This ThriftBooks review reveals my top secrets for finding affordable books online! ThriftBooks offers a wide selection of new and used books, with free shipping on orders over $15 and a rewards program for future discounts.
I’ve been a customer since 2018, and I can usually score two to four books at the free shipping price point! ThriftBooks sponsored this post, but all experiences and opinions are my own. Take a look at the order I recently received below, and discover why ThriftBooks is an excellent option for anyone seeking a great deal on books.
What Is ThriftBooks?
ThriftBooks was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Today, they are the “world’s largest online independent used book seller.” To clarify a common misconception, they are not owned by Amazon.
The search bar on their website boasts a catalog of 19 million items, including new and used books for children and adults. This includes:
- hardcover books,
- paperback books, and
- textbooks.
I spoke with Barbara Hagen, ThriftBooks‘ VP of Sales and Marketing, and she shared this about the catalog:
“We have great curated lists and collections, including Book Club Hub with the latest in celebrity book clubs, BookTok and Trending sections, and more.”
Collectors can find first editions, as well as rare, vintage, signed, or out-of-print titles.
My Experience: I typically use ThriftBooks to access older, used books for $2-$5 each, especially classics, which are usually abundant and reasonably priced.
Is ThriftBooks Legit and Safe?
Yes. ThriftBooks has been in business for over 20 years. At the time of publishing this post, ThriftBooks boasts a TrustPilot trust score of 4.7 and has over 2.3 million reviews. Their Better Business Bureau (“BBB”) rating is A+.
My Experience: As you can see from my screenshot above, I’ve ordered from ThriftBooks several times since 2018. I don’t recall ever having any issues with any of my orders.
How Does ThriftBooks Work?
ThriftBooks generally works like other online book retailers. Simply search or browse on desktop or their mobile app for a book or books, then place your order online. It will be shipped to you.
One thing about ThriftBooks that’s different is that it offers both new and used books. You can compare different editions and conditions available at varying prices.
My Experience: I like to narrow my ThriftBooks searches by format and condition. I prefer paperback because this format is often cheaper than hardcover, yet larger (and easier on the eyes) than mass market paperback (which are generally smaller, pocket-sized books).
Then, I try to find a good price in a condition that’s like new, very good, or good. These conditions are better than “acceptable,” the lowest condition, but the price is usually cheaper than “new.”
Book Condition Explained
ThriftBooks products come in six conditions:
|
Condition |
Explanation |
|
New |
A brand new, unused, unread copy in perfect condition. |
|
Like New |
An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind. |
|
Very Good |
A copy that has been read but remains in excellent condition. May have writing on the inside cover but pages are unmarred. |
|
Good |
A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. The cover and all pages are intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include notes and highlighting. |
|
Acceptable |
A readable copy. Pages can include considerable notes in pen or highlighter, but the notes do not obscure the text. |
|
ThriftBooks Deal |
Good or Very Good books that ThriftBooks has plentiful copies of, so they can offer discounts (up to 20%) for ordering more at a time. |
My Experience: I recently ordered three used classic books for our Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge:
- New Poems of Emily Dickinson: very good
- The Art of Fiction: good
- Don Quixote: good
Here is an unboxing video of the three books I recently received from ThriftBooks, all of which I found to be in far better condition than advertised. There were no marks in the books, and the covers and spines showed only minor wear:
Pricing and Value
You can often get used books cheaper on ThriftBooks because:
- You can earn free shipping at just $15.
- You can take advantage of offers in their ReadingRewards loyalty program.
- You can earn free books through their ShareBookLove referral program.
- The Kids Summer Book Fair page features a wide assortment of Kids’ and YA books for only $2.99 each when purchasing four or more.
- There are special offers, including opportunities to earn points and a special birthday gift.
- ThriftBooks4Teachers also “offer[s] educators a free used book (valued at $7 or less) with every four book purchase!”
I compared the ISBNs of the books I recently purchased to the prices of another large online book retailer and found that I saved 77% by not buying my ThriftBooks purchases there new and 46% by not buying these books there in the same used condition.
|
Book |
ThriftBooks Price |
Competitor New Price |
Competitor Used Price |
|
$6.19 |
$12.87 |
$6.77 | |
|
$4.89 |
$16.00 |
$6.29 | |
|
$6.39 |
$39.00 |
$15.81 | |
|
Total |
$15.72 |
$67.87 |
$28.87 |
Note: Other large discount retailers may charge shipping for each used book you purchase. Buying all three of these books at the same time directly from ThriftBooks earned me free shipping on my entire purchase.
ThriftBooks ReadingRewards Loyalty Program
ThriftBooks ReadingRewards is a loyalty program designed for customer retention. You earn points for each dollar spent, which can be converted into free book rewards that you can redeem.
Here is a screenshot that explains the point system, tiers (Reader, Bookworm, Literati, and Literati Elite), and rewards in more detail:
My Experience: I recall redeeming my points for at least one free $5 book of my choice in the past without any problems or complaints.
Shipping and Delivery Experience
ThriftBooks‘ standard U.S. shipping policy is 5-12 business days for used items and 8-12 business days for new items. Shipping ranges from free shipping for standard shipping on eligible items totaling $15 (before taxes) to $15.79 per item for expedited shipping in 2-3 business days.
I placed my most recent ThriftBooks order on a Monday. It shipped that day with a tracking number, and I received it the next Tuesday (8 total days later; 6 total business days later). I was impressed that the delivery speed was on the lower end of the expected range because, in my experience, books tend to ship slowly via U.S. mail.
Returns and Customer Service
ThriftBooks’ return policy “guarantees the quality of every item we ship out; new or used.” Qualifying returns receive a pre-paid return label at no cost to you. ThriftBooks has an “award-winning customer service” team that can handle issues like damaged or incorrect items. Refunds process in 2-5 business days.
My Experience: I don’t recall having any issues that required a return or customer support on any of my purchases since 2018, which is a good thing!
Sustainability and Social Impact
Environmental impact is a core tenet of ThriftBooks’ social responsibility. Here’s how they make a difference through their ThriftBooks Cares initiative:
Material we can’t use are sent to recycling plants, where each ton of 100% post-consumer copy paper (approximately 1.4 tons of books) saves 24 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 4,100 kilowatts of electricity, and 60 pounds of air pollution. ThriftBooks recycles millions of pounds of books every year.
They also partner with non-profits by volunteering time and donating books. Impressively, “over the last decade, ThriftBooks has provided more than $100 million to charity partners through its purchase of reading materials.”
ThriftBooks vs. Competitors
Compared to other book retailers, here is how ThriftBooks stacks up:
- Vast catalog
- Primarily new and used books, as well as some movies, music, and video games
- Paperback and hardcover
- Cheap prices, often far below the sticker price
- Free shipping with $15 spent
- Allows returns
- Other discounts, deals, and rewards
- U.S. based
- Charitable and environmentally conscious
Note: ThriftBooks does not sell audiobooks.
Tips & Hacks for Using ThriftBooks
My Experience: My favorite ThriftBooks hack is to be strategic and spend just enough to hit the $15 minimum. I simply search a few books from my master wish list to hit this threshold. I can usually get 2-4 used books at this price. It’s fun to hunt for a deal and see what you find!
Here are a few more helpful ThriftBooks tips:
- Earn ReadingRewards points faster by unlocking special offers.
- Create a wishlist, which is especially helpful for collectors tracking rare books.
- Note that former library books are marked “ex-library.” Some customers want to support libraries by purchasing them, while others prefer to avoid any library stickers or stamps.
Reviews
I’ve shopped ThriftBooks several times since 2018, and my experiences have been “5 out of 5 stars,” as we like to say in the book reviewing business. I’ve found both the quality of the books and the shipping times to be better than expected. I especially love to score great deals on used books and earn free shipping by spending only $15.
My review
I asked my social media followers to share their own experiences with ThriftBooks, and here is a sampling of what they love about ThriftBooks. (I have removed their names for privacy.)
Who Is ThriftBooks Best For?
While arguably every reader loves cheap books, ThriftBooks is an especially good book retailer for these types of people:
- Students or readers on a budget
- Parents building home libraries for less
- Book collectors seeking particular editions
- Environmentally conscious readers who prefer used books
- Physical book readers
- Readers willing to trade lightning fast shipping for a bargain
- Readers who want to support a company committed to literary charity work
Frequently Asked Questions
ThriftBooks offers low prices by selling used books sourced from large inventory liquidations, library discards, and customer trade-ins. Their efficiency and large volume also allow them to keep costs down for customers.
Libraries and thrift stores can sell or donate to ThriftBooks, its surplus partner, in bulk. Through their Buy Back program, residents of the continental United States can also sell ThriftBooks used books that are in acceptable or better condition for store credit or PayPal cash.
ThriftBooks specializes in used books, offering free shipping on orders over $15. In contrast, Book Outlet primarily sells discounted new books from a more limited catalog, with free shipping available on orders over $35.
Final Thoughts in This ThriftBooks Review: Is ThriftBooks Worth It?
If you like cheap physical books and don’t care that they may have been used, then ThriftBooks is worth it. Per their motto, they allow you to read more and spend far less in doing so. I saved 46%-77% on my most recent order alone.
