Based on 40 verified reports, this firm maintains a 60% trust rating within the Saving Traders community.
An independent online family run company, offering a fantastic selection of books with free UK delivery. Great prices, fast delivery and helpful customer service.
"Reliable and often the best price. Would be five stars if they were faster and provided delivery updates."
"Ordered a book on ebay on 4 November 2025 from this bunch. Claimed it was posted second class on 7 November 2025 with no tracking. It's still not here. I've emailed them on ebay asking for a full refund, no response. Like others say, it's all a bit dodgy this. not a good company to deal with. Buyer beware. They think they're being clever by blocking me on ebay. I must have touched a nerve me thinks. As I say, BUYER BEWARE!"
"Several orders with Booksetc, all at good prices, well packaged and didn't arrive damaged, unlike most Amazon orders I get. I think they're great, they do have one of the worst websites I've come across but if you can get over that they're worth the trouble. The exception to that is if you're using a phone, the site is unusable on mobile."
"BOOKS etc are just the best. The books are great and competitively priced, the packing is exemplary, and delivery is fast, and by the most effective means available. Service is outstanding and if there are any problems, they are easy to talk to and quick to respond. A real pleasure to buy from!"
"I ordered and paid for a book through Amazon on 10/05/26. Scheduled delivery date was five days later 15/05/26. Two weeks later no delivery made to me. No communication with me by Books etc. who have let themselves down, at best?! So, I've had a reply from Books etc. at about 10.00 on Sunday. The message states that the book was dispatched, no dispatch date or tracking information given? ... I have been refunded. The book is out of stock and not available anywhere in the UK? I have to ask why I had to contact Amazon to get any feedback from Books etc. ... customer service?!"
"I can't recommend them. I've encountered tedious bot or AI type responses to my undelivered book. 11 days before an alleged despatch which was only initiated after I'd queried things - I don't believe it was ever despatched, as they claimed it must be 'lost' & then said they'd sent a replacement. They should have offered a full refund, not taken it upon themselves to allegedly send another without discussing it with me. I have no faith that I will ever get that book & will be raising an INR with the platform. Even if it does arrive, the customer service and lengthy (or more likely non-existent) despatch models are not acceptable. I'd rather pay a little more elsewhere and get the book I want on time. Lesson learnt. Addendum: the book finally turned up, weeks after the order. Interestingly, the company managed to get my feedback removed by a certain very well-known platform, and I am never abusive in feedback. Profits before valid consumer comments, perhaps? I purchased it elsewhere in the meantime, from World of Books (other outlets are available) and IT arrived within 24 hours. I will be sticking with them, going forward."
"Ordered a book they had listed as 'in stock'. They took payment and I waited patiently like a good lad. 3 working days later (5 in total) I heard nothing so contacted them and was told they didn't have stock and my order would be cancelled. How poor this information wasn't forthcoming until I chased it. The whole availability thing is very misleading, I don't want to pay for an order with a random chance that I may or may not get it."
"Professional package professional delivery professional support!!!🙌 Very Pleased with the service"
"took 1-2 weeks to dispatch after saying it would be dispatched in 3-5 days, when it arrived it came completely damaged, would not buy again, never replied to messages or emails about my item, next time i will 100% listen to reviews and buy from somewhere else"
"I have always had a good experience with this company via ebay. I've ordered a few times, and there usually isn't an issue. The one time there was, it was minor, and I suspect it was the fault of the courier. Booksetc were great regarding this. They responded promptly and sent a replacement plus a return label at once. Would definitely recommend."
"Have been ordering from them for years and not had a problem although sometimes books are slow to arrive"
"Happy with purchase via Amazon, arrived on time, well packaged, great price, what more can you ask for? Many thanks"
"Ordered a book through eBay and it never arrived. Something of a theme here if you read below. Just took my money and nothing. Tried to open a dispute just met with obfuscation. “Check with your neighbours” - “try other properties in the vicinity”. The book was to be delivered to a work address where the number is outside in 4 foot high red numbers! So no book. £30 down. Nice little earner for them."
"Book arrived in time as Christmas present. Much appreciated. In times of postal uncertainties, especially in December, it was a pleasure to deal with Books Etc."
"The package came undamadget, well packaged and friendly dropped of. However, it took a bit long to deliver due to delay at the border control."
"Great price, excellent selection and quick delivery"
"Disappointed! Pre-ordered a book through Amazon back in Sep, more than a month before release date. Release date came over a week ago and it still hasn’t been dispatched.States delivery will be November?!? Keen to get my hands on it as it’s a limited release and 1st edition. The book is available elsewhere, therefore cancelled the order and went to Waterstones direct - paid full price £50. Update: BOOKS etc have been emailing me all day, telling me that they are unable to find my Amazon order (perhaps that is why it was never dispatched) and to remove my review. DESPITE the fact that they were the provider of the said book on Amazon. Hence I knew who the provider was as I could see this info in my order details before I cancelled it."
"Books were delivered quickly & well packaged so arrived in perfect condition."
"Really petty company. On one occasion I ordered a book and it arrived in poor packaging and so it was damaged. It didn’t feel worth complaining at the time. The next time I bought from them through eBay and the book never turned up. No apology, instead they just banned me from buying from them again. Sad that they weren’t able to even communicate and decided to just think the worst."
"Product as described. Delivered in good time. Pleased that when a title is print on demand that this was indicated on the books web page before purchase."
