Anything that makes a company stand out in a positive way serves as an advantage to that company. For Thrift Books, they have set themselves apart as being passionate about books-not just the new and shiny ones that adorn fancy bookshelves but also (and perhaps especially) older books that have been well loved. Ultimately, their work is about making these used books available for reading-for a great price. That's what they've done well. In addition, this company has a few features that will give customers more confidence and satisfaction:

Shipping. Shipping with Thrift Books isn't bad at all. For any order that meets or exceeds $10, Thrift Books will ship it for free. They ship order to other countries as well, which makes their services even more convenient. While it would be nice if they offered free shipping altogether, a $10 order is a reasonable bar to set, particular because their book prices are low anyway.
Returns. Plainly put, the return policy with Thrift Books is awesome too. They allow customers 60 days to return an order they aren't satisfied with! Especially compared to competitors who leave you only two weeks or even a month to make a return, a two-month period is very convenient.
A customer loyalty program. As somewhat of a surprise, customer loyalty programs are not widely available with online bookstores. But Thrift Books definitely has one, and that's one aspect that sets them apart. Through their Reading Rewards program, customers earn $5 coupons for every $50 they purchase. In addition, you can sign up for the program for free, get a discount if you refer a friend, and enjoy a 20% off coupon for your birthday.Thrift Books has a lot going for it-they have passion, a good cause, and policies that are hard to beat. As a customer, it's nice to know that your purchases support a cause like theirs.

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The Bad

No new books
No selling books back

While Thrift Books does many things right, they do have a few weaknesses. For the most part, these will be deal breakers for customers with disagreeing needs, not necessarily for the average customer:

Types of books. Thrift Books is an obvious candidate for used books, but they may not be the best resource for other types of books. For instance, if you prefer reading brand-new books, you won't find many of those here. Granted, their used books are sure to come in a variety of conditions, so it's not like their books are in bad shape by any means. But plenty of customers prefer to be the first and law owner of a book, and Thrift Books doesn't really cater to that customer base. In addition, you won't find a huge collection of ebooks here. Ebooks are becoming increasingly popular for many reasons, so if you're a customer who prefers them, you won't have much of a need for Thrift Books and their library.
No selling back books. In addition, Thrift Books isn't a place where you can sell back books. They salvage used books, yes, but they don't buy back used books. Surely you've heard of book companies who regularly rent out or sell books and then buy them back for a portion of the selling price when the user is finished. Thrift Books doesn't roll that way, so don't count on them to make any money off of your used books.As you can see, what Thrift Books lacks is only a negative for certain consumers. In summary, you won't have a need for their business if you prefer new books or ebooks, or are looking to sell your books. This company is an awesome resource for used books in almost any other format, but for these customers, the company just won't deliver.

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The Bottom Line

If you're still on the fence about Thrift Books, you might be happy to know that they have customer reviews and editorial reviews on their company website. Especially in an online world, reviews can help make or break your decision to give someone your business, especially when it comes to beloved books! Aside from reviews, however, Thrift Books does provide several features that are helpful to customers and to the use we get out of books. For many readers, they would be a satisfactory option because of their extensive library, shipping and return policies, and especially their customer loyalty program. For customers whose needs don't match up with what Thrift Books offers, however, another company would be more useful. Overall, this company has succeeded in targeting a great customer base, establishing policies that are flexible and convenient, and setting up a good cause for people to support. Between these features and their positive reputation, they are a great bookstore to give business to.

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User Reviews

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15 Reviews

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33%

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Rae Martinez Peoria, AZ

I love this company for used books!!! Their pricing is much better than Amazon, orders are accurate and shipped in timely manner. So you don't get it overnight - big deal. Savings on used books is amazing. $10 order gets free shipping and they have rewards program, after so many books you get a free book. They have occasionally been out of a book I wanted, but they have a wish list - and they do notify you when it's back in stock. This is now the first place I look for books.

4 years ago

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Brittney Mac Gregor Louisville, KY

I have used Thrift Books to order old and rare books online for some time now. I love the prices and deals I always seem to find. I bought a rare book from Thrift Books for only $5 that was selling on ebay and amazon for $40!!! This is always one of the first places I check when I am searching for a book.

5 years ago

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Paige Stockard Wichita, KS

I love buying books from Thrift Books! You can find so many amazing books that are of great quality, and the prices are insane. I mostly buy books off of here for casual reading, but you can also find some textbooks on here that are a great deal.

6 years ago

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Eddie Rios Ogden, UT

What a fantastic low cost bookseller in Thrift Books. Tons of diverse titles but the key is the low price scheme. Can't beat that anywhere! I'll keep buying so long as the price stays incredibly reasonable, which it seems to be everyday.

6 years ago

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Cookie Trenton, NJ

I love to buy from Thtiftbook.com. I have not had a problem with shipping or tracking. I always receipted my purchases. They always seem to have what I want. I have been using Thrift books for about a year or two. I buy a book every two weeks, sometimes 3 or 4. Great selection!

7 years ago

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Anthony Marriott Davenport, WA

I have purchased numerous books from this company over the last year. They have helpful reviews and will often describe the book pretty well. I use the free shipping service. They repeatedly offer new books to my email.

8 years ago

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Sujay Ghosh

Great quality of old books. Quick shipping. Great customer service.

8 years ago Edited September 14, 2021