Is ThriftBooks Safe? Honest Review & Buyer Guide

ThriftBooks is a popular online retailer of used and new books that promises “Read more. Spend less.” Founded in 2003 by a small team with a pickup truck of used books, it has grown into the world’s largest online independent used-book seller. 

According to ThriftBooks’ site, it now processes millions of titles with strict grading and a 5-star Trustpilot rating from hundreds of thousands of buyers. In this review, I share my own experience using ThriftBooks and analyze whether it lives up to its claims. I also look at what other customers say, from glowing praise to common complaints, to help you decide if ThriftBooks is legitimate or a potential scam.

How ThriftBooks Works

ThriftBooks operates like an online bookstore: you search or browse for titles, select a copy in a condition category (“new,” “like new,” “very good,” “good,” or “acceptable”), and check out. They sell millions of titles, including used paperbacks, hardcovers, rare/collectible books, and even new books. The company hand-grades each copy and offers very low prices (often around $4–5 for a used paperback). 

I found that most used books run about $3.99–$4.50 apiece, though rarer editions or box sets can cost more. ThriftBooks also runs occasional sales and a loyalty program called ReadingRewards: you earn points on every purchase, and after enough points (e.g., ~500), you get a free book. In practice, I earned points on each order and eventually redeemed them for a free paperback – a nice perk. Overall, the site felt straightforward to use: the search and browsing features were intuitive, I could filter by genre or language, and adding items to a wish list was easy.

Customer Reviews & Reputation

Positive feedback

On Trustpilot, ThriftBooks has about 2.4 million reviews with an average 4.7/5 star rating. Trustpilot’s summary notes that “Reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience”. Customers rave about the huge selection, rock-bottom prices, and accurate item descriptions. Many say books usually arrive in the promised condition and that the company is quick to resolve issues. 

For example, Trustpilot reviewers highlight “timely delivery” and “good condition of the books,” calling the service “trustworthy and reliable”. Scamadviser.com (an automated site checker) also marks ThriftBooks as legit and safe with a high trust score. It aggregates review scores from multiple sites: Trustpilot (4.7/5), Facebook (4.4/5), and Google Shopping (4.8/5) are all very positive. Even PissedConsumer, a consumer watchdog site, states that ThriftBooks is “legit, safe for consumers to access, and is not a scam”.

Negative feedback

Of course, no retailer is perfect. On SiteJabber (another review platform), ThriftBooks has many negative reviews (around 1.7/5 from 377 reviews). Common complaints include slow shipping, poor packaging, and books arriving in worse-than-expected condition. For example, one customer on the BBB site found that a “like new” copy arrived with bent pages, dirt on the cover, and a security tag stuck between pages.

Another blog reviewer noted that her order was split into multiple packages from different warehouses (Oregon, Nevada, Texas) and that free USPS shipping took 10 days instead of the quoted 4–8 days. She also reported that books arrived in thin plastic mailers, leaving edges vulnerable – one “like new” book had bent corners after shipping. In short, many dissatisfied customers say books sometimes arrive late or not as described. However, in most cases, ThriftBooks’ customer service offered refunds or replacements when these issues arose, as seen by the BBB’s resolved complaints and the blogger’s eventual satisfaction.

My experience

Personally, I have placed several orders with ThriftBooks. I appreciated that every listing shows a condition category and a brief description of what that means (e.g., “good” vs. “very good”). I ordered a mix of very common and out-of-print books. In most cases, the books arrived in roughly the condition expected. My “like new” copies were clean and mostly undamaged (one had very minor shelf wear). However, I did encounter some issues: one book listed as “very good” had slightly bent corners – not disastrous, but noticeably worn. 

Shipping also took longer than I hoped: free shipping on a $15+ order took nearly a week longer than estimated (others have experienced similar USPS delays). So I learned to order well before any deadline. Overall, though, I found the pricing and selection so good that I plan to order again, just leaving plenty of time for shipping.

Also Read: KiliMall: Real or a Scam? Comprehensive Review

Shipping and Delivery

Shipping is a mixed bag. ThriftBooks offers free standard shipping on U.S. orders over $15. (When I first used the site, the threshold was $10, but it has since been raised.) You also have options for expedited shipping at extra cost. Orders are shipped to U.S. addresses via USPS, and ThriftBooks estimates 4–8 business days. In my case, two orders took 10–12 days to arrive, which matches many reports that free USPS delivery is slower than ideal. 

The positive side is that I spent only enough to reach the free shipping minimum, and avoiding shipping fees made the low book prices even better. For international orders, ThriftBooks does ship to many countries, but not all. (Their site lists dozens of countries they do not ship to, which implies they cover most of North America, Europe, and some other regions.) I have not tried international delivery personally, but I read on the BBB that Canadian customers sometimes see significant delays (especially during postal strikes). So if you live outside the U.S., be prepared for longer transit times and possibly customs fees.

Book Quality and Returns

ThriftBooks grades every book, and you choose the grade before buying. They publish standards for each condition. In my experience, “good” to “very good” grades usually meant acceptable quality. However, know that “like new” isn’t a guarantee of mint condition. As one blogger noted, a “like new” book she ordered arrived with a dinged corner from being packed in a flimsy bag. Some customers have received ex-library copies with stamps or labels (ThriftBooks flags these in the listing, which I find helpful). I’ve also seen a few books slightly dustier or smellier than ideal; if you’re sensitive to odors, be aware that used books can have musty scents.

ThriftBooks’ return policy is strict. According to their Terms, they only accept returns within 30 days if it was ThriftBooks’ error (wrong or defective item). In practice, this means they usually won’t take back books simply because you don’t like them or if they’re “worse than expected,” unless it’s clearly an error on their part. If an item is damaged or misshipped, they will usually refund your money or credit your account. 

They require contacting customer service first and only accept authorized returns with their label. I’ve had to do a refund once (for the bent book I mentioned); I contacted support, they apologized, and issued a credit after I emailed them photos. No headaches. But the important point is: do your own checking – read the condition notes carefully and assume “no-questions-free returns” does not apply to ThriftBooks.

ThriftBooks Legit or Scam?

In summary, ThriftBooks appears legitimate and reputable. It is a real, long-established company (incorporated in 2003) with physical headquarters in Seattle and a staff of thousands. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) lists ThriftBooks as an A+ rated, accredited business – a strong sign of legitimacy. ThriftBooks has sold hundreds of millions of books, according to its own account. Independent safety checkers (Scamadviser, PissedConsumer) all mark it as legitimate. The common reports of issues (late shipments or minor condition discrepancies) point to typical downsides of buying used books online, not fraud.

Also Check: Website Legitimacy Checker

Pros and Cons of ThriftBooks

• Pros: Huge selection of used (and some new) titles at very low prices. Free shipping over ~$15 within the US. A points/rewards program that can earn you free books. Overall positive customer reviews on major platforms. BBB accreditation (A+ rating) and long track record.
  
• Cons: Shipping can be slow (often longer than the quoted 4–8 days). Packaging is sometimes minimal (books in thin plastic mailers), which can lead to wear. Quality can vary – occasionally, a book is more worn than the grade suggested. Strict return policy (only covers ThriftBooks’ mistakes). Customer service can be hit-or-miss, though many say refunds are eventually given for valid complaints.

ThriftBooks Technical Scorecard

Verdict:
ThriftBooks scores 84/100, making it a safe and reliable site. While not perfect (due to strict return policy, occasional slow shipping, and inconsistent quality in used books), its long domain history, SSL security, A+ BBB accreditation, and overwhelmingly positive user reputation outweigh the negatives.

Conclusion

In my experience (and that of many others), ThriftBooks is not a scam – it’s a legitimate, award-winning book retailer. The odds of losing money to fraud are extremely low. However, “buyer beware” still applies. Make sure you understand the conditions of used books, allow enough shipping time, and take advantage of their generous selection. 

If you can tolerate occasional slow delivery or minor imperfections, ThriftBooks can be a great source for cheap reads. The overall balance of evidence (Trustpilot praise, BBB accreditation, safety scores, and personal use) strongly points to ThriftBooks being a real, reliable service rather than a scam.