If you’ve ever tried to buy multiple copies of a book on Amazon, you’ll know that it can be quite a challenge. 

As a consumer-focused retailer, Amazon and its third-party marketplace sellers are not setup to sell multiple copies of books.

The first thing you see when you arrive at Amazon’s product page searching for any hardcover or paperback book is the Buy New quantity drop-down menu - on some pages, this menu will allow 10 copies to be purchased, on other pages it expands to 20 or even 30 copies. Depending on the title you’re looking for, you won’t know how many copies are available for you to purchase until you get to the page. For instance, if you need to buy 30 copies of 3-4 titles, chances are very slim that Amazon will allow you to purchase the same quantity of all the titles that you need. if you're lucky enough to be able to select the quantity you need, there is no guarantee that your whole order will ship and deliver together. Many of Amazon’s shipments are broken up into several orders, shipped at different time, all based on the availability from different sellers and inventory in different warehouses across the country. Wouldn't you rather be confident that your full bulk book order will be delivered on time?

Another common sight on many Amazon product pages for books is a warning that reads “Only xx left in stock – order soon”. With a growing number of book titles now being provided by third-party marketplace sellers, it’s becoming more common to see limited stock levels available. In contrast, bulk book sellers like Bulk Bookstore offer many advantages including confirmation that stock is available, so you’re confident that you will receive the full quantity of books you need.

Assuming that the Amazon quantity menu allows you to purchase the multiple quantity you need, the next things to consider is the price you’ll pay. Amazon clearly explains on its About Bulk Orders page, “We don't offer additional discounts on large orders of a single item or on large orders of many individual items. The discounts listed on our website apply to all customers--individual, educational, institutional, and business alike.” So whether you buy one copy of 30 copies, you’ll receive no additional discount.

In May of 2017, Amazon opened the door for third-party sellers to assume control of their “buy box” for physical books on their site; you might be buying your books from Amazon, or you might be buying your books from a third-party seller. Unlike Bulk Bookstore, most often these third-party sellers are not established professional businesses that are easy to reach on live chat, email or phone. Instead they are individuals selling and shipping books from their homes and all communication with them needs to go through Amazon's less-than-friendly, online communication systems.

In June of 2019, The New York Times uncovered that third-party sellers were filling their Amazon orders with counterfeit, photocopied books that included smeared text and typographical errors. Some titles, which were listed as including online assessment codes, arrived without these codes amongst other issues. The article states, “For 18 months Amazon sold a counterfeit of Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” despite warnings in reader reviews that it is a “monstrosity,” dispensing with such standard features as proofreading and paragraph indenting.” In the article, test buys revealed that “of the 34 books (purchased), at least 30 were counterfeit.”

Another consideration: will the multiple books you’ve ordered on Amazon arrive on the same day, in a single shipment, without delays? Many buyers of books in bulk quantities require delivery by a specific date like for a special event, or classroom reading assignment. When buying multiple books on Amazon, it’s common for Amazon to stagger shipments from various warehouses on different days. It’s also common for stock to run out before your order ships fully. You’ll most likely receive an email explaining the delay, the date you needed the books may have already passed.

Most educational institutions, non-profits, and government agencies prefer to order through procurement systems that issue purchase orders to their vendors and credit terms for delayed payment. On Amazon all orders must be prepaid with a credit card or other form of immediate payment. Bulk book specialists, like Bulk Bookstore, understand and respect the requirements of these organizations, and are happy to accept purchase orders and provide credit terms.

In summary, buying books in bulk is very different from buying one copy or even 5 copies. Even Amazon knows this! That’s why Amazon often turns to Bulk Bookstore when they need books in bulk for their own special orders and company events. Be confident that when you order 25, 250 or 2,500 copies of a book title, you’ll receive our stellar customer service, just like Amazon does.

After considering all the limitations and the potential drawbacks it may not be a very good decision to buy multiple books on Amazon. Luckily, there are companies that specialize in selling books in bulk, like Bulk Bookstore. Bulk Bookstore sells only brand-new books, confirms availability of the quantity you require before processing your order, and delivers bulk quantities of books when and where you need them. That’s why Bulk Bookstore is the go-to provider for over 40,000 schools and school districts, non-profit organizations, early childhood centers, colleges and universities and businesses looking for books in bulk. Don't just take our word for it, read what our customers say...

Read what real customers are saying about their Bulk Bookstore experience on independent review sites. Don’t just take our word for it, hear from verified reviewers on Shopper Approved, Better Business Bureau, Google, Site Jabber and learn why they prefer to buy bulk books from Bulk Bookstore versus Amazon.