I am obsessed with books. I’ve purchased them at bookstores, online book shops, second hand shops and have had some shipped from Amazon. (In case you were wondering with this is noteworthy, I live in the Philippines and it’s not that easy to purchase from Amazon. Haha.)
When I mentioned on my Instagram that I was trying out Book Depository, fellow book lovers begged me to share the experience afterwards. So. here I am doing just that.
I just received my first ever package from Book Depository, and I don’t think this will be my last!
What is Book Depository?
If you’ve never heard of Book Depository, you might be wondering what all the hoopla is about. Well, Book Depository is an online book shop and they offer FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Yup, you heard that right! No hefty tax and shipping fees.
FAQ #1: Is it really free shipping?
Yes, but the catch is, almost all the books are generally a little more expensive here than on Amazon. However, it’s worth noting that “more expensive” can range from just a few cents to a couple of bucks. So it’s best to check each titles you want and compare.
To give you an idea, these are the prices for the titles I purchased, compared to their prices on Amazon:
- The Day of Ahmed’s Secret: $8.90 on Book Depository, $7.99 on Amazon
- The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks: $7.98 on Book Depository, $6.99 on Amazon
- The Story About Ping: $4.41 on Book Depository, $3.99 on Amazon
Total difference on my order is just $2.30, which I deemed perfectly reasonable considering they promise to deliver it straight at my doorstep in just 2 weeks!
FAQ #2: How does this compare to buying books at Amazon and having it shipped in the Philippines?
I’ve ordered books from Amazon US before and have had them shipped using a PO box service. Using a PO box service is great if you’re buying big ticket items and the books are just add-ons. Otherwise, it’s not worth it to open a box as shipping will be really expensive (a small box can cost around $40!)
Also, using a shipping service takes longer with Amazon + PO box service (usually 2 months minimum!) and you’ll get charged for tax depending on where the PO box is located. If you’re just getting books, Book Depository might be cheaper. Again, this depends on the titles you’re getting and how many books you’re ordering.
I’ve never tried shipping directly from Amazon to the Philippines. I’ve always used a PO box service.
FAQ #3: Are the books cheaper than those at local Philippine bookstores?
Again, this depends on your title. I recommend Book Depository when buying books that are hard to find here in The Philippines.
My Experience:
I decided to order 3 books just to try it out first. Here’s the timeline:
- September 5: Placed my order
- September 10: Was informed that books were dispatched from the UK
- September 26: Books arrived at my doorstep!
On their website, it says that if the books ship from the UK, it will arrive 7-10 business days in The Philippines. If it ships from Australia, it will take 10-14 business days. I got a little worried when it was already September 24, so I emailed their customer service. Then I got even more worried when they replied to say I should’ve gotten it already by now!
But lo and behold, it arrived 2 days after and all was well. Hehe. My books took a total of 16 days or to be specific, 12 business days to arrive, from the day it was dispatched.
The books arrived straight at my home. I didn’t have to pick it up at the local post office or anything. And I wasn’t charged tax or any service/delivery fee as well. It came in a thin, brown cardboard box and the books arrived in perfect condition! I’m very happy with how everything turned out.
Overall:
Overall, I had a great experience with Book Depository. To recap, here are my tips:
- Buy at Book Depository if you’re looking for hard-to-find titles
- Make sure you compare the price difference between Book Depository, Amazon (don’t forget to count in shipping fees) and your local bookshop first
- Yes, it’s really free shipping and yes, it really arrived at my doorstep!
- Remember that books shipped to the Philippines are by law, tax-free so you shouldn’t be charged anything once the package arrives
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