100% Satisfaction Guarantee! *
If your book arrives and you are not happy with it, our guarantee means that you can return it for a 100% refund of the purchase price.
* Please refer to Terms & Conditionsfor further information.
Buying Books at Bookwormers!
Buying books from our great collection of quality and affordable books is just so easy.
Unlike the other online book stores, we only sell what we have in stock – so no more waiting 6 weeks for that much anticipated book! And if we don’t have what you’re looking for in stock, contact us and we will try and source it for you.
So you know what to expect when you shop at Bookwormers we have put together the following two Book Condition Guides to help you. You will also be pleased to know that all of our books are lovingly cleaned, so they are looking their best. Please note that a lot of our books have their corners taped. This is due to us being a book-exchange and this helps to extend the life-span of the book covers.
The Fiction Book Buying Guide
Books in our FICTION category are entered a little differently to the rest of our books, with more than one book of the same title and author (of the same or similar condition) being entered under the same book listing.
So you know what to expect in regards to the book conditions, we have supplied the following Book Condition Guide.
Fiction - Book Condition Guide
All our books have their pages and bindings intact and all text is readable (unless otherwise stated). This information is a guide only and books may have some or all of the following defects.
Average Condition
Used books Cover wear or damage Page discolouration
Cover corners taped Spine Creasing Cover & spine fading
May have a line across the bottom edges at base of pages Markings or whiteout
Good Condition
New books with minor transit or shelf wear/damage
Used books Minor cover wear or damage Minor spine creasing
Cover corners taped Minor page discolouration Markings or whiteout
May have a line across the bottom edges at base of pages
Very Good Condition
New books Used books in very good or like new condition
Minor faults Cover corners taped
May have a line across the bottom edges at base of pages
Book Cover Guide
As we sell both new and used books we often have several copies of the same novel in stock, but the books often have different covers. Our website will show all the different covers that we have in stock. Should you want to purchase a book with a particular cover please contact us PRIOR to placing your order so we can make sure we have the that particular book in stock for you.
If you would like to know any information regarding individual book conditions, cover designs, publishers, publication dates, ISBN numbers or have any other queries please don’t hesitate to contact us – we are always happy to help!
The General Book Buying Guide
When you buy your books from Bookwormers you can expect that all our books have their pages and bindings intact and all text is readable (unless otherwise stated). Use the following as a guide to the condition of the books. The books may have some or all of the following defects. We will take care to note any particular defects. If you would like further information or clarification on any book, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Average Condition
Used books Cover wear or damage Page discolouration
Cover corners taped Spine Creasing Cover & spine fading
May have a line across the bottom edges at base of pages Markings or whiteout
Good Condition
New books with minor transit or shelf wear/damage
Used books Minor cover wear or damage Minor spine creasing
Cover corners taped Minor page discolouration Markings or whiteout
May have a line across the bottom edges at base of pages
Very Good Condition
New books Used books in very good or like new condition
Minor faults Cover corners taped
May have a line across the bottom edges at base of pages
Please note: Where a book condition description notes general wear, this may include the cover corners being taped.
* Please refer to Terms & Conditions for further info about buying books from Bookwormers.
We sell Gift Vouchers!
With our great range of books we have something for everyone - so you can't go wrong with giving a voucher!
* Please refer to Terms & Conditions for further information.
Buyers and Sellers Guide
Here at Bookwormers we just live for our books, and like you we also buy used books (perhaps on a slightly bigger scale) but the same rules apply.
We have put together a list of the key things you need to look out for when buying used books. These factors will also help you decide if the price is right.
Please use the following information as a guide only, there are many factors that contribute to the value of a book and we have made generalised statements only.
Tip#1 Hardcover or Paperback?
- Non-fiction books will be more valuable if they are in hardback.
- Trade-size paperbacks are more valuable than the standard "smaller” size.
Tip #2 What is the condition of the cover and inside pages?
- Check for discolouration, signs of dampness or water damage.
- Check for signs of insects or insect damage (we strongly recommend to stay away from books displaying any of these signs).
- Check for underlining, highlighting of text.
- Check for missing pages.
As a general rule you should stay away from books with any of these signs.
Tip #3 Open the book – what do you notice?
- When you open the book what does it sound like? Generally if you hear are "cracking” sound you know the spine binding is not holding together well.
- Check for cracking and discolouration down the outside of the spine.
- Carefully flick through the pages and check that they flow well.
- Make sure none of the pages have stuck together.
Tip #4 What does the book smell like?
- This is something we definitely check here at Bookwormers. The smell of damp or stored books isn’t a pleasant one and something to check for if you don’t want to upset your sensitive noses.
Tip #5 Who is the author?
- A well-known and successful author will generally have books priced at a higher value than lesser-known or new authors.
Tip #6 Is the book a first edition?
- If you look, usually within the first couple of pages, you will be able to see the publication date.
- Books which are a first edition are valued higher than the re-printed editions.
Tip #7 Who published the book?
- The publisher of the book will usually be on the spine of the book and displayed in one of the first couple of pages.
- The publisher of the book can affect the value of the book also.
Tip #8 Is it signed by the author?
- A book that is signed by the author can be significantly higher valued.
We hope you found those tips useful. Luckily for you the team here at Bookwormers has done all these checks for you on our stocked items - so all you need to decide now is which ones you want to buy!
If you still have any questions about your books please feel free to contact us!