# How to find a good deal on a used book

The cheapest copy is only a bargain if it is the edition and condition you want.

## Decide whether you want a reading copy or a particular edition
For a reading copy, title, author, binding and total delivered price may be enough. For a collector’s copy, add the publication year, publisher, printing and any jacket or signature requirements. An ISBN can help locate an edition, but it does not prove the condition of the individual book.

## Save concise fields on AbeBooks
Use AbeBooks Wants for a book that is not currently available. AbeBooks advises keeping the search concise rather than putting conversational instructions into the fields. Save a separate Poacher brief for requirements such as “original dust jacket, no library markings, and no missing pages.” See the full AbeBooks saved-search guide for the distinction.

## Compare the delivered price
Include shipping to your country and check the currency. A low item price with expensive delivery may cost more than a closer seller. For a multi-volume work, confirm whether the listing is for the complete set or one volume before comparing it to another offer.

## Look for evidence about the actual copy
Read the seller’s description and inspect available photographs. A stock image of an attractive jacket is not proof that this copy includes it. A condition label alone may not answer whether there are annotations, a clipped jacket, ex-library markings or damage to a particular page. If the listing omits a deal-breaking detail, ask the seller rather than treating the omission as confirmation.

## Choose a ceiling before the alert arrives
Set a maximum delivered budget where the source exposes the necessary information. Keep acceptable compromises explicit: a marked reading copy might be fine, while a collector may reject the same book. Poacher reviews the listing against those requirements so you can spend less time opening copies that were never suitable.

## Use different searches for different compromises
A search for an inexpensive paperback and one for a first edition should not share the same rules. Create a concise alert for each goal, then adjust the check frequency to match how urgently you need it. If a lead looks promising, confirm the copy’s details and availability on the seller’s site before purchasing.