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Alibris review: too good to be true 18

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Author of the review
12:00 am EST
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This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

Do not order from this website.
Do not order from an individual seller by the name of "payless."
If you must order from this website, use a credit card which will allow you to dispute the charges.

Quick rundown of my experience.
*i ordered a textbook from alibris.com.
*i was notified that my book was shipped on sep 25th 2006 and i paid extra for express shipping.
*it is now oct 16th 2006 and i have yet to receive my book.
*the seller "payless" has not responded to my inquiries.
*alibris.com only allows you to submit customer service inquiries via a webpage.
*i filed a complaint with alibris and in return i received a "form letter" notifying me of alibris's "30
Day policy" where they don't respond to complaints until 30 days has passed from the shipping date.
*alibris does not have a contact phone number.
*alibris's business address is a "suite" in ca.
*alibris places high ratings on their sellers, but it's not possible for buyers to rate or comment on the sellers. This minor detail is probably the biggest indicator of fraud.
*do a google.com search of the words "alibris" and "fraud" and "complaints" and the complaints are
Numerous and very similar to mine.

If the price of an "unused/unwrapped" textbook is $20-30 less than the same used book from other
Booksellers... Then the deal might be too good to be true. At least this is the lesson i learned from
Using alibris.

If alibris is not guilty of outright fraud, then the policies and procedures set by alibris make it
Possible for sellers like "payless" to defraud potential buyers.
Either way, its still fraud.

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18 comments
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tony hart
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Apr 11, 2008 3:43 pm EDT

I paid a premium to ship a book to me within 3 days. One week later, book has not shipped! They have not answered my e-mails. You can not talk live to anyone at their customer service number either. This type of customer service is unacceptable.

Not sure where I go from here!... but I won't order from here again. Now I search the net and find many complaints about there service.

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Davstrong
Jackson, US
Feb 07, 2014 12:02 pm EST

Do not buy from Alibris. They scam you. Independent sellers send you wrong books/incomplete fake copies of books. buyer have to pay for return shipping. And if buyer do not have tracking on the package, you are screwed. They will not refund you a penny. Alibris ignores emails. Seller status on the website is "this seller is unavailable" a week after I made my purchase. IT IS A MESS. Go to Amazon, they are the best. Also, their number is all recorded info, you will never speak to anyone. I would rather spend the extra couple of dollars and buy from a reputable company such as Amazon. At least in case of a problem, not once they let me down.

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zaubin
San Diego, US
Dec 20, 2011 5:20 pm EST

I purchased a book from one seller for $85, which seemed like a good deal, as it was rare. They cancelled the order a few weeks later, saying the book was unavailable. Then, stupid me, I looked for another copy on the site. The next one was for $185. For the book I wanted, this was still a pretty good deal for the price. I ordered it, and sure enough, a week later, I receive a notice that it is no longer available. The next cheapest copy is $250... It's like a shell game

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ruth knickerbocker
San Clemente, US
Nov 30, 2010 8:47 pm EST

I set up a seller account with Alibris.com unaware that they charge $19.99for this "membership". I checked my accounts, they instantly took the money out of my account and guess what.. my e-mail doesn't exist in their database for me to place any sort of complaints. I called the "help center' with the [protected] to try and leave a message, they gave me a whole FIVE seconds to talk then hung up on me.

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Hers
Agoura Hills, US
Nov 10, 2010 6:27 pm EST

I ordered from Alibris in March of 2006. I ordered two hard cover books at a great price. I received only one book and when I contacted Alibris I received no response. I felt taken advantage of (I never got my money refunded) because the book cost me twice as much as advertised. I am posting today because I googled antique books and got Alibris website. I had hoped they were no longer in business. DO NOT USE THEIR WEBSITE.
There is very little contact information on their website. This should be a red flag to everyone!

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Anti-Alibris
Phoenix, US
Sep 04, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

Thank you for posting this! I needed somewhere to vent!

Does anyone know how to write a review on a seller? I ordered a book, and they sent me an addition that was published 20 years ago - it is entirely obsolete... and of course both the seller AND Alibris refuse to reimburse me.

I attempted to rate the seller, but this website is clearly not of the caliber of Amazon - there is no option (that I can find) for this. I read on the website that sellers are rated by the number of items they ship (so Alibris rates them, not the customers).

WHAT A SCAM! NEVER ORDER FROM ALIBRIS OR SEASHELL BOOKS!

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catzilla02
Tacoma, US
Jul 05, 2009 12:35 pm EDT

Thanks for the word on the seller "Payless"

I've ordered many books through Alibris, and have had great good luck. I'm sorry you stumbled onto one of the bad apples.

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Brkoday1
yonkers, US
Jun 26, 2009 10:57 am EDT

All of the above @ 06/25/2009.
Wish I'd googled this site first.
Sameo sameo, to a "T"

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neciey
San Leandro, US
Jun 11, 2009 7:34 pm EDT

I feel the same way, I have not recieved my item yet. I ordered on the 27th of May and till this day vno purchase. Please taskr heed do not order from this website. They are liars, and very pathetic. I wish I knew and I wouldn't have ordered from this unfriendly, no contact phone number to actually voice a complaint.

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galal shafey
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Nov 03, 2008 11:58 am EST

what is the status of order #
[protected]

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Bill Hartland
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Oct 14, 2008 9:10 am EDT

I got the book I ordered but the whole process is unbelievably slow. It took nearly five weeks to arrive and it looks like I might have been lucky judging from some of the comments above.

Never again.

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Bob Bachand
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Sep 21, 2008 5:47 pm EDT

Alibris does not deliver as advertized.
1sr notice: The item in this section ships direct from its seller. It should arrive by Sep 18, 2008.
2nd notice: According to our records, your book was shipped on September 13th via standard shipping ...Though delays are rare, please write back if your package doesn't arrive within 30 days of ship date.

3rd notice: Your order # [protected] was shipped on 19-Sep-2008. Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery.
Will I ever receive the ordered book "new as ordered? I'm begining to wonder. They certainly are NOT customer friendly. Above all, AVOID ALIBRIS

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John Barlow
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Sep 12, 2008 3:00 pm EDT

similar problem --- they are absolute crap -- sudden shipping date appears after email contact but then told to wait 45 days for delivery -- ordered august - now potential delivery looks like November (if it arrives) -- are there other sites out there to warn off potential customers getting stung? - I told them to keep the money, cant do with the hassle.

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SC
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Jun 04, 2008 8:22 pm EDT

I received an order cancellation notice from Alibris like this:

"You recently ordered the item listed below. We were just informed that this item is no longer available from the particular Alibris seller you had selected. As a result, we have had to cancel the item and remove it from your order...we hope you will consider the following replacement item (I won't, it's much more expensive)"

A few days later, my credit card account got back full refund but the out-of-stock item is still "available" (3 pcs in stock!) for order at Alibris. I wonder when they will update the information. I also don't understand how the rating for a seller is made.

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EvS
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Mar 29, 2008 1:48 pm EDT

I would not recommend using this website. I ordered a book on November 7, 2007. Today is March 29, 20078. I did not receive my book and have not been refunded $19.87 as promised after several e-mails between myself and the seller (who asks God to bless me for my patience in every e-mail - what a fraud!) and contact with Alibris customer service. Alibris customer service has not honored the money back "guarantee" shown on their website. A more careful review of this guarantee will show that the guarantee is for your money back if you return a book to them which you receive which was not in the condition described. The comment above disputes this -- the buyer above found that Alibris would not reimburse her form a return! This is my first and last bad experience with this website. I've been had -- I'll stick with Amazon.com.

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sab
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Mar 12, 2008 5:24 pm EDT

Well, last month they send me an email stating that i have been pick for a $100 prize for my reviews. They only gave me a week to use it. So, My husband and I made the exact order of $100. A few days, before we were supposely receive the books, the CS of Alibris send an email stating that our orders has been cancelled because the supposed branch no longer carries the book i want! So, i made another order... guess what?! 4 days before the books was to arrive, they send me the same email again! I've wrote them a complain, and i still have not heard from them... The prize or the contest are fraud! I think its their way of asking you to spend more, if you dont... they just gonna tell you, you order has been cancel!

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Stacey Wilson
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Feb 16, 2008 6:27 am EST

I als bought a book through Alibris. Item received was not what I ordered. Alibris will not reimburse me for return, which will amount to an extra $7. Their mistake and I am supposed to pay for it? I don' t think so!

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Rey
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Mar 07, 2007 10:40 am EST

I suggest everyone who has such a problem files a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney Generals Office as well. The same thing happened to me with Alibris. You pay express and you don't receive the book until a week before their 30 days is almost up to investigate. How convenient. I wonder if this is postal fraud. If enough complaints are received, the company will be forced to change fraudulent practices or be shut down.

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