How can I order books?
The step-by-step instructions will allow you to place your order using our secure shopping basket:
1. Once you have located the book that you would like to purchase, click 
from the search results page
2. To purchase the book click 
3. Select a payment method and click 
4. After you have selected a payment method you will be asked to enter your shipping address
Tip: Tick the option "Make this my preferred shipping address" to ensure that you do not have to re-enter your shipping address again for future purchases.
5. You will be now presented with your order summary. Please check the details carefully. If you would like to update either the shipping address or the payment type simply click 
next to the information you would like to edit. If you would like to change the shipping speed this can be done from the drop down menu
6. To place your order select 
You will be redirected to a page thanking you for your order and an email confirming that your order has been successfully placed will be sent to you
Note: When placing an order, using Visa or MasterCard, your credit card is not automatically charged. Instead, your details are stored on our secure server until the bookseller processes your order; this is a maximum of 4 days. Please be assured that your Visa and MasterCard details are not shared with anyone else.
When the bookseller updates your order and marks it as Shipped, then your credit card is charged. Each bookseller’s portion of an order is charged separately so there can be multiple transactions for one order depending on how many booksellers you are ordering from.
How can I pay? What payment methods do you accept?
You can pay for any order on AbeBooks with a Visa or MasterCard. In addition to Visa and MasterCard, each individual bookseller lists his or her accepted methods of payment. Once you have found the book you are searching for, you can view the bookseller's accepted payment methods by clicking on the bookseller’s name in the search results page.
Tip: Each bookseller accepts different payment methods.
Please be assured our credit card server is completely secure and once your payment has been processed, your credit card number is deleted. If you are not comfortable using a credit card online, please use one of the bookseller's other acceptable payment methods. Many of our booksellers accept Switch (Maestro)/Solo debit cards, cheques, invoice, money order and so you will only be able to select any of these from the booksellers who accept them.
PayPal Orders:
You may wish to use PayPal to pay for an order. Once you have ordered from a bookseller who accepts PayPal, the bookseller should then contact you with their PayPal details. PayPal is not integrated into the AbeBooks system, so once you have the bookseller’s details, you will need to make the payment through your PayPal account.
Alternatively, you may wish to contact the bookseller directly and ask them to give you the details necessary for making the payment. To contact the bookseller once you are signed onto your AbeBooks account:
1. Click [Your Orders]
2. Then [Track your Purchases]
3. Find the book in question and then click [Item Details]
4. Click [Ask the bookseller a question] to enquire. AbeBooks will also have a copy of your enquiry
Please do pay using the payment method which best suits you. However, if you pay via Visa or MasterCard, AbeBooks can assist you more quickly in obtaining a refund if the book is lost in the post.
How can I send a book as a gift to another person?
On AbeBooks you may wish to place an order and have it shipped to a third party as a gift. To send an order to an alternative shipping address simply follow the step-by-step instructions below:
1. Once you have located the book that you would like to purchase, click [Add to Basket] from the search results page
2. To purchase the book click [Proceed to Checkout]
3. Select a payment method and click [Save and Continue]
4. After you have selected a payment method you will be asked to enter your shipping address
5. You will be now presented with your order summary. Please check the details carefully. If you would like to update either the shipping address or the payment type simply click [Edit] next to the information you would like to edit. If you would like to change the shipping speed this can be done from the drop down menu
6. To place your order select [Place Order now]
You will be redirected to a page thanking you for your order and an email confirming that your order has been successfully placed will be sent to you.
Note: This information is also helpful if you wish to place an order whereby you need to use a different billing and shipping address. Follow the steps above to have your book shipped to you at a different location to your billing address.
How can I get an invoice for my order?
We understand that you may need an invoice or statement for your order. The email confirming that the bookseller has processed the order is stored in your account under [Your Email]. As the bookseller is your legal trading partner AbeBooks can only provide you with this email confirmation.
Tip: When you place the order, there is an option to enter the special instructions, state here that you would like to receive an invoice with the book when it is shipped to you.
If you have already received your book and need an invoice please contact the bookseller directly. To contact the bookseller from your AbeBooks account:
1. Click [Your Orders]
2. Click [Track Your Purchases]
3. Click the [Item Details] button located to the right of the item
4. Click the [Ask a Question] button
5. On the Book Inquiry page:
• Ensure your email address in the From text box is correct
• Enter the subject of your inquiry
• Type your question to the bookseller
6. Click the [Inquire About This Book] button
An email is sent to the bookseller on your behalf, and a copy is saved in your AbeBooks account.
What are your shipping rates?
AbeBooks bookseller members listing on our site set their own shipping rates and times. These rates will vary depending on the location of the bookseller in relation to the buyer, the method of shipping the bookseller uses and whether handling charges are included with the shipping rates.
To view a bookseller’s shipping rates select [Rates & Speeds] from the search results page. If you have specific questions about a book, please contact the bookseller directly.
To contact a bookseller:
1. Click on the [Ask Bookseller a Question] link in the search results
2. Enter your inquiry and click [Send Question]
You will be sent an email confirmation of your inquiry. AbeBooks will also retain a copy.
The bookseller will receive your question and reply to you via email.
To obtain additional information about a bookseller:
1. Click the [Bookseller & Payment Information] link in the search results
2. On the right of the screen you are also presented with links to:
• Search this specific seller’s inventory
• Browse the seller’s inventory
• Ask the bookseller a question
• View the Bookseller’s homepage
Some booksellers offer free shipping within the UK.
Visit our Free Shipping Room!
Extra Shipping Requests
Occasionally a bookseller may find that the shipping fee quoted on AbeBooks will not cover the costs of shipping your order to you. This may be for a number of reasons; the item may be heavy and cost more to ship, the seller may need to insure the book if it is expensive.
This is subject to your agreement, if the seller requests extra shipping we will notify you via email. You can accept or reject the extra shipping costs by clicking on the link in the email, alternatively you can accept/reject via your AbeBooks account. To do so:
1. [Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [Your Orders]
3. Click [Track Your Purchases]
4. Click on the link [Click here to update the extra charges]
We will then let the bookseller know your decision. If you accept the charges the bookseller will process the order which will charge your credit card once for the full amount (amount you agreed to originally plus the charges). Then the seller will ship the book to you.
If you reject the extra shipping we let the bookseller know, they can either accept the order and make a loss on the postage or cancel the order. As soon as the seller updates the order we will again let you know via email.
How can I track my order?
Thank you for ordering on AbeBooks.co.uk. Once you have placed your order, we forward the details to the bookseller. The bookseller will then update the order or contact you via email (if you are paying via a method other than MasterCard or Visa). When the order updates to shipped/availability confirmed, or if it is cancelled, we will notify you via email. However, we suggest that you track your order online via your AbeBooks account under [Your Orders].
To Track Your Orders:
1.
[Sign On] to your AbeBooks.co.uk account
2. Click [Your Orders]
3. Then click [Track Your Purchases]
For your reference, we have provided the definitions of the different statuses displayed with orders:
Ordered - an email request has been sent to the Bookseller on your behalf to order the book
Availability Confirmed - the bookseller has confirmed your order and will ship it upon processing or receipt of payment; the status of this order will not change to "shipped". If payment details need to be arranged, the bookseller will contact you.
Shipped - the book has been shipped to you
Cancelled - you or the bookseller has cancelled the order
Item Unavailable - the book was no longer available when the Bookseller received your order
For further details about your order, please contact the bookseller:
4. Click the [Item details] button located to the right of the item
5. Click the [Ask a Question] button
6. On the Book Inquiry page:
• Ensure your email address in the From text box is correct
• Enter the subject of your inquiry
• Type your question to the bookseller
7. Click the [Inquire About This Book] button
An email is then sent to the bookseller on your behalf, and a copy is saved in your AbeBooks online account.
How can I contact the Bookseller?
AbeBooks provides an online marketplace for booksellers and book buyers and the means for them to interact with each other. We do not actually own books ourselves. We encourage buyers and sellers to communicate with each other.
If you have specific questions about a book that is listed online you will need to contact the bookseller directly. To contact a bookseller simply:
1. Click on the [Ask Bookseller a Question] link in the search results
2. Enter your inquiry and click [Send Question]
You will be sent an email confirmation of your inquiry. AbeBooks will also retain a copy.
If you are contacting the bookseller about a book that you have alraedy purchased, please contact the bookseller from your AbeBooks account:
1. Click [Your Orders]
2. Click [Track Your Purchases]
3. Click the [Item details] button located to the right of the item
4. Click the [Ask a Question] button
5. On the Book Inquiry page:
• Ensure your email address in the From text box is correct
• Enter the subject of your inquiry
• Type your question to the bookseller
6. Click the [Inquire About This Book] button
An email is sent to the bookseller on your behalf, and a copy is saved in your AbeBooks account.
