I’ve been hearing a lot about Book Depository from friends (especially from Goodreads friends) for a few years now but I’ve never tried ordering from them. I loved books! I’ve reviewed a lot of ’em here and I loved reading ‘printed’ books with their smell, their feel in my hands – either old, second hand or brand new. There are not a lot of book stores in the Philippines so there are some titles that you really need to order / buy overseas.
Book Depository (previously The Book Depository) is a UK-based online book seller with a large catalogue offered with free shipping to over 160 countries. The store was founded by a former Amazon employee. In 2011 it was acquired by Amazon. (s)
The shipping fee is my biggest concern whenever I order online. It is because the post office here does not have standard guidelines when claiming packages (Actually they do but they don’t seem to follow it). There are horror stories that I’ve read about the post office peeps asking people to pay more or has the same price of the time that they are about to claim. What kind of BS is that, yeah?
And from my most recent experience (April 2018) when I won a book from an author in the US and had to pay PHP250 for me to claim a USD14.00 book. I asked what is it for and the guy from the post office told me that it was for custom duty. Ooookay… Nakakaloka talaga!
Anyway, Book Depository promises to deliver the books in your doorstep free so last Monday after some more procrastination, I finally decided to try ordering from the site. I ordered a couple of books just to try their service first.
First you have to create a Book Depository account through their website (obviously haha!) https://www.bookdepository.com and search the book you wanted to buy or you could simply browse their catalogue.
I ordered the movie tie-in edition of Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman and the first book of the THIRDS series Hell & High Water by Charlie Cochet last January 21, 2019 and you can see on the image below that they were dispatched at different dates. I actually emailed their support team about this and they said it is to avoid delay as they would need to get some books from separate warehouses or suppliers.
For now, it’s a waiting game for me and I wanted to see how true is their door to door delivery or if I will fall again to the hands of our ‘very dear’ local post office staff.
Update: February 6, 2019
After coming from our long holiday weekend, I found this on top my work desk. It looks like it was received by the local post office (Pasig) last Friday, January 1 and was delivered directly to my office address. Call Me By Your Name was the first book in my order that was initialy dispatched! It was well-packaged and totally brand new!
Upon checking the status of said order online, it was still under ‘Dispatched’ so I guess, there is no way for Book Depository to determine if the buyers have already received their books.
Now, I just have to wait for the other book I’ve ordered, Hell & High Water which was dispatched a day later after the first one.
Update: February 9, 2019
I’ve received my other order today and the stamp indicated that it was received by the Philippine Post Office in Pasay last February 5, 2019 (? – My address is in Ortigas Pasig).
The delivery time from when I clicked checked out on the website was about 18 calendar days – not bad at all! I am very impressed!
UPDATE: JANUARY 2020
I have this month-long e-mail exchange with Book Depository about my undelivered orders which they keep on trying to claim to replace but would go around in circles to avoid doing so. Bunch of thieves! Shame on you! Shame on you #Amazon, fucking thieves and liars!
And for the record, the books were ordered three months ago. They think, we shit money around here.
PADDYLAST INC. 
Hi! I was searching more about BD delivering to the Philippines and came across your blog. I’m happy you got your orders!
I got their notice my order was dispatched around January 08, but since I’m in the province, I guess it will take time before it reaches me. but it’s March already and I’m still waiting. Anyways, did your order status change on their website? Was it changed from “dispatched” to anything else? Or there were no changes?
I’m getting anxious about my order and I haven’t contacted BD yet, so I’m just confirming if they do update your order status once you received your order. Thanks!
Hi Regina!
I just checked my account on BD website and the status was still Dispatched. I guess, there’s really no way for them to confirm whether the orders have been received or not.
Have you already tried contacting your local post office? I’ve read somewhere that they tend to get ‘lost’ there.
I suggest you email BD right away regarding your order. They are very responsive tho, since I’ve tried to confirm something and they got back to me within 24 hours.
Best of luck!
Hi! I’ve been planning to buy some books at the BD though still hesitant did you pay through PayPal or direct checkout? Whichever, uhmmmm hope you don’t mind if I may ask for a thorough instructions and if they do accept debit cards. Or just the cards with visa and MasterCard logo on it. Cause I been searching and reading reviews about BD some says they do and others says they don’t and am in the situation where am having a migraine cause a lot of books I want aren’t available here at our country and BD offers free shipping. Hope you’ll respond
Hi Abbey!
I actually paid for the books using my credit card – so yeah, it was a direct check out. My officemate who ordered a couple of books after I told her about my experience actually ordered using her RCBC wallet card with a Visa Logo and the website accepted it – she’s now waiting to receive hers. With that, it’s safe to say that they do accept debit cards as long as it has Visa / MC logo in it. I’m not sure about Discover or AMEX but most likely they do too.
Thank you so much for responding!!!! Been really hesitant, so while waiting for your reply I did found out there’s bunch of book sellers who are willing to order your books from BD though they happen to charger for about 300 pesos a book!!! For me that’s pretty pricey considering that it was of free shipping worldwide.
This really helps a lot. Thank you so much. 😊
This review’s put a little faith in my buying from this online store, however, the only thing making me hesitate are the ridiculous charges coming from the post offices. Normally when packages come into the post office here they provide us with a small cardstock-like paper bearing the office’s stamp, the amount you need to pay to claim the item and until what date it will be available there before disposal. They normally charge a small fee for claiming something like that.
It’s happened to me before when my best friend shipped a stuffed toy to me so I wonder if it would happen again if I get books from TBD. You mentioned having an experience of being charged for a book you won online. How did you go about it? Did you pay the post office or did you make a complaint about it to them?
Thanks if you decide to respond 😀
Hi!
Yes. I’ve actually won this book called Ten Simple Tips for Surviving the Apocalypse from Cari Z – a US-based author. Our local post office also sent me this little white claim card instructing me about my parcel and I paid 250PHP for it. I didn’t bother to complain after paying he 250PHP because it’s stressful enough that I have to pick it up from them so I decided to just go with their “custom duty” explanation.
I’ve actually ordered a couple of times since my first one (Have to blog about it too – I’m just too lazy these days lol) and so far, it’s arrived at my doorstep / office and I don’t have to deal with the post office peeps. Hope this helps!
Arch,
The book I want is finally available and I’m going to give it a shot. Thank you for your response and your insight. I at least know what to expect XD
I loveee your title preferences. I am going to try this website so I can finally read “Maurice”, it has the same theme as your books. i am quite fond of gay romance (hehe) I might try to read those too when I get the chance.
One thing I want to know, When you bought your books, are the people from the local PO and delivery guy will get to see the title of the book? I have these books that I have always wanted to read due to my morbid curiosity. And when you read their titles.. they are not very pleasant to hear… I am scared it might be withold or something at the post office… if you are curious what books are those its’ (100 days of s….. and american psycho)
Thank you for taking your time in reading this, hope you can answer
Hiya!
Yay! I love reading MM romance and have met a lot of people, including the author themselves who writes beautiful LGBTQ+ / or in Goodreads speak – MM books. Yes – order it from them!
The package were always sealed (I’ve ordered a couple of more times now, right after this order) and they’ve arrived at my doorstep in perfect condition. No need to deal with the PO. 🙂
Arch,
Hi! Saw this blog. I heard stories that some books arent delivered at your doorstep which worries me. What happened to your undelivered books last January?
Hi! Unfortunately, I’ve never received the books I’ve ordered last year, that were promised to be sent out last January. It was just a waste of my energy to keep on arguing with them. It’s such a shame really, since I’ve had a really good past transactions with them.