All About 'Wants'

Our booksellers list millions of books; however, it is still possible for a particular book to be unavailable on our web site. If this is the case, you can create a Want and we’ll notify you by email as soon as the book is listed for sale.

What is a Want?

If you search for a book on AbeBooks and it isn't currently available, creating a Want is a way for us to keep searching for you. Once you've created your Want, our system will automatically notify you as soon as the book you're looking for is listed for sale.

Please note that there is a maximum of 500 Wants for your buyer account. Booksellers, who pay a monthly subscription fee, can add unlimited Wants.

Creating a Want:

1.  Complete a search for the book you're looking for.

2.  Click [Create a Want] in the column in the center of the page.

3.  Add any additional criteria you’d like included in your Want matches and click [Add Want].

Excluding Print on Demand (POD):

If you do not wish to receive matches for print on demand (POD) books, use the 'Not Print on Demand' refinement in the 'Attributes' section of the Want creation screen. You can also add this exclusion to existing Wants by updating them (instructions below).

Note: if you aren't signed on to your account when you search, you'll be prompted to sign on before creating the Want.

We'll send you an email as soon as we find a match. You can sign on at any time to edit your Wants or add new ones. 

Reviewing Your Want Matches:

1. Sign on to your AbeBooks account.

2. Click [My Recently Matched Wants] in the Member Menu.

Matches made within the last 14 days will be displayed. To view all matches, including those older than 14 days, click [Show all matches for this Want] to the right of the Want Number.

3. To delete a match you do not wish to purchase, click the  [Delete This Match] button at the bottom of the match listing.

4. To order a match, click [Add to Basket].

Note: If someone else has already purchased the book, it will appear as BOOK SOLD when added to your Shopping Basket. We will notify you by email as soon as a new match becomes available.

5. To refine your Want criteria, click [Update this Want].

Adding, Updating, or Deleting Your Wants:

1. Sign on to your AbeBooks account.

2. Click [List and Maintain My Wants] in the Member Menu.

3. Click the [Add new wants to your want inventory] to add a new Want.

4. If there is a Want you’d like to remove or edit, click the [Delete this Want] or [Update this Want] links in the same row as the Want you wish to change.

If you no longer wish to receive Want match emails, just sign on to your account and delete the Want(s).

A Guide to Creating Effective Wants