Bookstores (along with everything else)
- Book Depository.
- Alibris.
- BookOutlet.
- Kidsbooks.
- Walmart.
- Booktopia.
- Thrift Books.
- Thr
Is Better World Books ethical?
Better World Books has been certified as a “B corporation” by the non-profit B Lab, which means it meets certain social welfare standards by donating books or a percentage of profits to literacy programs around the world; as of 2013, the company had donated an estimated $14 million under this program.
How fast is Thriftbooks?
Most of our packages are processed and shipped within 1 to 2 business days; please see Shipping Costs for delivery times after your order has shipped; orders placed on Friday will be shipped on Monday.
Are Thriftbooks used?
Thriftbooks is an online used book seller, though they also sell new books that you can order through them; used books range from $3.99 to $4.50, but they also sell boxed sets, books in different languages, and collectibles (which are obviously more expensive).
What is the difference between hardback and library binding?
Hardcover: Also known as “Trade Cloth” in the book industry. Paperback: A book bound in a flexible paper cover that is often a cheaper edition of a hardcover book. Library Binding: A hardcover book with a reinforced binding made for more extensive use, such as in a library.
Why is library binding expensive?
They are also a niche product – they sell a fraction of the number of regular bindings – and, like any niche product, they are significantly more expensive than something that can be mass produced.
Why does the library collection need binding?
Binding ensures the preservation of written, printed, or near print material. It is no longer limited to books printed on paper; it now includes non-book materials such as films, magnetic tapes, discs, and so on.
Are ex-library books worth anything?
Is an ex-library copy of a book worth less than a non-ex-library copy? An ex-library copy of a book is usually priced lower than a non-ex-library copy simply because it is in worse condition.
Are ex-library books collectible?
Ex-library books are rarely collectible; because collectors value condition, you’ll find books with torn or missing dust jackets, cloudy and smeared protective sleeves (mylar covers are easy to replace), and general shelf wear.
Are first edition library books worth anything?
In general, first editions, or first printings, will be the most valuable, depending on who published the book and what formats it was published in. You’ll mostly be looking for hardcover books, but don’t assume all hardcovers are first printings!