Barnesandnoble
Worth it
Confidence: Medium
Book buyers who want a large catalog, US stores, and a rewards program.
New check
Comparison
Barnesandnoble vs ThriftBooks
Barnesandnoble and ThriftBooks both land on Worth it.
ThriftBooks
Worth it
Confidence: Medium
Buy if you want cheap used books and can accept a condition lottery.
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Worth it | Worth it |
| Best for | Casual book buyers | Bargain hunters building home libraries |
| Who it's not for | Anyone shopping for software; this is a bookstore | Collectors demanding pristine, graded condition |
| Privacy | No recent vulnerabilities reported in sources; a 2004 regulatory fine over site security and privacy is on record.⁸ | Publishes a product security page, but Troy Hunt publicly flagged a data breach. |
| Support quality | Only mixed anecdotes, no rating data | BBB complaints plus 148 PissedConsumer reviews |
| Public sentiment | Thousands of Yelp reviewers plus active Reddit threads give mixed marks on shipping, store trips, and customer service.⁵ | Most buyers praise the low prices and legitimacy; complaints cluster around inconsistent condition grading, weak support, and buyback payouts.14 |
| Biggest gotcha | Online and store prices differ, so the price is not always the store price.⁴ | Troy Hunt flagged a data breach; assume your account details were exposed. |
Pick Barnesandnoble when
- Casual book buyers
- Gift shoppers
- NOOK ebook readers
- Self-publishers via B&N Press
When Barnesandnoble is not a fit
- Anyone shopping for software; this is a bookstore
- Price-first shoppers who compare every title to Amazon
- Used-book hunters; dedicated used sellers fit better
- International buyers wanting local stores; the chain is US-centered
Pick ThriftBooks when
- Bargain hunters building home libraries
- Out-of-print and older title hunters
- Textbook buyers on a budget
- Casual readers replacing worn copies
When ThriftBooks is not a fit
- Collectors demanding pristine, graded condition
- Anyone needing fast, responsive customer support
- International buyers without a package-forwarding service
- Buyers spooked by the reported data breach
Sources
- Online Bookstore: Books, NOOK ebooks, Music, Moviesbarnesandnoble.comofficial
- Barnes & Noble Membership and Rewards Programsbarnesandnoble.comofficial
- Membership Fees and Enrollmenthelp.barnesandnoble.comofficial
- About bn.com and Retail Store Price Differenceshelp.barnesandnoble.comofficial
- Barnes & Noble Reviews | Trustpilottrustpilot.comreview
- Barnes & Noble Reviews | Yelpyelp.comreview
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security
security
news
- Sell Your Book at B&Nbarnesandnobleinc.comofficial
- B&N Store Locatorstores.barnesandnoble.comofficial
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- 148 Thriftbooks Reviews - PissedConsumerthriftbooks.pissedconsumer.comreview
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