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Better World books, only gives like 5-10% of revenue to to non profits that supposedly help fund literacy programs, sounds good right? Now go to your local friends of library and find that all the good books for sale, are gone or have been priced up. It's because betterworldbooks takes the used books fron the friends of the libraries bookstores (for free) and makes a killing of of them. They also take books that people donate to the friends of library and have the ones they can't sell destroyed.
This practice might actually hurt literacy for the poor in this country.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
![Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Agency [SBPRA]](/images/business/48-48/131359/strategic-book-publishing-and-rights-agency-sbpra.xx%26oh%3Dbe27828ba6dfaf8440f4fa328e7c5cbc%26oe%3D5ce63473){kind=small}
Absolutely. Not to mention the fact that they don't honor sales agreements and take up to a week to ship purchases. Plainly put, they are fill of it! Never again will I use this company!
Anothe ruse in the guise of helping the world at large.
WRD.
Very good comment. They have bins all over college campuses with words like "Donate" and "Give" in big letters, giving the false impression that they are a charity organization. Only in tiny letters at the bottom of these four foot signs do they reveal the fact that they are a for-profit company. They are utterly reprehensible.
making money has become more important for them; they sell books that are worth $1 or less for $4 to $5. Books that they get for free or come from the dump (sorry saved from the tip). If people actually left the computer for a while and left their home they would find the same books at local reputable charity organisations, which in turn these organisations help the local community. And if you live overseas you are paying $5 for the book plus $4 shipping = $9 then you convert it to local currency (let’s say AUD, this amounts to about $10 to $11). You are paying up to 2 or 3 times the amount that you would if you went to a second hand book store, at least in the book store you can actually see the book you are buying and what condition this book is in. What if you are buying more than one book from a Betterworld and you live overseas, then the prices become ridicules. You are charged for shipping on each book.. do the sums (lets say 5 books, $5 for each book = $25 + $4 shipping for each book = $20 that amounts to $45 then convert to AUD that’s about $50), the same used books locally would cost around $20 to $25. They are doing pretty good at making money from nothing and at the same time helping to shut down struggling small businesses, with Betterworlds less then admirable books. How many people out there have bought what they thought was a good used book from a Betterworld only to receive a worn or dirty old book or even a ex-library book that is worth nothing...you would be surprised (more than you think) Betterworld books is a corporation, they are opening other branches around the world it is all about the dollar
My tip is don't buy from Better World Books! I bought a much needed text book. They sent the wrong edition. When I contacted them, they didn't have the edition they advertised and told me to send back the book BEFORE they would refund my money! They are schamers! They advertise a popular text book, send you an outdated text, refuse to refund your money until YOU, at your own expense, return the unordered book. WHAT assurance do I have that they will EVER return my money?
Pua
I bought a text from better world books, they took the money form my credit card and i am still wating on my book i wrote them several letters and they did not respond to them, the following is just one of the letters sent to them.
Dear Sir/Madam
My name is Callistra I placed an order for one (1) book Social Psychology work book by Robert S. Feldman, Pamela C. Regan on the 12/02/2010 and got a respond from you saying that it was shipped on the 15/02/2010 by Eco Shipping company, Today is the 12/03/2010 and I have no receive my book, and it was not sent to the address given, I sent a letter to you before and you did not respond to my letter this is my second letter to you request you assistance in this matter, I attend the University an needed my book for classes and to date I have no received it.
I purchased books from you before and never had this problem; I am very disappointed in the service given to me at this time. I will like to have my book, before the end of MARCH or PLEASE REFUND ME MY MONEY. Or I will be forced to take action.
Thank you
Callistra
Please tell me what can be done about this situation, because i am still waiting on my book. My e-mail address is callisgm2@hotmail.com
I'M VERY ARGY WITH THIS COMPANY AS WELL! I really need this book for a very difficult math course and I still haven't received it. Yet they have indeed billed my account already. Even if I get the book next week it will be half way through the term already... I think I'll be getting my money back from pay pal soon, these guys are idiots.
I've been purchasing from Better World Books for years. They have never let me down. Books for $3 and $4? Come on...how much is shipping? These guys are not making a killing. And to donate even 5% is a large sum for any organization still trying to stay afloat in this economy. I am a retired teacher and have a limited budget. I also shop the three local and sometimes two other distant used bookstores in my area. When they have what I am looking for, the prices are comparable...and I have never found them to be less for the same item. No. I DO NOT work for nor do I have any relation to Better World Books. I just appreciate their service.
As for college texts...having taught AP courses at high school, I know how many editions and how difficult it is to find current texts at reasonable prices. After retiring I taught adult ed computer courses and used to pick up texts at Better World Books when they had them for students who could not afford to buy the text. Shop for the bin number. You'll find the right text and know when it isn't correct.
Thanks,
Bev Cox
Every one is out to make a living. I have purchased through Better Books several times. The service is great and I've always received complete orders - and the items are very reasonably priced. If you don't agree with their practice make you're purchases from another organization.
Pmintz, you are a real piece of work! You don't give a good gosh darn if someone gets ripped off, as long as you get yours! I hope you get the same Better World Books treatment that others have received - and then you might understand how those who have been scammed feel about Better World Books!
Placing order on betterworld website is a shame and wasting of time. When i place an order and it took them more than two weeks for them to send me a follow up on my order and still they didn't ship so when i contact them via email and phone they failed to respond until i contacted my bank to charge back the money. Betterworld your suck!