WebVetted โ„ข Beta
Recommendation
Caution
Overall Summary
Safe
Why we think so

ThriftBooks.com is a major online retailer specializing in used books, offering over 13 million titles with free shipping on orders above $15. The site attracts about 19 million monthly visits, primarily from the United States. Its web infrastructure uses reputable providers and modern security standards like HTTPS with a valid SSL certificate issued by GoDaddy. The domain is registered through GoDaddy and has a stable hosting environment. ThriftBooks holds multiple live trademarks under 'ThriftBooks' and related branding, registered to Thrift Books Global, LLC in Washington state. Google Safe Browsing and crypto scam databases show no risks, and the platform is not blacklisted. Public user reviews are mixed, with common complaints about book condition accuracy, shipping delays, and customer support quality, but positive remarks on its large selection and low prices. The company has also faced accessibility lawsuits and maintains binding arbitration clauses in its user agreements. Overall, it appears to be a legitimate but imperfect seller with certain customer service and product quality issues to be mindful of.

Confidence Score
88%

Risk Insights

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Strong Brand and Market Presence

Over 13 million book titles available.
Approximately 19 million monthly visits.
Registered trademarks affirm legitimacy.
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Mixed Customer Reviews

Frequent complaints about book conditions and shipping.
Customer service sometimes unresponsive or generic.
Positive comments on price and selection balance concerns.

Contradictory Signals

Despite being genuine, some operational problems impact customer satisfaction.

Signal A: Legitimate business with trademark and technical evidence

Signal B: User reviews note frequent service and product issues

Category Scores

Identity 90/100
Reputation 70/100
Technical 90/100
Content 75/100
Legal 85/100
Business Validity 90/100

Red Flags & Warnings

  • Multiple customer complaints about inaccurate book conditions, wrong items shipped, and issues with returns and refunds.
  • Customer service reported as limited or unresponsive by some users, with some receiving generic replies.

๐Ÿ”Ž Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain Technical and Infrastructure

Score: 90/100
Passed

"Includes detailed tech stack info like Asp .Net, GoDaddy hosting, HTTPS with valid GoDaddy-issued SSL certificates."

Reason: The domain uses modern web technologies, reputable hosting, and has valid SSL certificates.

Traffic and Popularity

Score: 90/100
Passed

"Traffic sources mainly direct and search; bounce rate is moderate (~38%)."

Reason: ThriftBooks.com ranks about 1,943 globally with 19M monthly visits, mostly from the US, indicating high usage.

Business Legitimacy and Ownership

Score: 90/100
Passed

"Trademark classifications cover online retail of books; ownership is consistent."

Reason: Multiple live trademarks registered to Thrift Books Global, LLC support strong brand legitimacy.

Blacklist and Safety Checks

Score: 95/100
Passed

"No phishing or malware reported, indicating low fraud risk."

Reason: No entries found on crypto scam or Google Safe Browsing blacklists.

Reputation and Customer Feedback

Score: 65/100
Failed

"Complaints suggest operational issues but not overt fraud; some positive feedback exists."

Reason: Customer reviews show mixed satisfaction with frequent complaints on shipment, condition accuracy, and support.

Legal and Compliance

Score: 85/100
Passed

"Use of arbitration limits litigation; ADA lawsuits reflect compliance enforcement."

Reason: Site has binding arbitration clauses and faced accessibility lawsuits, showing legal compliance awareness.

Your Next Steps

  • 1
    Verify the book condition descriptions carefully before purchase.
  • 2
    Avoid time-sensitive textbook orders due to potential shipping delays.
  • 3
    Keep documentation (screenshots, order confirmations) for any disputes.
  • 4
    Use customer reviews as a guide to product quality and seller reliability.
  • 5
    Be aware of the arbitration agreement in case of customer disputes.

Evidence & Citations