AbeBooks Explained:
AbeBooks is a global online marketplace for thousands of booksellers worldwide; we do not own books ourselves but we do provide booksellers and book buyers the means to interact with each other. AbeBooks makes it simple and safe to find and buy-or list and sell-new, used, rare, and out-of-print books online. This great selection delivers value for all: readers find bestsellers, collectors find rare books, students find textbooks, and treasure hunters find those books they have long been hunting for. By creating a secure and easy-to-search database and maintaining high standards, AbeBooks has established a dynamic online marketplace for books, and a community that booklovers return to, again and again.
To use the wide range of options we offer, it is necessary to complete a one-time registration and open a free buyer account. Simply click here and fill in all the details under "Create a New Account".
Finding your favourite books is as easy as 1-2-3
- Use the search box on our homepage or the Advanced searchto find the books you are looking for. You can search for books using the author, title, ISBN and much more. Click here for more information on searching.
- Ensure that you are signed onto your account so you can save your search preferences and add books to your basket. Click here if you cannot sign onto your account.
- If you are unable to find the book you are looking for, you can create a free Want in your AbeBooks account. We will then email you as soon as the book becomes available.
- If you have any questions about any book online or would like further information, you can contact the bookseller directly by using the [Ask Bookseller a Question] link in the searchresults. The AbeBooks Glossary, can also help you to clarify the book-related terms booksellers may use in their descriptions.
- You can buy with confidence from thousands of professional booksellers worldwide. Our Bookseller Ratings are based on the bookseller’s order performance. Booksellers with a high star rating have fewer returns and fewer cancelled orders.
- Our external payment service provider accepts and processes all orders paid via Visa, MasterCard, American Express & JCB on behalf of our booksellers, so you can be assured that your card details are secure. Many booksellers also accept other payment methods such as cheque and PayPal among others ensuring that you can find a payment method that is right for you.
- Our member booksellers set their own shipping rates and speeds. You can compare their shipping rates in the search results to find the most competitive rates.
- Your order is shipped directly from the bookseller you. If you ordered books from more than one bookseller, you may receive your orders at different times depending on where each bookseller is located.
- You can contact the bookseller if you have a question regarding your order or you can use the tracking information in your account to check the status of your order.
- We guarantee your satisfaction when ordering on AbeBooks. In the unlikely event that you do not receive your order, you are entitled to a full refund. If you are not happy with your order, you can return it to the bookseller within 30 days for a refund. If an error is made with your order by the bookseller, you are of course entitled to a full refund including the return postage equal to the original shipping amount that was charged.
How can I find a book?
AbeBooks has two main types of searches: Quick and Advanced. The Advanced search offers numerous fields to help specify your search.
Additionally, you can further refine your search through the search results page.
If you are interested in purchasing from a specific bookseller, you can also search for books through this means.
Quick-Search
Our Quick Search facility, located on AbeBooks.co.uk, allows you to search for books by simply entering the author, title, keyword, and/or the ISBN.
Tip By ticking the UK First box, as displayed above, the search results will show the books available from our UK based booksellers first. If you are based in the UK this will help to give you the shortest delivery times available.
Advanced Search
AbeBooks offers an Advanced Search feature which helps specify the criteria for the book you are searching for, by allowing you to enter more detailed information. Please note that entering too much search information at any one time may return fewer or no results. It is therefore recommended that you build your search slowly, adding or changing the criteria as you go.
To use the Advanced Search
1. Click [Advanced Search] in the red banner at the top of the AbeBooks.co.uk page
2. Enter the search criteria you want to use and click [Find Book]
3. To do a second search with different criteria, click [More Search Options]
Tip: By adding extra criteria such as the Publisher or a price range, this will help to narrow your search to help you find the book you are looking for as quickly as possible
You can narrow your results by refining the following:
- Using the Refinements
- Utilising Boolean Searches
- Limiting the Result
Using the Refinements:
You are able to refine the attributes you are looking for by using the options on the right hand side of the Advanced Search screen.
- If you are looking for a special book such as a First Edition or a Signed Book or maybe a book with a Dust Jacket, you can select the attribute boxes such as below and the search results will show only books with these terms in the description.
- To search for the most recently uploaded books select Books Listed Within. This feature allows you to search for books that have been newly listed by our booksellers within the last 24 or 48 hours.
Utilising Boolean Searching
Boolean Searching allows you to narrow down your search by using special terms between your keywords.
To use this you must first enable the Boolean Search function. This helps you to find what you want in a quicker and easier way. To use this in your search, first make sure that Boolean Searching is turned on and then use your required terms in the keyword field. Please see below for examples:
|
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. |
You can also view our searching tips by clicking [More Search Options].
Limiting the Results
You can limit the results and reduce both postage and delivery times by searching for the book from a specific bookseller in your country. To do so you can simply select the bookseller country.
You can also select the number of listings per page in the results.
Filtering the Results Page
You can also filter your searches from the results page by selecting different [Features] from the liston the left side of the screen. Here you can select the attributes of the books which are listed in the search results.
The search results are defaulted to show the lowest total price (book price plus shipping), however, you can choose from a number of options such as Title, Author A-Z, or list the highest rated booksellers first.
Searching for a book from a specific bookseller
There are several ways you can search for a bookseller:
Click [Booksellers] in the red banner at the top of the page
a. If you know the bookshop's name, simply click the letter that their name begins with.
Or
b. In the Name field type a portion of or the full bookshop's name and click [Search].
Or
c. Select a Country from the drop-down menu and, if desired, further refine your search by selecting a Location from the drop-down list and click [Search].
Once you have found a bookseller whose inventory you would like to search, click [Search their Books] or [Browse their Books].
If the list of books in a category is large, you can narrow the search results by using search refinements, as mentioned previously.
Potential Search Terms Errors
The Bookstore Search will accept hyphens, -, or a pipe delimiters, |, between search terms. However, if either is used with no following term, you will receive an error message.
For example:
Bob Smith - Books is an acceptable search query
Bob Smith - will return an error message
Bob Smith | Books is an acceptable search query
Bob Smith |will return an error message
AbeBooks Search Tips
When searching on AbeBooks you may find International Editions. These books are printed outside of the USA and are referred to as "International Editions" or "Low price editions". The content is the same as the normal editions; however, the quality of the book may be lower. If you would like more information about a particular book, you can contact the bookseller from the search results by clicking Ask Bookseller a Question.
View the AbeBooks Glossary for other terms used to describe books.
Foreign language titles
If you are searching for a book written in a foreign language it is advisable that you try to find out what the book is called in that particular language. A good place to start would be the Wikipedia page for the author, if one exists. You can enter the language in the keyword field when searching AbeBooks for the book. Additionally, you can narrow your search by searching the inventories of booksellers located in the country in which the language is spoken.
Print on Demand
Print on demand books are supplied by some booksellers listed on AbeBooks. These are indicated by the following symbol:
Please also note that this information should be included in the book's description.
Related questions:
How can I get more information about a book?
I was not able to find a book. How can I add a Want?
How can I pay and what payment methods do you accept?
|
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. |
How can I browse for books?
A list of popular categories and features are displayed in the Browse section of the homepage. You can also click [Browse] in the red banner at the top of the homepage to view a list of Subjects and Features.
To find books on a common topic:
1. Click [Browse] in the red banner or [Browse All Subjects] in the Browse Column
2. Click a category heading to show a list of topics, and then click a topic to show a list of books
3. Click a category topic to show a list of books
Note:
* If the list of books in a category is large, you can narrow the search results by sorting or refining the search.
Related questions:
How can I get more information about a book?
I was not able to find a book. How can I add a Want?
Bookseller Ratings
On AbeBooks, our Bookseller Ratings are not calculated from positive and negative feedback left by buyers. Instead, our Bookseller Ratings are calculated by the fulfillment rate of the bookseller’s orders. This helps you decide which bookseller you would like to order from.
The Bookseller Rating is visible next to each book offer in the search results and appears as star rating from 1 to 5. The number of stars given is based on the percentage of orders that the bookseller fulfills. Fulfilled orders are those that are not cancelled and not returned to the bookseller.
If you click on the stars next to a book offer you will see the Ratings History for that bookseller.
To view further information about the bookseller click on [Bookseller & Payment Information] then click on [Ratings History].
Unfortunately, our system does not allow for individual feedback to be left for a seller. However, you are welcome to contact the bookseller directly to leave feedback.
If you encounter an issue, you may Contact Us and we will be happy to help!
To contact a bookseller to leave feedback:
1. Click [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
2. Find the book in question and then click [Contact Bookseller]
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. Complete the form and click on the "Send" button. An email is sent to the bookseller on your behalf, and a copy is saved in your AbeBooks account.
I was not able to find a book. How can I add a want?
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:
2. Click [Create a Want] in the column on the right hand side of the page:
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]
Watch our video tutorial:
Related questions:
How can I get more information about a book?
How can I pay and what payment methods do you accept?
How can I order books?
Placing an order on AbeBooks is easy and safe.
Please see below for step-by-step instructions:
- Once you have performed a search for the item you would like to purchase click on the [Add to Basket] button on the right-hand side of the page
- If you wish to continue shopping you can easily do so by clicking on the [AbeBooks Home] button at the bottom of the page
- If you are on the search page and wish to view your shopping basket, you can click on the basket symbol at the top of the page
- Once in your shopping basket you can [Proceed to Checkout]. After you proceed to checkout you will be requested to enter your Payment Details
- From the Payment Method drop-down menu you are given several options. However, if you are ordering several items from various booksellers, then options provided will be those payment methods which all booksellers accept . For more information on payment methods please click here
- After you have selected a payment method you will be asked to enter your shipping address. If you wish to ship to an address other than your billing address, you can change the address at this stage
Please note: If you have selected a preferred shipping address you will skip this step. You can edit your address on the order summary page. For more information about managing your shipping address please click here.
- You will be then be presented with your order summary. Please check the details carefully. If you would like to update either the shipping address or the payment type simply click [Edit] next to the information you would like to edit. If you would like to change the shipping speed, you can do this from the drop down menu.
Tip: If you would like to remove an item at this stage, please click on the shopping basket icon at the top right of the page. You will then be able to add or remove any books.
- When you have reviewed the details, confirmed your payment method, and ensured that your shipping address is correct you can click on [Place Order Now]
You will be redirected to a page thanking you for your order and an email confirming that your order has been successfully placed will be sent to you
Note: When using a credit card to pay for your order you are not automatically charged. Instead, your details are stored on our secure server until the bookseller processes your order; this is a maximum of up to 4 days. Please be assured that your card details are not shared with any third party.
Your credit card is only charged when the bookseller updates your order and marks it as Shipped. Each bookseller's portion of an order is charged separately so there can be multiple transactions for one order depending on how many booksellers you are ordering from. You can view the status of your orders in your account by clicking View My Orders.
If you have chosen a payment method other than credit card, the bookseller should contact you to arrange payment. The final status update in your AbeBooks order details will be Availability Confirmed.
If you have an AbeBooks voucher, please click here for instructions on how to redeem it.
For further information:
How can I get more information about a book?
How can I pay and what payment methods do you accept?
On AbeBooks there are a number of payment methods which you can choose from.
I wish to pay with Credit Card
You can pay for all orders using the following cards:
Visa - MasterCard - American Express
When purchasing with a credit card, our external payment service provider processes the payment on behalf of the bookseller. This also means that should a refund be necessary our external payment service provider can also complete the refund.
Please be assured that you credit card information is secure. If you wish to review our credit card security in more detail please click here.
With your security in mind, we would like to note that you should not send your credit card information via email, and you should always log off after every session.
I wish to pay with an alternative payment method
In addition to the above cards, each individual bookseller can choose to accept alternative payment methods. For these payment methods, payment is arranged directly between yourself and the bookseller.
- PayPal
- Bank/Wire Transfer
- Cheque (Check)
- Bank Draft/Money Order
- Invoice
- Direct Debit
- Cash on Delivery (COD)
- Cash
From any search results, you can view the bookseller's accepted payment methods by clicking on the bookseller's name in the search results page.
To view a bookseller's Accepted Payment Methods click on the link "Bookseller & Payment Information" located below the book description on the search results page:
Then click on the left tab [Bookseller & Payment Information].
On the right side is a list of Payment Methods which that particular bookseller accepts.
For more information on ordering please click here.
When choosing one of the above payment methods, the bookseller will contact you to arrange payment. You can also contact the bookseller:
1. Click [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
2. Find the book in question and then click [Item Details]
3. Click [Ask the bookseller a question] to enquire. AbeBooks will also have a copy of your enquiry
Overview of payment methods accepted
Below you can see a full overview of payment methods accepted by AbeBooks and the booksellers.
|
Payment Method |
How to Pay? |
Notes |
|
Credit/Debit Cards* |
Cards which have any of the above logos on them are accepted. When purchasing select "Credit Card" and enter your card details via our secure server. Card payments are process by our external payment service provider. Should payment be declined for whatever reason we will notify you and restore the book online for you to re-order |
Unfortunately at present we are unable to accept Maestro and Solo cards. Accepted cards are only charged when an order has been processed by the bookseller. |
|
PayPal |
Once you have ordered from a bookseller who accepts PayPal, the bookseller should then contact you with their PayPal details |
PayPal is not integrated into our external payment service provider system, so once the bookseller processes the order, you will need to make the payment through your PayPal account |
|
Bank/Wire Transfer |
After order placement the bookseller will provide you with their bank details and confirm the total order value |
Shipment will take place after payment has been received. It usually takes 5-7 days for a transferred amount to show as a credit |
|
Cheque (Check) |
After order placement the bookseller will provide you with their postal address and confirm the total order value |
Shipment will take place after payment has been received |
|
Bank Draft/ Money Order |
After order placement the bookseller will provide you with their postal address and confirm the total order value |
Shipment will take place after payment has been received |
|
Invoice |
After order placement the bookseller ships the order and an invoice bill in the package, which needs to be settled upon receipt |
If booksellers offer this payment method it is usually only for national shipment |
|
Direct Debit |
After order placement the bookseller will confirm the total order value. You then need to arrange with your bank the direct debit setup and then notify the bookseller who then makes the charge |
If booksellers offer this payment method it is only for national shipment |
|
Cash On Delivery (COD) |
After order placement the bookseller ships the order and upon delivery the order amount is paid in cash to the postal delivery service |
If booksellers offer this payment method it is only for national shipment |
|
Cash |
After order placement the bookseller will provide you with their postal address and confirm the total order value |
This payment is usually chosen if no other method can be used |
* Please be assured that our credit card server is completely secure and your credit card number is deleted once your payment has been processed, unless you have stored it on your account. For details regarding AbeBooks security please click here. If you are not comfortable using a credit card online, please use one of the bookseller's other acceptable payment methods.
Important notes:
Once you have completed your order, it is not possible to change your payment method. If you have selected to pay by credit card, you will need to cancel your order and reorder selecting a different payment method.
If you have chosen a payment method, that is not credit card, you can arrange directly with the bookseller to pay by different means.
Related questions:
How can I get more information about a book?
I was not able to find a book. How can I add a Want?
What are your shipping rates?
AbeBooks bookseller members listing on our site set their own shipping rates and times. These rates will vary depending on the location of the bookseller in relation to the buyer, the method of shipping the bookseller uses and whether handling charges are included with the shipping rates.
To view a bookseller’s shipping rates select [Rates & Speeds] from the search results page. If you have specific questions about a book, please contact the bookseller directly.
To contact a bookseller:
1. Click on the [Ask Bookseller a Question] link in the search results
2. Enter your inquiry and click [Send Question]
You will be sent an email confirmation of your inquiry. AbeBooks will also retain a copy.
The bookseller will receive your question and reply to you via email.
To obtain additional information about a bookseller:
1. Click the [Bookseller & Payment Information] link in the search results
2. On the right of the screen you are also presented with links to:
• Search this specific seller’s inventory
• Browse the seller’s inventory
• Ask the bookseller a question
• View the Bookseller’s homepage
Some booksellers offer free shipping within the UK.
Visit our Free Shipping Room!
Extra Shipping Requests
Occasionally a bookseller may find that the shipping fee quoted on AbeBooks will not cover the costs of shipping your order to you. This may be for a number of reasons; the item may be heavy and cost more to ship, the seller may need to insure the book if it is expensive.
This is subject to your agreement, if the seller requests extra shipping we will notify you via email. You can accept or reject the extra shipping costs by clicking on the link in the email, alternatively you can accept/reject via your AbeBooks account. To do so:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
3. Follow the link [Click here to update the extra charges]
We will then let the bookseller know your decision. If you accept the charges the bookseller will process the order which will charge your credit card once for the full amount (amount you agreed to originally plus the charges). Then the seller will ship the book to you.
If you reject the extra shipping we let the bookseller know, they can either accept the order and make a loss on the postage or cancel the order. As soon as the seller updates the order we will again let you know via email.
I have not received my book – what can I do?
If you think that your book should have already arrived, please sign onto your account and check the estimated delivery date of your order.
- [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
- Select [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
- Locate the order you are looking for
The item details will show you the estimated delivery date. If the estimated delivery date has past, please contact the bookseller.
To contact the bookseller once you are signed onto your account:
- Click [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
- Find the order in question
- Click [Contact Bookseller] to enquire. AbeBooks will also have a copy of your enquiry
AbeBooks does not own the books, therefore only the bookseller can provide you with tracking information or further details.
If it is 7 days past the estimated delivery date, and the bookseller has not provided tracking information, you can initiate a refund.
To request a refund for a book that has not arrived
If it is 7 day past the estimated delivery date, you can initiate a refund for 'Item did not arrive'. In your account click[View My Orders] and then locate the order that has not arrived. You can then click on [Request to Return/Refund].
Select a reason for the return from the drop-down list and add any additional comments. These comments are displayed to the bookseller.
Once you have added your comments click [Initiate Return/Refund] and then confirm.
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 on initiating your refund 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 of 7 to 30 days has passed. If this date has passed we kindly ask that you contact the bookseller. The bookseller can still process a refund for you.
To contact the bookseller once you are signed onto your account:
- Click [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
- Find the book in question
- Click [Contact Bookseller] to enquire. AbeBooks will also have a copy of your enquiry
Please note, however that the bookseller is not obliged to process a refund for any order that is outside the 30 day refund period and we are not authorised to process a refund at that stage without permission from the bookseller.
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. If after 7 days the book has not arrived you can then request a refund for the order in your account. You may wish to check with your local post office to see if delivery has been attempted within the 7 day period prior to initiating a refund.
For more information on returns and refunds please click here.
My book is not as described, damaged, wrong book – what can I do?
If the book that you have received is not as described, the incorrect item or was damaged during shipping, you can return the book to the bookseller for a refund.
We recommend that you first contact the bookseller to notify them that there is an issue with your order. The bookseller will best be able to provide you with a resolution.
To contact the bookseller:
- Sign on to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
- Select [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
- Click the [Item details] button located to the right of the item
- Click the [Ask a Question] button
You can then enter your question. Should you not receive a response from the bookseller within 2 business days please contact us and we will follow up on your behalf.
To initiate a return for a book
If you have contacted the bookseller and not received a response, we recommend that you initiate a refund through your AbeBooks account.
Please note that a refund can only be initiated up to 30 days past the estimated delivery date.
To request a return:
- Sign on to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
- Click [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
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]
Select the reason from the drop down menu. An explanation of the reason codes can be found by clicking the [Explanation of Reason Codes] link, located to the right of the reason code menu.
Please add any additional comments you may have, as these comments are displayed to the bookseller and click [Initiate Return/Refund]
Once you have initiated the refund you will receive an automated email confirming that the refund is initiated. You will also be provided with the return address. Please note that your refund will be completed once the bookseller confirms they have received the order back.
Therefore, 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:
- Select [View My Orders] under My Orders in your Members Menu
- In the list of orders that appears, find the book return for which you would like to insert a tracking number
- Click [Item Details]
- Insert the Shipping Company, Tracking number and Shipment Date in the boxes provided
- Click [Save]
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.
Our bookseller members are professional members who are more than happy to address any issues that may arise and offer the best solution.
For an overview of the return reasons and refund amounts, please click here.
I do not have a credit card, how can I pay?
We understand that you may wish to pay via a method other than credit card.
We would like to explain that booksellers have the option to accept other payment methods such as cheque, bank transfer, PayPal, money order and more. Click here for an overview of payment methods.
Tip: Simply click on the bookseller name to view their payment details. This can be done from the search results.
To view a bookseller's Accepted Payment Methods click on the link "Bookseller & Payment Information" located below the book description on the search results page:
Then click on the left tab [Bookseller & Payment Information].
On the right side is a list of Payment Methods which that particular bookseller accepts.
Should you choose to pay by credit card, AbeBooks accepts your payment on behalf of the bookseller. We store your credit card details on our secure server, and they are never shared with anyone. For further details on AbeBooks security please click here.
PayPal Orders:
You may wish to use PayPal to pay for an order. Once you have ordered from a bookseller who accepts PayPal, the bookseller should then contact you with their PayPal details.
PayPal is not integrated into the AbeBooks system, so once you have the bookseller's details, you will need to make the payment through your PayPal account.
Alternatively, you may wish to contact the bookseller directly and ask them to give you the details necessary for making the payment. To contact the bookseller once you are signed onto your AbeBooks account:
1. Click [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
2. Find the book in question and then click [Item Details]
3. Click [Ask the bookseller a question] to enquire. AbeBooks will also have a copy of your enquiry
Please do pay using the payment method which best suits you. However, if you pay via credit card, our external payment service provider will process the payment on behalf of the bookseller(s) which will enable you, in the event of a required return or refund to initiate the process via your Abebooks account.
For more details on the variety of payment methods accepted please click here.
Why can I not sign on to my account?
We are sorry that you are having difficulty signing on to your account.
Below you can find information if you have.
1. Forgot your password?
2. Experienced problems with your e-mail address or password?
We would also like to remind you that you must not write your passwords in your emails when you contact us.
1. Did you forget your password?
If you do not remember your password, you will need to reset it, please follow the next steps:
- Click the [Forgot Your Password] button
- We will then send an email to the address you provided. This email will provide a link to a secure password reset page.
- Simply click the link or copy/paste it into your browser's address bar to create a new password and log into your AbeBooks account.
If you did not receive the email, please check your Spam or Junk mail folders. Please note that the link in the email expires after 2 hours, and you will then need to click the [Forgot Your Password] button again.
When creating your new password, please keep the following rules in mind:
- Your password must contain at least 8 characters and include no spaces or single quotes
- Your password must include at least 1 lower case letter (a–z)
- Your password can not be the same as your email address
- Your password can not be the same as your previous AbeBooks password
2. Problems with your email address or password?
AbeBooks operates several regional websites and therefore it necessary to sign on at the website where you originally registered your account. For example if you registered on AbeBooks.co.uk you cannot sign on at AbeBooks.com .
Also, because both the email address and your password fields are case-sensitive; please ensure that the CAPS LOCK is not activated on your keyboard when you are attempting to sign on.
If you continue to experience difficulty please check the following:
To enable browser Cookies:
For Mozilla Firefox
For Safari
To enable JavaScript:
For Mozilla Firefox
For Safari
If you have a Firewall and/or Anti-Virus software installed on your PC you may need to adjust the privacy control. The option for enabling web browser privacy needs to be switched off. Should you need assistance, we have provided links below to major providers.
As some providers do charge for technical assistance, please check for charges before requesting support:
Click here if you use: Microsoft - Windows XP Firewall, ZoneAlarm, Norton AntiVirus
My credit card was rejected!
What does 'Credit Card Rejected' mean?
On occasions you may find that your order has been cancelled due to the reason 'Credit Card Rejected'. This means that the credit card transaction was declined.
After a credit card transaction is declined the book is returned to the search results and we kindly ask that you place your order again. We are unfortunately unable to reinstate orders.
There are several possible reasons as to why a credit card transaction can be cancelled.
- During the transfer of funds, there was an Internet connection problem
- Your bank or credit card company was having technical issues
- The company that processes credit cards on our behalf was having technical issues
- The credit card number or the expiry date you provided us was incorrect - card expired
- You have multiple AbeBooks accounts. AbeBooks.com orders can be seen as foreign transactions by your credit card company and therefore cancelled
- The order value was high. Your credit card company may have stopped the transaction if you do not usually make high value purchase. If you intend to purchase a high value order it would advisable to notify your credit company before placing the order
- You reside in a country where credit card security codes are mandatory for all transactions
We kindly ask that you check your credit card details in your AbeBooks account, to ensure that these are correct.
Once you have checked the details, we kindly invite you to click here in order to search for the book again on AbeBooks.
Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for a book to be relisted. If the book is no longer available you may wish to add a Want.
How can I update my credit card?
In order to update your credit card details, please sign on to your AbeBooks account.
- [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
- Click [Manage My Credit Cards] under My Information on your Members Menu
- Choose your card type from the [Select Credit Card] drop down menu
Now you can edit the information or if you need to add a new card, delete the previous one stored.
Now a new card can be added.
For further information:
How can I pay and what payment methods do you accept?
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. Find
the book in question
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 need to cancel the refund, 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.
Subject related topics:
Possible Shippipng Delays - News
How can I subscribe to your AbeBooks newsletter?
When you have an account on AbeBooks you are able to subscribe to our free AbeBooks Newsletters. These Newsletters provide information on bookseller sales, the latest promotions, and interesting articles regarding book news, literature discussions and rare books.
You can choose to unsubscribe at any point.
The Avid Reader Newsletter - is full of book news, site features, exclusive content, contests and more.
To sign up for the Avid Reader Newsletter click here. You will then need to fill out the necessary information, which is displayed below.
You can also choose to accept the Newsletter through your account. To do so:
- Sign on to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
- From your Members Menu click on [My Account information]
- You can then click to receive the Newsletter and select [Save Changes]
How can I unsubscribe to your AbeBooks newsletter?
Please be assured you can unsubscribe at any time. To remove your name from the Newsletter distribution list:
- Sign on to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
- Click [My Account Information] under My Information on your Members Menu
- Click in the Newsletter checkbox to remove the checkmark
- Click [Update Details]
If you change your mind and wish to receive the newsletter in the future, just follow the above procedure and select the Newsletter checkbox. If you have any difficulties please contact us.
In addition to the Newsletter you can find more promotions, features and discussions here:
- The Avid Reader Book Club - Join our online book club to celebrate and discuss literature, and interact with hundreds of other avid readers
- Our Community forum features articles, the Rare Book Room, the Weird Book room, and provides you with an opportunity to interact with other book lovers on AbeBooks
Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
I cannot find some of my orders on my tracking page
If you are unable to view some of your orders on your Order Tracking Page, it is possible you will need refine the search results. On the order tracking page you can use the date range drop-down menu.
Additionally, if you know the Sales Order Number (provided in the email confirmation) of an order, you can enter this at the top to see the items included in that order only.
For further information regarding the order tracking page, click here.
I have not received my Email Confirmation for my order
If you do not receive an email confirmation after placing your order, there are several things you can do.
Occasionally, automated emails are filtered by your email provider into your SPAM/Junk folder. You may wish to check your SPAM/Junk folder to see if email is there.
AbeBooks email confirmations are stored in your account for up to 30 days and other AbeBooks emails are stored for up to 90 days. You can always check emails we have sent to. To do this simply:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [View My Email]
Here you can view all emails that AbeBooks have sent. You can check a date range or search for emails with a specific word in the subject line. You can also see how much longer the email will be stored in your account.
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