AbeBooks gives you the opportunity to add a free "Want" when you are unable find an item you are searching for. You can also add a Want to the AbeBooks system if you do a search, but find that the results do not meet your requirements. There is no limited period for the storage of a Want and you can store up to 500 Wants in your AbeBooks.co.uk account.
To add a want from the Search:
1. Complete a search for the book you are looking for:
3. Type the details of your Want in the appropriate fields and click [Add Want]
To add a want from your account:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [List and Maintain My Wants]
3. Then click [Add new Wants to your want inventory]
4. Enter your search criteria and click [Add Want]
Overview of the Wants system
Every day we compare your Wants against the new books that were added to the database by our member booksellers. If a match is found, we email you directly to let you know that the book is now available online*. The message will contain a link to the online book accompanied with the book details, as well as the seller's name and terms of sale.
If you would prefer to view recent matches online as opposed to via email notification, you can do so in your Abebooks.co.uk account:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [My Recently Matched Wants]
* If you would like to only view your Want matches through your account as opposed to receiving the email notifications, simply contact our Customer Service.
To update a Want from your account:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [List and Maintain My Wants]
3. Then locate the Want and click [Update this Want]
4. Make the desires changes
5. Click the [Update Want] button
Note: If you would like to exclude certain book types or booksellers from your Want matches, you can use the Boolean operators to achieve this. Please note that this will only work if the bookseller or books you would like to exclude have consistent terms in the book descriptions.
Boolean operators allow you to search the bookseller's listings for a phrase common to all or most of their book listings. If the phrase is also common to other booksellers or books, those books will be excluded from matching as well, so it is best to use a more specific phrase and one that is not used commonly. For example, using "brand new" as the term to filter will likely prevent many books from being matched to your Wants. Additionally, you must first add at least one positive attribute before the keywords you wish to exclude.
To use this in your Want, ensure that Boolean Searching is turned "On" and use the terms in any field of your Want. For examples see below:
|
Boolean Term |
Why? |
Example |
|
AND |
To make sure a keyword is included |
Query: I am looking for a book about cats and painting. |
|
AND NOT (ANDNOT, NOT) |
To make sure a keyword is not included |
Query: I'm looking for books by the author King, but not Stephen King. |
|
OR |
To give alternative keywords |
Query: I am looking for books about war. |
In the event that a Want match item has already been sold by the time you click on the link contained in the email notification, a “Want match not found” will be displayed. If you decide to purchase a Want match item please follow the instruction below to delete the Want.
To delete a Want from your account:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [List and Maintain My Wants]
3. Then locate the Want and click [Delete this Want]
Related questions:
How can I get more information about a book?
