Creating a Want

AbeBooks gives you the opportunity to add a "Want" when you cannot find books you are searching for.  You can add your Wants to the AbeBooks system if you do a search, but the results do not meet your requirements.  Book buyers can have up to 500 wants.

To add a want from the Search screen:

  1. Complete a search for the book you are looking for.
  2. Click [Add a want] in the column on the right side of the page.
  3. Type the details of your Want in the appropriate fields and click [Add].
 

To add a want from the Members Menu:

  1. Click [sign on] and enter your E-mail Address and Password.
  2. Click [Your Wants] in the Members Menu.
  3. Click [List and maintain your wants] in the Your Wants menu.
  4. Click [Add new wants to your want inventory].
  5. Enter your search criteria and click [Add].
 

Once you have added a want, it will be matched against all of the books subsequently added to our database. If a match is found, you will be notified by e-mail. The note will contain the book details, as well as the seller's name, terms of sale and address so you can contact him/her. If you purchase a book from your want matches, your want will continue to be matched until you delete it.

Want Criteria

The information you enter in the various fields is matched against our booksellers' inventory. To create a want, you must have a want ID and one or more of the following criterion: