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".
Enter your email address and password to set up your account. You can create your account before searching for items or during checkout.
If you’ve already put items in your shopping basket, you will be prompted to create an account when you’re ready to checkout.
Follow these steps to set up your account:
A strong password is longer than 8 characters, contains random capitalization, numbers, and special characters, and is not easy to guess. Do not use dictionary words, your name, email address, or other personal information that can be easily obtained.
Visit the My Account page, to manage the following:
To use the many features of AbeBooks it is necessary to open a free account.
By saving your personal details, such as your shipping address in your account, we can ensure that your orders reach you safely. Via your free AbeBooks account you will have the option to view and track your orders. You can also use your AbeBooks account to contact AbeBooks member booksellers regarding your orders. The shopping basket offers you a ‘Save for Later’ feature whereby you can create a wish list of the books you would like to order at a later date.
Should you not be able to locate the book you are looking for, you can place a Want. Leave the description of the book that you are looking for in your account on AbeBooks and we will contact you when a bookseller offers a book that matches your description.
For security reasons, we encourage all AbeBooks customers to regularly update their password.
How to reset your password:
A strong password is longer than 8 characters, contains random capitalization, numbers, and special characters, and is not easy to guess. Do not use dictionary words, your name, email address, or other personal information that can be easily obtained.
Your AbeBooks account allows you to save and update multiple shipping addresses. If you would like to change your shipping address you can use the instructions provided below.
To change your saved shipping address:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [My Address Book] under My Information on your Members Menu
3. Make the changes you require
4. Be sure to click [Save Changes] at the bottom of the page to submit your changes
You may also change the shipping address for an individual order. During the checkout you will be automatically provided with your saved default shipping address (if you previously saved it in your account).
To change your shipping address during checkout:
1. Enter your payment details and click [Save & Continue]
2. Click [Edit] next to the shipping address
3. Enter the new address and click [Save Changes]*
4. The page will refresh and your new address will be displayed
5. Click [Use this Address]
6. You will then see your Order Summary Page, please check your new shipping details and select [Place Order Now] to complete your order
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.
*If you have addresses stored you may simply click on [Use this Address]
To delete an address during checkout:
1. Follow steps 1 and 2 above
2. Click [Use this as my default shipping address]
3. Click the [Back Button]
4. Now you see the new address associated with your order
5. Click on [Edit] again
6. Here you can click [Delete] next to any addresses that you wish to delete
We are pleased to inform you that purchases made via AbeBooks can be shipped to overseas military bases. Please use the format below to enter your/the recipient’s military address to ensure delivery:
Full name: Service Number, Rank, Name
Address line 1: Company/Unit
Address line 2: Regiment
Town/City: Military Postal Prefix (E.g. APO/FPO/BFPO)
State/Province: For US Personnel enter 2 letter Zip code prefix (E.g AE/AP)
Postcode: Military Postal Number
Country: Home Country*
Phone number: If you cannot provide a telephone number please enter N/A.
*Do not include the country or the base camp’s city, as you will initially incur international shipping charges. Additionally your package might be routed through the host country’s mail system causing delayed delivery.
You are able to store multiple credit cards on our secure server for use when you place an order on AbeBooks. You can also update or delete your credit cards as the details expire or change.
Adding a New Credit Card:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Select [Manage My Credit Cards] under My Information on your Members Menu
Note: Delete existing card information before proceeding (instructions below on how to delete card information.
3. Choose a “New” card type from the 'Select Credit Card' drop-down menu
4. Enter your credit card details and click [Save Changes]
Updating the Expiry Date or Card Description:
1. Select your saved card from the 'Select Credit Card' drop-down menu
2. Type the new card description or choose the new expiry date
3. Then click [Save Changes]
Updating the Card Number or Cardholder Name:
For security reasons, please update your card number or the cardholder name by deleting the saved card and entering it as a new card.
Deleting a Credit Card:
1. Select your saved card from the 'Select Credit Card' drop-down menu
2. Click the [Delete Credit Card] button to remove the card
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:
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.
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. |
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?
AbeBooks provides an online marketplace for booksellers and book buyers and the means for them to interact with each other. We do not actually own books ourselves. We therefore encourage buyers and sellers to communicate with each other.
If you have specific questions about a book that is listed online you will need to contact the bookseller directly.
To contact a bookseller simply:
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.
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
Please note that some booksellers may not be able to provide additional information other than what is already displayed online. AbeBooks would therefore like to explain that we guarantee the condition of every item as it is described on our website. You are eligible for a refund within 30 days if dissatisfied due to a bookseller error or if your order fails to arrive.
Learn more about our Returns policy.
Related questions:
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?
How can I contact the bookseller about an order already placed?
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.
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?
Placing an order on AbeBooks is easy and safe.
Please see below for step-by-step instructions:
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
On AbeBooks you may wish to place an order and have it shipped to a third party as a gift. To send an order to an alternative shipping address simply follow the step-by-step instructions below:
1. Once you have located the book that you would like to purchase, click [Add to Basket] from the search results page
2. To purchase the book click [Proceed to Checkout]
3. Select a payment method and click [Save and Continue]
4. After you have selected a payment method you will be asked to enter your shipping address
5. You will be now 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 this can be done from the drop down menu
6. To place your order select [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: This information is also helpful if you wish to place an order whereby you need to use a different billing and shipping address. Follow the steps above to have your book shipped to you at a different location to your billing address.
You can print an invoice for your order from your My Account page as soon as your order is processed by the seller.
The invoice will contain details of your order for your reference including:
To print an invoice:
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
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.
Thank you for ordering on AbeBooks.co.uk. Once you have placed your order successfully, we notify the bookseller. The bookseller will then update the order online or contact you via email if you are paying via a method other than credit card. When the order is updated to “Shipped” or “Availability Confirmed”, or if it is cancelled, we will notify you via email. However, we also suggest that you track your order online via your AbeBooks account.
To Track Your Orders:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
For your reference, we have provided the definitions of the different statuses displayed with orders:
Ordered - an email request has been sent to the Bookseller on
your behalf to order the book
Availability
Confirmed - the bookseller has
confirmed your order and will ship it upon processing or receipt of payment;
the status of this order will not change to "Shipped". If payment
details need to be arranged, the bookseller will contact you.
Shipped - the
book has been shipped to you
Cancelled
- you or the bookseller has cancelled the order
Item Unavailable
- the book was no longer available when the Bookseller received your order
For further details about your order, please contact the bookseller:
3. Find the book in question and then click [Contact Bookseller]4. 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
5. Complete the form and click on the "Send" button
Your enquiry is then sent via email to the bookseller on your behalf, and a copy is saved in your AbeBooks online account.
AbeBooks provides an online marketplace for booksellers and book buyers and the means for them to interact with each other. We do not actually own books ourselves. We encourage you to communicate with the bookseller.
If you have specific questions about a book that is listed online you will need to contact the bookseller, who will best be able to answer your questions.
To contact a bookseller from the search results:
1. Click on the [Ask Bookseller a Question] link in the search results
2. Enter your enquiry and click [Send Question]
You will be sent an email confirmation of your enquiry. AbeBooks will also retain a copy.
If you are contacting the bookseller about a book that you have already purchased, please contact the bookseller from your AbeBooks account.
To contact a bookseller from your order tracking page:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk accountAn email is sent to the bookseller on your behalf, and a copy is saved in your AbeBooks account.
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. Find 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 [View My Orders] under My Orders on your Members Menu
2. Find the order 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. Click the [Send] button
An email is sent to the bookseller on your behalf, and a copy is saved in your AbeBooks online account.
If you think that your book should have already arrived, please sign onto your account and check the estimated delivery date of your order.
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:
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:
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.
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:
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:
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:
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.
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 [Request Return/Refund]
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 and select to update return
3. 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.
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 our external payment service provider:
Return Reason |
Description |
Reimbursement |
The order did not arrive and it is more than 7 days past the estimated delivery date |
Full refund = Book price + shipping charged |
|
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 |
|
The item arrived but was not the item you ordered; you can return it to the bookseller for a refund |
If initiated by buyer: Full refund + return shipping = Book price + shipping charged + return shipping equal to original shipping If initiated by seller: Seller can choose whether to refund the return shipping costs. For instance if the buyer is to keep the book as well as a full refund |
|
The item arrived but was damaged in the post; you can return it to the bookseller for a refund |
If initiated by buyer: Full refund + return shipping = Book price + shipping charged + return shipping equal to original shipping If initiated by seller: Seller can choose whether to refund the return shipping costs. For instance if the buyer is to keep the book as well as a full refund |
|
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.
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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 you, 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 bookseller’s inventory
• Browse the bookseller’s inventory
• Ask the bookseller a question
• View the bookseller’s homepage
Note: If you are in a country where internal customs fees are applied on books this fee is usually covered by the importer of the book.
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.
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If your order was not placed due to a declined payment, there are several things you can do.
Note: The card number cannot be edited. To edit the card number, you need to delete and re-enter the card.
After contacting your credit card provider, you can retry your payment method by returning to your Shopping Basket and placing the order again. If the items are no longer available, you can search for another copy from another seller.
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
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The world is your customer:
AbeBooks is the worldwide number one among new, used and antiquarian book platforms and marketplaces. In total, between 20,000 and 25,000 books are sold daily via AbeBooks. A considerable amount of these sales are foreign customers ordering from British AbeBooks members.
The most important international markets for British booksellers are, amongst others, the USA and Pacific Rim as well as neighbouring European countries. By participating in international trade you are not restricted to such profit limits as experienced at a national level.
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Our glossary was designed to help our visitors understand the book-related terms they may be unfamiliar with. Have fun!
Our Glossary is broken up into two main sections. The first deals with Book Sizes, Book Condition and Common Abbreviations. The second section is our General Glossary which lists all other relevant book terms.
The following definitions reflect an idealised standard: any one particular bookseller may in fact have slightly different definitions of the terms below. These definitions are therefore offered as a general guide, rather than a definitive statement.
Book Sizes |
4to - A book that is up to 12" tall. See Quarto. 8vo - A book that is up to 9 ¾" tall. See Octavo. 12mo - A book that is up to 7 ¾" tall. See Duodecimo. 16mo - A book that is up to 6 ¾" tall. See Sextodecimo. 24mo - A book that is up to 5 ¾" tall. 32mo - A book that is up to 5" tall. 48mo - A book that is up to 4" tall. 64mo - A book that is up to 3" tall. Folio - A book that is up to 15" tall. Elephant Folio - A book that is up to 23" tall. Atlas Folio - A book that is up to 25" tall. Double Elephant Folio - A book that is up to 50" tall. |
Book Condition |
Condition of a book is usually in the form of VG/VG, Fine/Good, VG/--, etc. The first part is the condition of the book; the second is the condition of the dust jacket. If a "/--" is present, it usually means that the dust jacket is not present.
As New - To be used only when the book is in the same immaculate condition to which it was published. There can be no defects, no missing pages, no library stamps, etc., and the dust jacket (if it was issued with one) must be perfect, without any tears.
Fine (F or FN) - Approaches the condition of As New, but without being crisp. For the use of the term Fine, there must also be no defects, etc., and if the jacket has a small tear, or other defect, or looks worn, this should be noted.
Very Good (VG) - Describes a book that does show some small signs of wear - but no tears - on either binding or paper. Any defects must be noted.
Good (G) - Describes the average used worn book that has all pages or leaves present. Any defects must be noted.
Fair - Worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates) but may lack endpapers, half-title, etc. (which must be noted). Binding, jacket (if any), etc., may also be worn. All defects must be noted.
Poor - Describes a book that is sufficiently worn, to the point that its only merit is as a Reading Copy because it does have the complete text, which must be legible. Any missing maps or plates should still be noted. This copy may be soiled, scuffed, stained or spotted and may have loose joints, hinges, pages, etc.
These terms may be arbitrary, but whatever terms are employed, they may be useless or misleading unless both buyer and seller agree on what they mean in actually describing the book. |
Common Abbreviations |
4to - Quarto 8vo - Octavo 12mo- Duodecimo 16mo - Sextodecimo ads, advts, adverts - Advertisements placed in the binding of the book aeg - All Edges Gilt al - Autographed Letter als - Autographed Letter, Signed ams - Autographed Manuscript, Signed -ana - A suffix denoting a collection of sayings, anecdotes, or other material regarding a person or subject. For example: Americana, Hemingwayana, etc ARC - Advanced Reading Copy bc, bce - Book Club, Book Club Edition bd - Bound bdg - Binding bds - Boards bomc - Book of the Month Club. See Book Club b/w - Black and white; usually describes illustrations, photographs, etc cl- Cloth cwo - Check or cash (payment) with order. dec, decor – Decorated. Often refers to binding dj - Dust Jacket dw - Dust Wrapper ed - Edited, Edition, Editor ep - End Papers ex - Example F - Fine, as in Book Condition F, FF, fol - Folio ffep - The end paper that is not attached to the inside front cover. See End Papers G - Good, as in Book Condition ge - Gilt Edges gt - Gilt Edges hvtb - Hors Texte, versos blank I - Index. Ill, Ills, Illus. - Illustrated insc - Inscribed l, ll - Leaf lp - Large-paper edition Ltd - Limited Edition ms, mss - Manuscript nd - No Date nf - Near Fine, as in Book Condition No, Nos, # - Number np - No Place op - Out-of-Print orig - Original; as in original binding pb, ppr - Paperback pbo - Paperback Original pc - Price-clipped. pl, pls - Plates pos - Prior owner signature Prefs - Preface pub - Publisher or published rem - Remainder |
General Glossary |
A Advanced Reading Copy - A copy for reviewers and/or booksellers, usually bound in paper wraps and usually with either the finished cover art or possibly trial cover art. Generally, this copy is at it will appear in the stores and differs from the Uncorrected Proof. B Backstrip - The covering of the book's spine. Breaker - A person who breaks up books to sell the plates individually or the book itself when the covers are so bad that it either has to be rebound or broken up. C Cancel - A tipped-in (i.e., pasted in) page to replace a page removed after a book has been bound. D Damp stained - A light stain on the cover or on the leaves of a book caused by moisture such as a piece of food or perspiration. Generally not as severe as water stains. E Edges - The outer surfaces of the leaves of a book.
Fading - The colour of some book covers fades or becomes less intense when exposed to light. See also Darkening. G Galleys - Sometimes called "galley proofs" or "loose galleys" to distinguish them from bound galleys. Long sheets of paper bearing the first trial impression of the type. H Half Binding - A book in which the spine and corners are bound in a different material (frequently leather) than the rest of the covers. I Illum - Referring to polychrome illustrations. It usually means an illuminated manuscript. J Jacket - The printed or unprinted cover, usually paper, placed around the bound book. Sometimes called Dust Jacket (dj), Dust Wrapper (dw), dust cover or book jacket. K Laid In - A letter or other sheet(s) inserted but not glued into a book. M Made-up Copy - A copy of a book whose parts have been assembled from one or more defective copies. N No Date - No date of publication mentioned within the book. O Obverse - The right-hand page of a book, more commonly called the Recto. P Page - One side of a leaf. The front side of a leaf is called the recto or obverse and the back side of the leaf is called the verso or the reverse.
Q Quarter Binding - A book whose spine is covered in a different and generally fancier material than the covers. R Raised Band - The raised areas on the spine concealing a cord which is attached to the covers. In earlier leather books cords were really used. In some modern books the raised bands are purely decorative and conceal no underlying cord. S Self-Wraps - Wrappers which have vestigial flaps that imitate a dust jacket. Series - A group of volumes with a common theme issued in succession by a single publisher. T Tail - The lower margin of a leaf, cover or endpaper. Sometimes referred to as the bottom. U Uncut- The pages of the completed book have not been shaved down to a uniform surface. V Variant - A book that differs in one or more features from others of the same impression, but a positive sequence has not been established. W Waterstain - Stain on a book cover or leaves from water or other liquids. May cause discoloration and perhaps actual shrinking. X Y Yapped - Refers to the edges of the cover of a book bound in paper or another soft material. These yapped edges are not flush with the pages but extend beyond the edges of the book and are fragile by nature. |
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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
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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.
Subject related topic:
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.
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.