ThriftBooks
 | |
| Company type | Private[1] |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founders | Daryl Butcher, Jason Meyer |
| Headquarters | Tukwila, Washington[1] |
Key people | Mike Ward, President[1] Kenneth F. Goldstein, CEO |
| Products | New and used media: books, DVDs, etc. |
| Owner | MMF Capital Management LLC, KCB Management LLC[1] |
Number of employees | 900 (2020[2]) |
| Website | www |
ThriftBooks is a large web-based used bookseller headquartered near Seattle, Washington.[3] ThriftBooks sells used books, DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, video games, and audio cassettes. ThriftBooks' business model "is based on achieving economies of scale through automation."[4]
History and platform structure
Selling over 165 million books since its inception in 2003, ThriftBooks is considered one of the largest sellers of used books in the United States and has seven warehouses across the United States.[5] ThriftBooks was founded in the summer of 2003 by Daryl Butcher and Jason Meyer. The two created software that organizes and lists thousands of book titles per day.[6] Since 2004, it has partnered with libraries, which provide unsorted books and get a share of the profits. The first library systems to join were King County, Pierce County, and North Central.[6]
Thriftbooks is popular among book collectors—particularly with those shoppers choosing to avoid Amazon—for being one of few North American online bookselling platforms that is independent rather than a subsidiary of etail giant Amazon.[7][8] However, Thriftbooks does sell books via Amazon subsidiary AbeBooks, Amazon, as well other book resellers such as eBay. The platform is also popular for its free shipping with a $15 minimum order (formerly $10 but raised to $15 as of January 2022). However, free shipping does not apply to international orders as of 2021. Books do not ship from any ThriftBooks warehouse during U.S. Federal Holidays. Books listed as "New" cannot be delivered to countries outside the United States, although used books, VHS tapes, DVD videos, coloring books, and books categorized as "Collectible" can be.[9] For each book purchased, customers build up points in their accounts which can be put towards a free book through the company's Reading Rewards program.[10]
ThriftBooks opened a 190,000-square-foot (18,000 m2) processing center in Phoenix in 2021.[11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Thrift Books LLC company profile". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ "About Thriftbooks".
- ^ Skager, Shawn (April 10, 2009). "Auburn-based Thrift Book leading the pack online". Auburn Reporter. Sound Publishing. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- ^ Sussman, Mick (September 12, 2008). "Attack of the Megalisters". The New York Times.
- ^ Nosowitz, Dan (October 26, 2015). "A Penny for Your Books". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ a b Li, Caroline (July 2, 2006) [Originally written June 28, 2006 and published June 30, 2006]. "Thrift Books owners have bigger online plans". Puget Sound Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on July 15, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ Krasnoff, Barbara (July 16, 2019). "Where to shop online that isn't Amazon". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ Brittain, Rachel (December 2, 2020). "6 Places To Buy Books Online That Aren't Amazon". Book Riot. Riot New Media Group. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ "Shipping". www.thriftbooks.com. ThriftBooks. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
- ^ ThriftBooks. "ReadingRewards | New & Used Books from ThriftBooks". ThriftBooks. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ^ "ThriftBooks Selects Phoenix for Expansion". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-07-12.