Alibris

Full review
I have used Alibris to find used or rare books maybe 8 times over the past couple of years. Sometimes the experience is fine and I get a good deal with prompt delivery. Sometimes the experience is frustrating and I am left stranded without my desired book and no real customer service to resolve the issue. My most recent experience is the third negative one with Alibris, and I have decided to cease being their customer. The customer experience depends on the reliability and honesty of the booksellers that have your desired book, and there is no real way to determine if the various booksellers are reputable and worth your business. In addition, there is no way to leave feedback about these booksellers through the Alibris website, so nobody can learn from your poor experiences. Alibris is basically a shell where booksellers can offer their products, so there is nothing Alibris itself can really do to help the customer when they have troubles.

My most recent Alibris experience involves an order placed on 9/1/08 for one book offered by A1Books in New Jersey. I received an email on 9/3/08 that the book had been shipped on 9/2/08. However, on 9/5/08 I received an email that the order had been canceled / refunded. I presume that the book was not, in fact, in stock as listed by the book seller via the Alibris website, but I have not received any explanation for why my order was canceled. I am left scrambling for a hard to find textbook that I needed ASAP. Other booksellers within Alibris offer the book, but is it worth the hassle to try again and be delayed who knows how much longer? Since this is not the first time I've experienced such problems, I think not...