You can easily view the English version of the AbeBooks European Bookseller Agreement [here].
If you wish to print and read the agreement and proceed with the registration at a later date you may of course do so. After registering, we will email you a copy of the agreement and once we have opened a bookseller account you will be able to view the agreement at any time via your bookseller account.
The Bookseller Agreement can be terminated at any time. Please contact our Customer Service with your reasons for the closure request. We will then review your account and address any of your concerns. If you decide that the account needs to be closed, we will confirm this by email and close the account at the end of that calendar month. You will receive a final invoice at the beginning of the following month.
To ensure the satisfaction of both booksellers and book buyers on our website AbeBooks has issued some guidelines. Upon registration, all booksellers declare that they accept these guidelines and policies. Being familiar with our policies will assist you in making your AbeBooks experience and that of your customers a successful one.
Your Bookstore Information
AbeBooks offers several fields to enter key information that will assist with your book sales. We ask that all information listed in these fields be true and accurate to the best of your knowledge. All information should be included only in the designated fields and all booksellers should refrain from redirecting buyers to other websites or any alternative means of placing their orders.
AbeBooks reserves the right to review and edit any information fields to remove unacceptable content. Should any restricted information be found, the bookseller will be notified. If the issue persists the bookseller account may be suspended or even closed. For further details on the above, see the full policy online.
Your AbeBooks Inventory
AbeBooks is a global marketplace for books; however, booksellers may also offer ephemera such as maps, sheet music, greeting cards, bookmarks, letters, posters, and other such printed collectables. Below you will find the mandatory requirements for listing your books, a summary of the listings that are only permitted when certain conditions are met, as well as unacceptable listings.
Listing Requirements:
Acceptable Listings and Conditions:
Unacceptable Listings:
We reserve the right, at our discretion, to remove any listing, which includes requests from rights holders and items deemed defamatory or illegal.
Your Customer Service
Providing the best customer service possible is the key to ensuring that buyers return again and again. It is also a great source for word-of-mouth business growth. As a minimum requirement, we ask that you follow our Customer Service guidelines:
Order Processing, Shipping & Refunds:
The following chart outlines the various return reasons available to buyers and booksellers as well as the compensation amounts based on the situation.
Return Reason |
Description |
Reimbursement |
Item did not Arrive |
The order did not arrive and is past the estimated delivery date |
Full refund = Book price + shipping charged
|
Order Accepted in Error |
The seller agreed to send a book, but then found the book condition was not as described on AbeBooks, or that the book had been previously sold |
Full refund = Book price + shipping charged |
Buyer Cancelled before Shipping |
The seller agreed to send a book but was contacted by the buyer prior to shipping. Buyer requested order cancellation |
Full refund = Book price + shipping charged
|
Item was Damaged |
Item was damaged in transit For advice on packaging click here |
If initiated by buyer: Full refund + return shipping = Book price + shipping charged + return shipping equal to original shipping If initiated by seller: Seller can choose whether to refund the return shipping costs. For instance if the buyer is to keep the book as well as a full refund
|
Incorrect Item Delivered |
The book sent to the buyer was not the item the buyer ordered |
If initiated by buyer: Full refund + return shipping = Book price + shipping charged + return shipping equal to original shipping If initiated by seller: Seller can choose whether to refund the return shipping costs. For instance if the buyer is to keep the book as well as a full refund
|
Item not as Described |
The book is shipped to the buyer and buyer claims it does not match the description on AbeBooks. If the seller does not agree that the item was "not as described" they are not required to refund Return shipping, but must accept the Return. |
If seller agrees: Full refund + return shipping = Book price + shipping charged + return shipping equal to original shipping If seller disagrees: Full refund = Book price + shipping charged
|
Partial refund* |
The buyer and bookseller have agreed to a partial refund amount. The buyer is refunded only the amount specified |
Specified by bookseller
|
Buyer does not want item** |
Buyer received item, but does not want the item |
Full refund = Book price + shipping charged Credit Card Payment |
Incomplete Sale*** |
Buyer failed to pay for item |
Refunds commissions charged to bookseller
|
Reimbursement amounts are for Ecommerce orders only.
For Bookseller Direct orders, the buyer must be refunded directly.
*Orders where payment is processed by our external payment service provider (Credit Card) only
**Orders placed on AbeBooks.com will be refunded only the book price
*** Orders where payment is processed by the bookseller only
Once a refund for 'Item did not arrive' has been initiated, the bookseller is notified and encouraged to contact the buyer to resolve the issue. Once a resolution has been reached, only the buyer can cancel the refund request. If no resolution is reached and the buyer does not cancel the refund request, the refund will automatically complete 7 days after being initiated. AbeBooks reserves the right to refund buyers immediately in cases where the bookseller fails to respond and delivery confirmation has not been provided, or does not confirm delivery. To prevent such refunds, booksellers are encouraged to purchase tracking that includes signature delivery confirmation, and to enter the details online.
Bookseller Ratings
The aim of AbeBooks Bookseller Ratings is to help increase customer satisfaction and in turn increase the number of repeat buyers, which generate more sales for you. A large majority of booksellers have an excellent completion rating, between 90-100% and therefore a Bookseller Rating of 4-5 stars.
Completion Rating - All booksellers are encouraged to work on keeping the highest Bookseller Rating possible. Completion rate is measured by the number of ordered items minus the number rejected and returned, divided by the total number of ordered items.
The minimum required standards for completion are:
We do require that booksellers maintain the required minimum completion rating, over a 6 month period. Booksellers who fall below this minimum requirement will be contacted by our Sales and Account Management Team.
Tips for improving your completion rating:
Return Rate - Booksellers are also required to keep returns below 5% of orders. Booksellers whose return rates go above 5% will be contacted and will be required to improve their service to buyers. Click here for a full overview of returns which affect your bookseller rating.
Tips for improving your return rate:
Click here to see more Top Tips on how to improve your Bookseller Rating.
For further information on the above policies, see the full policy online or visit our full help pages here.
This help article offers a general introduction to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy to reduce waste and encourage recycling. First introduced in the 1990s, it makes manufacturers and suppliers responsible for the life-cycle of certain products and packaging.
EPR legislation is introduced on a country-by-country basis. Each country has different registration requirements, processes, categories, and authorized governing bodies.
EPR packaging regulations affect AbeBooks and its sellers. We encourage you to become familiar with how EPR affects your business.
Learn about Germany's EPR Requirements.
Learn about France's EPR Requirements.
If you need assistance with EPR, there is a list of authorized third-party companies offering support services.
Producers are not just manufacturers. EPR requires producers to mitigate the environmental impact of their products and packaging. Typically, EPR defines a producer as anyone who first introduces a product to the market on a commercial basis. Anyone who ships products in packaging to customers located in a particular region is considered a producer under EPR.
EPR differs from country-to-country. Typically, the following responsibilities will apply to you:
EPR applies to different products, commonly referred to as categories. They include packaging, electrical and electronic equipment, and batteries.
Packaging regulations affect AbeBooks and its sellers.
EPR applies to all types of packaging including product packaging (called primary packaging), and shipping materials (called secondary packaging) such as padded envelopes, bubble-wrap and boxes.
PROs are service providers that collect eco-fees to organize waste management and recycling on behalf of producers. In most countries, signing a contract with a PRO is obligatory. After signing the contract with the relevant PRO, you may need to report and pay eco-fees on a regular basis. Depending on the country, PROs are sometimes called compliance schemes, compliance systems, dual systems or eco-organizations.
EPR registration numbers show that you are registered in a particular country. Germany’s registration numbers for packaging are referred to as LUCID Registration Numbers, while France has Unique Identification Numbers (UIN). The format of registration numbers varies by country.
EPR eco-fees are paid to PROs based on the amount of packaging and/or products shipped by producers to customers in an EPR region. PROs use these eco-fees to organize waste collection and recycling. EPR eco-fees are sometimes called eco-contributions or system participation fees.
Depending on the country, you may be required to submit EPR reports to government authorities and/or PROs on a regular basis. These reports are used to calculate your eco-fees.
EPR varies from country-to-country. Typically, you will need to take the following steps:
This is a one-time process to obtain a registration number for the packaging category. You need to provide it to AbeBooks as proof of compliance.
1. Sign in to your AbeBooks account.
2. Go to the Compliance Items section of your Members Menu and click Extended producer responsibility.
3. If you want to add your LUCID registration number, click Add in the Germany row. Enter your LUCID registration number into the Packaging field and click Add.
4. If you want to add your UIN number, click Add in the France row. Enter your UIN number into the Packaging field and click Add.
EPR typically requires you to join a PRO. You are obliged to declare the amount of packaging and/or products shipped to customers. These declarations may need to be reported to just PROs, or to PROs and government authorities.
You will be required to pay eco-fees to your PRO. Eco-fees are determined by the PRO and are usually based on the amount of packaging and/or products shipped to customers.
No. Each country has different registration requirements, processes and authorized EPR bodies.
Declarations and payments may be completed on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis – depending on the PRO.
Primary packaging refers to packaging on or around the product. Secondary packaging refers to shipping materials such as envelopes, plastic bags, boxes, bubble-wrap, and other protective materials used to ship the product. EPR also classifies shipping labels as secondary packaging.
A one-time registration fee may range from €0 to €250 or more. EPR eco-fees are calculated on sales and/or packaging. Each PRO maintains its own prices, which may vary from year to year.
No.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations are designed to reduce waste and encourage recycling. Starting July 1, 2022, Germany’s revised EPR Packaging Law will affect both AbeBooks and its sellers.
We encourage you to become familiar with these EPR regulations.
Producers are not just manufacturers. Germany requires producers to mitigate the environmental impact of their products and packaging. A producer is anyone who first introduces a product to the market on a commercial basis. Anyone who ships products in packaging to customers located in Germany is considered a producer.
These regulations require all producers to register with the LUCID Packaging Register and enter into an agreement with a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO). In Germany, PROs are also referred to as Dual Systems.
The LUCID Packaging Register is run by the Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister (ZSVR) which implements German packaging laws.
If you need assistance with EPR, there is a list of authorized third-party companies offering support services.
You can also refer to the following resources:
To comply with the regulations, AbeBooks is required to collect German EPR registration numbers (also known as LUCID Registration Numbers) from sellers.
You will need to provide your LUCID Registration Number before June 27, 2022. In order to comply with the EPR legal requirement that comes into effect on July 01, 2022, we will prevent customers in Germany from purchasing your items starting June 28, 2022.
Please note that this will not impact your sales into other countries.
If you register with LUCID and provide AbeBooks with your LUCID registration number at a later date, you will be able to sell to customers in Germany again.
You can obtain a LUCID Registration Number from LUCID (the website is available in German and English). LUCID registration is free.
The LUCID registration number starts with “DE” followed by 13 digits.
Example: DE1234567891011.
In addition, you need to determine whether your packaging is subject to system participation. If it is, you must select a PRO to whom you pay eco-fees for the collection and recycling of your packaging after use. You will need to make regular declarations to LUCID and the PRO you registered with about the packaging and/or products you ship to customers in Germany.
For an overview of Germany’s EPR responsibilities, refer to this summary for online retailers. For more information about registration and system participation, refer to this checklist.
German EPR requires the following steps:
After registration, you will need to provide your LUCID Registration Number to AbeBooks.
You will then need to enter into an agreement with a PRO and provide them with your LUCID Registration Number. Refer to this list of PRO partners.
You will need to submit reports and pay eco-fees to your PRO on a regular basis. You will also need to submit the same reports to LUCID via the LUCID website. For more information, refer to this summary of reporting requirements.
Shipping packaging is subject to system participation. Refer to this guide for detailed information.
Typically, a fraction of a Eurocent per package. Contact PROs for price lists.
AbeBooks will validate your number with ZSVR. We will notify you if there is a problem. Please make sure that the information submitted to LUCID, including your VAT ID/Tax ID, business name and address matches the information on file with AbeBooks.
If you need assistance with EPR, there is a list of authorized third-party companies offering support services.
If you are based in Germany, you can appoint an authorized representative to fulfill some obligations on your behalf. However, authorized representatives cannot complete your initial LUCID registration and cannot submit data reports on your behalf.
Only international companies without a branch in Germany can appoint an “authorized representative” to fulfil packaging law regulations for them.
With the exception of registering in the LUCID Packaging Register, the authorized representative assumes responsibility for all of your obligations under the German packaging law and fulfills them in their own name.
The one-time registration requirement in LUCID is a personal obligation that rests with you, the original party under obligation. For more information, visit ZSVR.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations are designed to reduce waste and encourage recycling. Starting January 1, 2022. France’s revised EPR laws for packaging affect both AbeBooks and its sellers.
We encourage you to become familiar with these EPR regulations.
The Ministry for Ecological Transition (MoET) provides a general overview of EPR requirements in French.
Producers are not just manufacturers. France requires producers to mitigate the environmental impact of their products and packaging. A producer is anyone who first introduces a product to the market on a commercial basis. Anyone who ships products in packaging to customers located in France is considered a producer.
These regulations require producers to register with a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO).
If you need assistance with EPR, there is a list of authorized third-party companies offering support services.
To comply with the regulations, AbeBooks is required to collect French EPR registration numbers (also known as Unique Identification Numbers, or UINs from sellers. The number starts with “FR” and follows this format: FR123456_78ZZZZ.
If you don't provide us with a UIN, AbeBooks will pay the corresponding eco-fees to the qualified PRO on your behalf for sales made from January 2022. Please provide your UIN to avoid the possibility of EPR charges on your sales from January 2023.
In France, PROs provide EPR registration numbers. Please note that this is different from Germany where a central register issues registration numbers.
French EPR compliance requires the following steps:
The PROs below handle packaging. Register with one of them and obtain a UIN.
Citeo: General information | Registration
Léko: General information | Registration
Please make sure that the information submitted to your PRO, including your VAT ID/Tax ID, business name and address matches the information on file with AbeBooks.
The registration process may include the payment of retroactive eco-fees for previous years. The period for retroactive payments varies but may extend to the previous three years.
In order to comply with regulations, you must provide the UIN to AbeBooks.
You will need to submit reports and pay eco-fees to your PRO on a regular basis.
According to the legislation, you are considered a producer if you ship items to customers in France.
The following websites offer general information in French about EPR:
Registration with most PROs is free. However, you need to pay eco-fees on a regular basis. Contact PROs with questions about registration, reporting and payment of eco-fees.
Some PROs may charge eco-fees for products shipped into France in previous years. The period for retroactive payments varies but may extend to the previous three years.
SYDEREP is the online portal for submitting French EPR reports. The portal is run by ADEME, France’s France’s Agence de la transition écologique. For more information on recycling packaging, visit SYDEREP V2.
If you are a producer, you can appoint an authorized representative to fulfill some obligations on your behalf.
The following authorized companies offer EPR support and services. They can assist with registration, reporting, and answer questions on EPR compliance.
Service Provider | Locations | Languages Supported |
1CC Consulting | Germany | Arabic, Chinese, English, French German, Italian, Spanish |
AGC | China | Chinese, English |
Amber | China, United Kingdom | Arabic, Chinese, English, French German, Italian, Spanish |
AVASK | Australia, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Poland, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America | Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish |
BellaCocool | Germany, China | Chinese, English, German, French |
C-Star | China | Chinese, English, German, Japanese |
Greenifi (Taxually) | United Kingdom | Arabic, Chinese, English, French German, Hindi, Italian, Spanish |
LANDBELL | Germany, France, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Turkey, India | Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Hindi, Turkish, Japanese |
Product Ident | Germany | Chinese, English, German, French |
Prolinx | China | Chinese, English, German |
RENE AG | Germany | English, German |
Safari Star | China | Chinese, English |
Sea & Mew | China | Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish |
Sino German | China | Chinese, English |
Take-e-way | Germany | Arabic, Chinese, English, French German, Italian, Spanish |
TB Accountants | China, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States of America | Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish |
Vishtec | China | Chinese, English, German |
Zentek | Germany | English, German |