Check out our latest communities fighting
AI scams on Reddit and Facebook

SmartCustomer Website Reviews and Complaints
business logo of Alibris

Alibris

4.7

On SmartCustomer, businesses may not offer incentives or pay to remove reviews. Learn more about our Review Guidelines.

From the business

We love browsing books, drinking coffee, and talking with people who love good stories.


alibris.com
Founded in 1998
Berkeley, CA, United States
How would you rate Alibris?
grey stargrey stargrey stargrey stargrey star

Alibris Reviews Summary

Alibris enjoys a generally positive reputation among customers, particularly for its wide selection of used books at competitive prices and reliable shipping. Many customers appreciate the timely delivery and the ability to track orders, contributing to overall satisfaction. However, concerns arise regarding the variability in book conditions, with some items not meeting expectations, and delays in shipping for urgent needs. Additionally, the separate shipping fees for each book can deter purchases. Despite these issues, the platform remains a favored choice for many due to its extensive inventory and user-friendly website.

This summary is generated by AI, based on text from customer reviews

service
1,018
value
12,451
shipping
12,441
quality
12,435
This company responds to reviews on average within 1 day

We monitor reviews for authenticity

Alabama
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Ted K.
Unfollow Ted K.
Share Review
Report Review

Placed the order -- I think -- on Christmas Eve. It wasn't a Christmas gift. I appreciate that it got to me so quickly given how close we were to the actual holiday.

Date of experience: December 29, 2025
Minnesota
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Bill P.
Unfollow Bill P.
Share Review
Report Review

Xxmxmxmxmxmxxmxmxmxmxxmxmxmxmxmxmxxmxmxmxmxmxxmxmxmxmxmxmxmxxmxmxmxmxm

Date of experience: December 29, 2025
Pennsylvania
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Jacqueline B.
Unfollow Jacqueline B.
Share Review
Report Review

Gift purchase
January 8, 2026

I was looking for an out of print book for a friend for Christmas and found it here! I trust it was a good copy as advertised and the recipient thanked me! :)

Date of experience: December 29, 2025
Oklahoma
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Elyse B.
Unfollow Elyse B.
Share Review
Report Review

Needed this book
January 8, 2026
Updated review

I needed this book and I thought of Alibris. I hadn't ordered from them in years, so was delighted to discover they still exist. I'm so glad I remembered them, and will not let them fall out of my consciousness again.

Date of experience: December 29, 2025

Easy process
December 18, 2025
Previous review

Easy process. With the advent of Amazon years ago, frankly I'd forgotten about Alibris. I wanted a different book, and it wasn't available on Amazon and Ebay. I wracked my brain trying to remember this place where I had bought books in the past. It took a while, but it finally popped into my head— Alibris. So glad they still exist! They don't have the book I was looking for, but this one showed up, and will definitely fit the bill.

Date of experience: December 7, 2025
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow John L.
Unfollow John L.
Share Review
Report Review

Easily searched and ordered
January 8, 2026

Easily searched and ordered. Thank you
Smaller and non-corporate book sellers are necessary to democracy. And literacy, reading, is essential to democracy.
Outlets like yours ensure a source of variable opinions on many subjects.

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
Texas
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Phyllis O.
Unfollow Phyllis O.
Share Review
Report Review

Shopping at Alibris was a gratifying experience. I easily found everything that I was looking for (plus more). I was able to choose exactly what I wanted to with ease. The checkout was quick and efficient. I knew what I wanted, and you can say, I was in and out in no time.

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Ted B.
Unfollow Ted B.
Share Review
Report Review

It is very convenient to search for the used movies instead of rummaging through endless boxes of DVD's at flea markets and garage sales. I rarely find anything anyone has that I want. Here is a 98% chance.

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
Massachusetts
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Mark f.
Unfollow Mark f.
Share Review
Report Review

1
January 8, 2026

**************415

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
Virginia
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Melinda W.
Unfollow Melinda W.
Share Review
Report Review

Great Place to Buy Books!
January 8, 2026
Updated review

The book I ordered became unavailable so Alibris provided another copy for my approval. It was in excellent condition and even cost a bit less which is amazing as they already offer books at quite affordable prices. I can't recommend Alibris enough!

Date of experience: December 28, 2025

Thank you so much for putting another copy of the book...
December 19, 2025
Previous review

Thank you so much for putting another copy of the book in cart when it wasn't available!

Date of experience: December 9, 2025
Washington
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Gordon M.
Unfollow Gordon M.
Share Review
Report Review

Unusual historical book
January 8, 2026

I wanted an inexpensive copy of John Franklin's voyage to the polar sea (volume 2) and found it at Alibris. It came quickly and was in excellent condition. Its a good company to buy from and I will do it again.

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
New Jersey
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Frank B.
Unfollow Frank B.
Share Review
Report Review

You don't have adequate software
January 7, 2026
Updated review

You don't have adequate software. Hard to back up and add to an existing order (I had to cancel it and start over). Hard to send the same thing to multiple addresses (have to go back and start over for each)

Date of experience: December 28, 2025

Even with paying postage, I'm usually saving compared...
January 28, 2025
Previous review

Even with paying postage, I'm usually saving compared to Amazon's pricing.

Date of experience: January 18, 2025
Illinois
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow DONALD R.
Unfollow DONALD R.
Share Review
Report Review

GREAT SELECTION AT GOOD PRICES GREAT SELECTION AT GOOD PRICES GREAT SELECTION AT GOOD PRICES GREAT SELECTION AT GOOD PRICES GREAT SELECTION AT GOOD PRICES

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
Oregon
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Jill Z.
Unfollow Jill Z.
Share Review
Report Review

Mixed bag.
January 7, 2026

I've often found what I'm looking for at the Alibris website. The price of the book I just ordered was acceptable for a "well-used" mass market paperback. However... shipping was atrocious. The order was sent to a city a few hundred miles from our home. Then was shipped from there to another distribution center more than a 1000 miles away. USPS. So is it on them or Alibris? The book took more than two weeks to arrive. That's pathetic. Then, yes, it was well used: stained with drops of something I was able to wipe off with a damp rag, and showing obvious water damage. So, "well-used" but readable. Hope I get a better show from Alibris next time.

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
California
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Cecile E.
Unfollow Cecile E.
Share Review
Report Review

Good shopping experience
January 7, 2026

Alibris had the best prices on the used books I was looking for, and the shopping experience was easy. Will be here again to shop for my books next semester.

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
Maine
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Paul L.
Unfollow Paul L.
Share Review
Report Review

I had been looking for this particular book. I was delighted that it was in great condition, as the price was extremely low. The big surprise was that the book turned out to have been signed by the author!

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
New York
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Anne S.
Unfollow Anne S.
Share Review
Report Review

Just Right
January 7, 2026
Updated review

I ordered a older book. It was a reasonable price and arrived more quickly than I expect4ed and in excellent condition, as promised. I'm a happy customer.

Date of experience: December 28, 2025

Alibris is quick, easy and affordable!
December 17, 2025
Previous review

Alibris is quick, easy and affordable! I can always find older, hard to find books here.

Date of experience: December 6, 2025
Florida
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow LISA C.
Unfollow LISA C.
Share Review
Report Review

Quick and so easy
January 7, 2026

Quick and so easy. I received a notification from Rakuten that I could purchase the book I wanted on a different site than Amazon, for less! I discovered an entirely new buying experience. I will use this site again!

Date of experience: December 28, 2025
Maine
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Ben Y.
Unfollow Ben Y.
Share Review
Report Review

Mixed bag
January 7, 2026

One book was not as described. Instead of "fine (meaning used but with no underlining, highlighting, notes, etc.") it had all of the aforementioned. I received all of the books on time, plus one ("the lost girls of willowbrook [sic]") that I did not order.

Date of experience: December 27, 2025
Idaho
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow Lance T.
Unfollow Lance T.
Share Review
Report Review

Rare book in terrific condition.
January 7, 2026
Updated review

Ordered a paperback writing guide published in the 80s. Other than very slight yellowing of the pages, it looked brand new. Was pleasantly surprised by the quality and condition.

Date of experience: December 27, 2025

Early delivery
August 29, 2025
Previous review

Book arrived in very good condition, as promised, and two days earlier than promised. Completely satisfied.

Date of experience: August 19, 2025
Pennsylvania
1 review
0 helpful votes
Follow RachNerd W.
Unfollow RachNerd W.
Share Review
Report Review

Good tees
January 6, 2026

Average quality cotton shirt. Good base-color selection. Very good picture/design/details quality. Praying it lasts a long time

Date of experience: December 27, 2025