AbeBooks UK Buyer Help

Cancelations, Returns and Refunds

  • How can I cancel my order?
  • I have not received my book. What can I do?
  • My book is not as described, damaged or the wrong book. What can I do?
  • I have changed my mind. Can I return a book?
  • Returns and Refunds overview

How can I cancel my order?

Occasionally, you may need to cancel your order after you have placed it online. You can cancel your order before the bookseller has indicated that the book has been shipped.

To cancel your order:

1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Select [View My Orders] under My Orders in your Members Menu
3. Click on the link [Item Details] next to the order that you wish to cancel
4. Here you can cancel the order. Ensure that you click [Cancel] then [Verify] 

If the status is ‘Shipped’ you may be able to contact the bookseller before they ship the book. If the status of the order is ‘Shipped’ or ‘Availability Confirmed’ you will no longer be able to cancel the order via your AbeBooks account.

Tip: If the status of the order is ‘Availability Confirmed’ and you have not paid for the order the seller is unlikely to have shipped the book to you. Simply let the bookseller know that you wish to cancel.

1. Click the [Item details] button located to the right of the item
2. Click the [Ask a Question] button
3. On the Book Inquiry page:
     • Ensure your email address in the From text box is correct
     • Enter the subject of your inquiry
     • Type your question to the bookseller
4. Click the [Inquire About This Book] button

An email is sent to the bookseller on your behalf, and a copy is saved in your AbeBooks online account.

I have not received my book – what can I do?

If you feel that your book should have already arrived, please sign onto your account and check the estimated delivery date of your order:

1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2
. Select [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
3. Click the [Item details] button located to the right of the item

Here you can view the estimated delivery date of your order. If the order date has passed it would be wise to contact the bookseller, the bookseller can let you know exactly when the book was shipped and if tracking information is available.

If the book was sent without tracking you can request a refund from your AbeBooks account. To allow for postal delays we ask that you allow an additional 7 days after the estimated delivery date before you request your refund.

To request a refund for a book that has not arrived:

4. Click on [Request to Return a Book]
5. Select a reason for the return from the drop-down list (Item did not arrive)
6. Add any additional comments.  These comments are displayed to the bookseller
7. Click [Initiate Return/Refund]

Both you and the bookseller will receive confirmation via email that your refund has been initiated. Should the bookseller not be able to provide you with a replacement copy or tracking information within 7 days the refund will be processed automatically.

Should you wish to cancel your refund request, this can be done within 7 days of initiating it. Sign on to your account and follow the above instructions to cancel your refund.

If you find that the link [Request to Return a Book] is no longer available it is most probably due to the fact that the returns period has passed. You can only request a refund up to 30 days after the estimated delivery date. If this date has passed we kindly ask that you contact the bookseller. The bookseller can still process a refund for you. If you have paid the bookseller directly via debit card or PayPal you may wish to contact your bank/PayPal to dispute the payment.

 

If you have paid via credit card, please contact us if the bookseller does not reply or resolve the issue for you.


Tip: Always check the estimated delivery date, after one week if the book has not arrived you can request a refund in your account. Within the 7 days, you may wish to check with your local post office to see if delivery has been attempted.

My book is not as described, damaged, wrong book – what can I do?

If the book that you have received is not as described, is the incorrect item or was damaged during shipping, you can return the book to the bookseller for a refund.

We suggest that you simply let the bookseller know in advance that you will be returning the book. To contact the bookseller:

1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Select [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
3. Click the [Item details] button located to the right of the item
4. Click the [Ask a Question] button
5. On the Book Enquiry page; click the [Inquire About This Book] button

To initiate a return for a book:

6. In the list of orders that appears, find the book for which you would like to initiate a return and click [Item Details]. Then click [Request to Return a Book]
7. Select the appropriate reason for the return from the drop-down list
8. Add any additional comments. These comments are displayed to the bookseller then click [Initiate Return/Refund]

Tip: Please note, a refund can only be initiated up to 30 days after the estimated delivery date.

Should you wish to cancel your refund request, this can be done as long as the order has the status "Return Initiated". Simply sign on to your AbeBooks.co.uk account and follow the above instructions to cancel your refund.

When you send a book back to the bookseller, you may wish to use a trackable means of shipment. If the bookseller does not receive the book, the refund will be cancelled.

To insert tracking information on your book return:

1. Select [View My Orders] under My Orders in your Members Menu
2. In the list of orders that appears, find the book return for which you would like to insert a tracking number
3. Click [Item Details]
4. Insert the Shipping Company, Tracking number and Shipment Date in the boxes provided
5. Click [Save]

Once the bookseller receives the book back, they will update the return online and AbeBooks will refund you. If the bookseller does not update the return, you will be automatically refunded 28 days after requesting it for a national return or 77 days for an international return. If the bookseller agrees, you will be refunded the book price, the original shipping and the return shipping. The return shipping is equal to the original shipping that you paid. If the bookseller does not agree, you are refunded the book price plus the original shipping.

Our bookseller members are professional members who are more than happy to address any issues that may arise and offer the best solution.

I have changed my mind – can I return a book?

You can request a return for any order made through AbeBooks. In fairness to the bookseller, please return the book as soon as you receive it.

To initiate a return for a book:

1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Select [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
3. In the list of orders that appears, find the book for which you would like to initiate a return and click [Item Details]. In the Item Details, click [Request to Return a Book]
4. Select reason ‘buyer does not want item’ from the drop-down list
5. Add any additional comments. These comments are displayed to the bookseller
6. Click [Initiate Return/Refund]

Please note a refund can only be initiated up to 30 days after the estimated delivery date.

Should you need to cancel the refund, this can be done as long as the order has the status "Return Initiated".  Simply sign on to your AbeBooks.co.uk account and follow the above instructions to cancel your refund.

When you send a book back to the bookseller, we recommend you use a traceable means of shipment. If the bookseller does not receive the book back, the refund is cancelled. To insert tracking information on your book return:

1. Select [View My Orders] under My Orders in your Members Menu
2. In the list of orders that appears, find the book return for which you would like to insert a tracking number
3. Click [Item Details]
4. Insert the Shipping Company, Tracking number and Shipment Date in the boxes provided
5. Click [Save]

Once the bookseller receives the book back, they will update the return online and AbeBooks will refund you. If the bookseller does not update the return, you will be automatically refunded 28 days after requesting it for a national return or 77 days for an international return.    

Returns & Refunds Overview

Our booksellers strive to maintain an excellence in customer service and customer satisfaction. With that goal in mind, our booksellers guarantee the condition of every book as it is described on our website.

 

To be eligible for a full refund of the purchase price, please be sure to initiate your return/refund through your AbeBooks account immediately after receiving the order and ship it directly to the bookseller in the same condition you received it in. Please note that a return/refund can be initiated through your AbeBooks account 30 days after the estimated delivery date.

 

Below you will find a table of the return/refund reasons, which also includes the amounts reimbursed for orders paid by credit/debit card processed through AbeBooks:

Return Reason

Description

Reimbursement

Item did not Arrive

The order did not arrive and it is more than 7 days past the estimated delivery date

Full refund =

Book price + shipping charged

Buyer does not want item*

You received item, but do not want it and wish to return it to the bookseller for a refund

Full refund =

Book price + shipping charged

Incorrect Item Delivered*

The item arrived but was not the item you ordered; you can return it to the bookseller for a refund

Full refund + return shipping =

Book price + shipping charged + return shipping equal to original shipping

Item was Damaged*

The item arrived but was damaged in the post; you can return it to the bookseller for a refund

Full refund + return shipping =

Book price + shipping charged + return shipping equal to original shipping

Item not as Described*

The item arrived but it does not match the description displayed when ordering; you can return it to the bookseller for a refund

If seller agrees:

Full refund + return shipping = Book price + shipping charged + return shipping equal to original shipping

If seller disagrees:

Full refund =

Book price + shipping charged

* Your return will be completed by the bookseller when the order is received back; you may wish to send the order back using a trackable service.

 

You will receive an automated refund notification email once your return has been completed. Your refund will be deposited back to your credit/debit card account by AbeBooks within 10 business days following the refund notification email.

 

Please Note: If you paid for your order via an alternative means such as PayPal, cheque or bank transfer, then the bookseller is responsible for ensuring that your money is returned to you.

AbeBooks Resolution Centre

Welcome to the AbeBooks Resolution Centre where you can find detailed help on how to resolve any issue that may occur.

 

We always encourage our buyers and member booksellers to communicate with each other when there's an issue with an order. If you've already attempted to contact the bookseller but did not receive a reply or a resolution to the issue, the information below will guide you through the next steps.

 

Preorder Enquiries

 

AbeBooks member booksellers are expected to answer all enquiries within 2 business days. If you have contacted a bookseller and have not received a response, it may be that the bookseller is dealing with a large number of enquiries or that they are away from their store and are unable to answer. You may wish to try again or even contact an alternative bookseller. If you have sent numerous enquiries but still not received a response, you can contact us and we will follow up with the bookseller on your behalf.

 

I would like to cancel my order

 

You can cancel your order before the bookseller has indicated to us that the book has been shipped. If the status of the order is "Shipped" or "Availability Confirmed" you will no longer be able to cancel the order via your AbeBooks account. You may wish to contact the bookseller directly, as it may be possible to stop the shipment of your order.

 

My order has not arrived

 

If you feel that your order should have already arrived, you can check the estimated delivery date of your order through the order tracking feature in your account. You can also contact the bookseller to enquire about the shipment date and to see if tracking information can be provided. If you do not receive a response from the bookseller, you can request a refund for the missing item between 7 and 30 days after the estimated delivery date.

 

I have received my order but…

 

If your order has been received damaged, incorrectly described or is the incorrect item altogether, it may be that the bookseller can send a replacement copy to you or that a partial refund may be offered. If a resolution cannot be agreed upon or you do not receive a response, you can initiate a return through your AbeBooks account and send the book back to the seller for a full refund.

 

I have changed my mind and would like to return my order

 

To return your order, please await delivery and then initiate a return through your AbeBooks account. Please return the book promptly and in the same condition as it was sent to you. A return can be initiated through your AbeBooks account up to 30 days after the estimated delivery date.

 

If all else fails and you still cannot find a resolution to your issue, you may wish to view our FAQ’s. Alternatively, you can contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

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