Textbooks.com
Reviews and Complaints

I ordered from Textbooks.com because they were cheap.. BIG MISTAKE! Trust me take your money somewhere else and don't even give them a chance. I spent $115 dollars on one book and got free shipping on it thinking I was getting a good deal, but it was nothing but headaches! They're shipping provider - DHL for free shipping doesn't include shipping information so you have no idea where your book is or has been until it actually gets there. And when I went to find out where my book was, I found out that they shipped it to the wrong address.. When I called textbooks.com to tell them about the missing tracking information their representative told me not to use their free shipping because it was more headaches than it is worth, and then told me to tell my friends the same thing. You know it's bad when the company representatives tell you not to use their own promotions! Because I didn't know when my book would get here I had to spend $25 dollars EXTRA to rent the chapters in the book so that I wouldn't fail my quizzes in my class. So you think 115+25 is a 140. I could have bought the book basically full price on Amazon.com and gotten it in two days with my Prime membership. Textbooks.com is nothing but a joke, and the whole time I was on the phone with them all I heard was nothing but excuses. Don't buy from them!

I wish I had read the reviews for textbooks.com ahead of time because I would have known to avoid them. Unfortunately, I ordered through one of their independent marketplace sellers called AmazingbooksM and got totally screwed. Never received any order confirmation and 1 week later, my order is still "in progress." There was no contact info provided by textbooks.com either. When I called the customer service line, I first got hung up on after an automatic message was played. Then I got hung up on a second time when I waited to speak to a service agent. I managed to reach someone on my third try and she give me the email of this shady seller which happened to be a personal yahoo email address from the UK. They wouldn't cancel my order and the email address I used was never replied to. I am livid and extremely behind on my reading. Will NEVER order from them again.

The prices look good . . .but, if you actually need a book for a class who knows when - OR IF - you'll actually get your order! Unreliable, poor service. When I placed my order the site promoted "Have your books in time for class!" And they posted a specific date, based on my order date. The price (including shipping costs) and how fast I get books are all important factors when making a purchase. The promise date came and went. I've been in touch with the company - instead of honoring their "promise date" they used the fall-back 5-10 business days (which passed)-still no book. Eating up more than the cost of the book driving to the library to keep up in class! They use DHL for shipping (not a BBB member, but rated "F" by the BBB) DHL held on to my order for days AND then passed it off to USPS - The company is wholly responsible for using a reliable, shipper - why not use USPS in the first place?

I purchased a brand new textbook package for $225 from them for an 8 WEEK course. When I shipped the package back for buyback they informed me that they only received the study guide. They said the warehouse did no put a note in the computer that it was received opened/damaged yet they were missing the expensive textbook (with an enclosed CD). They informed me they would search the warehouse for it and contact me the next day. Two days later they called and still could not find it, but to call back in a week and they would search again. I contacted UPS and they said they would need to inspect the original shipping materials. I called textbooks.com back to notify them; they do not keep the shipping materials (even if you do not receive everything that is supposed to be in the package?). They also told me UPS does not require them to keep the packaging materials. Somebody got practically a new textbook or MY money for the buyback when they turn around and sell it to them themselves. I told them I have the code from the inside of the text to ID it as mine (though I am sure the employee will just rip that page out from what I have read from other complaints about them). DO NOT do business with this company!

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I brought an access code from them to use in my online math class for 44.00 dollars. I called two times to make sure that if the code didnt work that i would be able to get my money back. When i recieved the code it was wrapped in plastic and the only way to see it was to unwrap it from the plastic. Guess what? The code didn't work and they told me that it was my fault because i ordered the wrong code. I didnt order the wrong code according to their website this was the code for the isbn number that i entered. I had to call several times before speaking to a supervisor and i finally got a hold of one named eric. He didnt seem very apologetic and simply told me that theres nothing he could do because i opened the package and they dont accept returns unless the item is in new condition. How can i know if the code worked if i didnt open the package? I was set up by them to fail in this situation. There should be a way for them to check to make sure i havent used the code yet, they think that i have used the code already and trying to scam them (Thats what a representative named brandi told me). I cursed out eric and i've contacted the better business bureau. Ive also contacted the department of consumer affairs. I will not be taken advantage of by these people. I will tell everyone i know to never order from this place. Im digusted with the service i recieved. They over promise the customer and under deliver. No one should ever give this company their money. I think everyone should boycott this company. I feel so offended, these people are low down dirty dogs. And eric is a poor excuse for a manager.

I purchased some used college textbooks from textooks.com. They were shipped through their "Marketplace" branch of the textbooks.com site which means that they are actually being shipped through an outside/private book dealer. Everything was OK until I saw the charge on my bank account (which was overdrawn!), there was one for the amount going through and another of equal money as a hold! So until the hold drops off it will continue to "use" or "hold" that dollar amount. The books have been shipped already and the "actual" charge has gone through my account and been processed. The hold is still out there and they (textbooks.com CSR) tells me it could be up to 14 days before the hold drops off. They (textbooks.com) gave me an email to contact the people at customer service for the "Marketplace" portion of their business BUT no phone number because "they just cannot do that"? It took 24 hours for the people at Marketplace to contact me back just to say the hold would drop off "eventually". So textbooks.com could not do anything (their site does not have a disclaimer about the double charge nor does the checkout area refer to anything to prepare the purchaser for this just in case), the Marketplace people could not do anything and BOA (Bank of America) where I have my account said to contact the people I made the purchase from to have them take care of it! WTF people! So, my account was in overdraw status and no one could/would help. I will never purchase anything through textbooks.com again (use half.com as I have never had issues with them on charges or anything else) and their customer service is nonexistant!

I sold a couple of used books and put the money on account. Then, I ordered some books but they never came. Textbooks.com did nothing to recover my money which they had control of. This company sucks! I would never use them because their customer service does not exist. Forty bucks is not much. But, I work hard for my doe and do not appreciate it being ripped from my hands. Textbooks.com was a real bad experience. Stay away, stay far away!

I ordered a college textbook from Textbooks.com back in September (for fall quarter). I got a used book, trying to save money. The reason I bought from them is they guarantee buying back your book at half the price of what you bought it for. What a great deal, right?

Well, I got my book. It was used and served its purpose. The book did have a little bit of water damage; but since Textbooks.com sent it to me, I figured they’re aware of it and it’s fine (the book is completely readable and that is what books are for: reading).

OK, so at the end of the quarter, I am sending the book back to them (they even send reminder e-mails telling you “they owe you money for the book” etc. I think that was a good feature. Anyways, I followed all of their instructions and a few days later, I get an e-mail saying that the book I sent them is damaged and cannot be bought. I was given an option to either pay them $12.50 in shipping to get the book back, or they simply throw it away.

Ok, so I e-mailed them back (this was on December 22, 2008) explaining that the book is in exactly the same condition as I received it from them. The representative responded, saying that I should have called them in September if the book was damaged and since I didn’t, it’s too late.

Well, here is the problem. I am buying a USED BOOK. Used books aren’t new. A little water damage, in my opinion, does not pose a problem in being able to use the book. Since Textbooks.com state that they inspect every used book by hand (as mentioned on their website), why would I be the one doubting them? They never mentioned that if a used book they sell me is water damaged, I should return it. Plus, they guarantee buying the book back, so of course, I wasn’t concerned or even had a reason to be concerned!

I am upset. I tried to resolve this issue directly with them via e-mail and I am being very reasonable. Textbooks.com should follow their claims and buy this book back. It is in exactly the same condition as they sold it to me. I am going to contact the Better Business Bureau, as I don’t think it is fair at all. I don’t recommend this company to anyone, as they obviously don’t hold themselves responsible for the condition of the books they sell (seeing that they weren’t aware of the condition of the book they sold me). Buyers: there are many other used textbook websites that don’t offer empty promises.

I bought this book for $74.50 from Textbooks.com. Now, they are going to throw it away.

Textbooks.Com buyback policy is misleading, unclear, and a ripoff.

I sent a textbook back for the guaranteed buyback price.
The quote creation date was 12/22/08 guaranteeing a certain amount. They list the book and an expiry date. Then under policy reminders on the same page, they say that "Books must be received in 30 days for full value", indicating that as long as they receive the books within 30 days that you will receive the full value of the quoted price.

I brought the book to UPS to be sent back, and my tracking doesn't show it was picked up from the location I dropped it off at, but from another city and gives a date further out than when I dropped it at my local UPS. Then, from there, it took a few days to get back to Textbooks.Com. Neither UPS or Textbooks.Com know the date it was dropped off in my town at the local UPS store, (I called my local UPS store to ask if they had a record and they don't), but Textbooks.com is going by the date it was brought to another location and then the date they had it in their warehouse.

When I called Textbooks.Com, the person who answered told me that HE knew the policy and remembered what the website said (of course he would, he works there). He said that it is on the website when you order the books and since he remembers that, everyone else should 6 months after ordering a book...He argued that expiry means it expires and I should have figured out myself that "Books must be received in 30 days for full value" applies only to books that aren't guaranteed buyback even though there is nothing indicating that on the quote creation page or anything else. What else do you go by but the quote creation page with the buyback packing list on it?

Their buyback and quote policy is extremely unclear, and they do not work with the customer at all. It is simply the customer's fault & problem that their policies are misleading and confusing, and they don't give an inch. The guy didn't care that I told them we would no longer do business with them unless they honored their quote because of the misleading wording which would make (I'm sure too many) customers miss the deadline to get full buyback. I consider this fraud - like bait and switch. The entire reason we didn't return the book to my daughter's school was because Textbooks.Com offered more cash back than the school. We ended up losing more than the school would have given us by trusting Textbooks.Com.

By the way, if you go by what the representative said instead of the 30 days policy, it means they gave me 7 days (including weekends, Christmas and New Years holidays) to get the book back INTO their warehouse...They try to make it as difficult as possible and a near impossibility for the customer to get it to them on time, especially since 2 holidays were in there, as well as weekends.

I discovered textbooks.com in September by searching online. I did have other choices, such as purchasing this book at the school bookstore but finally I decided to purchase this book with textbooks.com for the convenience and for the GUARANTEED BUY BACK!

When I received the book some pages were wavvy and did seem like it had some water damage. Overall the book was in great condition, no handwriting in the book at all. I assumed this was OK because my book was used.

I have now followed all directions in sending my book back only to receive an email 2 weeks later advising me my book had NO VALUE due to water damage. Can you imagine? No value. Not even a decreased amount.

This book was in the same condition as I received it. I always kept the book in plastic and never wrote in this book at all.

I cannot imagine a college kid not wanting this book to work with instead of purchasing a new book for $184.00.

This company uses fraudalent tactics to lure the consumer to purchase from them.

Shame on them!

I ordered a college textbook from Textbooks.com back in September (for fall quarter). I got a used book, trying to save money. The reason I bought from them is they guarantee buying back your book at the price you bought it from them, plus 10%. What a great deal, right?
Well, I got my book. It was used and served its purpose. The book did have a little bit of water damage; but since Textbooks.com sent it to me, I figured they’re aware of it and it’s fine (the book is completely readable and that is what books are for: reading).
OK, so at the end of the quarter, I am sending the book back to them (they even send reminder e-mails telling you “they owe you money for the book” etc. I think that was a good feature. Anyways, I followed all of their instructions and a few days later, I get an e-mail saying that the book I sent them is damaged and cannot be bought. I was given an option to either pay them $12.50 in shipping to get the book back, or they simply throw it away.
Ok, so I e-mailed them back (this was on December 22, 2008) explaining that the book is in exactly the same condition as I received it from them. The representative responded, saying that I should have called them in September if the book was damaged and since I didn’t, it’s too late.
Well, here is the problem. I am buying a USED BOOK. Used books aren’t new. A little water damage, in my opinion, does not pose a problem in being able to use the book. Since Textbooks.com state that they inspect every used book by hand (as mentioned on their website), why would I be the one doubting them? They never mentioned that if a used book they sell me is water damaged, I should return it. Plus, they guarantee buying the book back, so of course, I wasn’t concerned or even had a reason to be concerned!
I am upset. I tried to resolve this issue directly with them via e-mail and I am being very reasonable. Textbooks.com should follow their claims and buy this book back. It is in exactly the same condition as they sold it to me. I am going to contact the Better Business Bureau, as I don’t think it is fair at all. I don’t recommend this company to anyone, as they obviously don’t hold themselves responsible for the condition of the books they sell (seeing that they weren’t aware of the condition of the book they sold me). Buyers: there are many other used textbook websites that don’t offer empty promises.
I purchased my Anthropology book for $74.50 from Textbooks.com. Now, they’re throwing my book away.