CHEAP books/software ~~ Textbooks, Cookbooks, Classics, Mysteries, Kids books ~~ Save money online at allbooks4less.com
Written: Oct 07 '01 (Updated May 28 '02)
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The Bottom Line
A wonderful discount book store that lets you compare their prices.
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| Full Review |
WHAT THE SITE IS
AllBooks4Less is a great site where you can get books and software at discount prices. They compare their prices to the two largest online bookstores. Amazon and Barnes and Noble and if their price is not the lowest (of the three), you can name your own price. Not a bad guarantee!
FINDING WHAT YOU NEED
Besides the home page there are three main areas: books, audio books and software. These are listed on the top right hand side on all pages.
Once you choose the area you want, you just click on the link and you are taken to the home page of that department. You will now be given two ways to locate an item ~~ by using the search or the browse areas. To use the search feature you can type in the title, author, keyword or an ISBN. These four choices are the same in all three areas.
The search engine is not that great when using the keyword choice. I typed in educational and got 15 choices in books and 0 choices in audio books and software. Knowing they did have some educational software, I tried again, this time using education . Well, this brought up 95 choices in books and again, 0 choices in audio books and software!
Yet, when you go into the software section there is an educational link in the browse section. When you click on it, you are shown 12 different titles. Why these are not cross referenced through the search engine I don’t know. It would be a shame to miss them too, as they have some great deals! I picked up Thinking Skills: Pre-Algebra for $7.99 which is a 73% savings over the list price! These are wonderful programs in a terrific series that my children have really enjoyed, despite the fact that they are learning while playing it!
If you know the name or ISBN of the book (or software) you are looking for, the search selection works much better. I was able to find four of the five books I put in by name and the two of the four I knew the ISBN on.
The only ones I couldn't find this way were ones they didn't carry.
This seems to be the best way use the search engine.
The other option is the browse feature. This is a pretty detailed choice ~~ in books you have 25 sub-choices, in audio books there are 11 and then 5 in software. By clicking on these, you are able to refine your search quickly.
One area they have in the browse section in each department is a May We Suggest. This is where I found a book that I was not aware of but am now glad I have! International Dictionary: The Words You Need in Twenty One Languages which is great little reference book.
They also have a new arrivals in the browse section which also has a pretty good selection in each area.
WE PROVE IT
Now this is a clever little marketing idea. When you select an item, you are taken to a page with more information, including the price, and right next to the price is a we Prove it link. By clicking on that, you are shown a smaller pop up window with the name of the item, it’s ISPN AND the price it is sold at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. This is where their guarantee comes in, if one of those prices is lower than what AllBooks4Less is selling it for, you name the price you want to pay.
Of course, they are only always going to have the lower price but, it is still nice to see that other places are charging more than you are paying!
For example ~~ I typed in Lord of the Rings into the search engine (using keyword) where I was given 3 book choices. I chose the Return of the King which was priced at $5.89 and clicked on the we Prove it link.
The following information came up:
Return of the King: Being the Third Part of the Lord of the Rings ISBN:0395272211 List price: $11.95
Amazon: $11.95
B&N: $10.75
Our Price: $5.89.
After then checking on the Amazon site, I can say they do indeed charge $11.95 for this book and even better, right now it is out of stock.
Note: A lot of the software will come with a N/A against the other two stores but the prices are still VERY good.
SHIPPING
There are three shipping choices.
Standard is the least expensive and is said to arrive in 10-14 days, mine came in 11. The price is $3.49 per shipment PLUS $.99 per item.
The 2nd Day Air shipping is $6.99 per shipment PLUS $1.99 per item and should arrive in 2 days.
The third and most expensive shipping options is Next Day Air which obviously arrives the day after you order. This option is $8.99 per shipment PLUS $2.99 per item.
Standard is the only shipping option for PO boxes, APO/FPO addresses or homes in the US Virgin Islands and Guam. Delivery to Alaska and Hawaii may take up to 21 business days.
International Shipping is $4.99 per shipment PLUS $3.99 per item for standard which is said to take 11 to 21 business days.
Expedited takes 5 to 19 business days and cost $9.99 per shipment PLUS $4.99 per item.
THIS and THAT
** The bargain bin in books has some wonderful $1.91 deals. I like to grab these when they have the buy 3 get one free deal going.
**The little shopping cart is always visible,showing what you have added which is something I like.
**You can reach AllBooks4Less at 1-800-231-8932 Monday - Friday (9-5 EST) or at customerservice@allbooks4less.com where they get back to you within one day.
Recommended:
Yes
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2buzy
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