Great Books for Pennies (bananas.co.uk)

Member Name: fergusa

Product:	bananas.co.uk
Date:	23/06/09 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Incredible prices

Disadvantages: Buy it now - it may be gone soon.

I know there have been a few reviews about this website recently following Azana's introduction to dooyoo, but having just received my first order I thought I really should add to the number - just because the people who run this website deserve all the praise and publicity they can get.

I regularly buy books for my son and for friend's children, I loved reading as a child and think it's an excellent way to spend some quality time with your children.

bananas.co.uk is the online "clearance" shop for the Book People (you may have seen them in your work's cafeteria selling reasonably priced books, often in packs of several books in a title).

The website is a bit cheesy, but it's functional and easy to navigate. The navigation bar splits the books into children's, fiction and non-fiction. There are also areas on the home page to highlight "recently added" books, "fast movers" and "Best Savings". They also have an area of price reductions (they'll be giving them away soon).

The prices are incredible, my order was £25.50 and I received 20 books, many of which were hardback. Included in my order were 4 large Peter Rabbit hardback storybooks for £4, 2 Maisy mouse squeak books for £3.00, 4 Mog the cat books for £5 and a Babette Cole (who wrote Dr Dog) book for £1.50.

I added up the RRP's on the books and it came to £120. That's a saving of 80% or £95!

Delivery is free over £25, otherwise standard delivery of 7-10 days is £3.50. I received my order in 5 working days so much quicker than the website promised. You will need to sign for the delivery, mine was sent via DHL.

I had one small problem which was that I received an incorrect title (a football manual instead of a baby book), but that was easily resolved.

The despatch note which comes with the order is well laid out and easy to understand. I was quickly able to identify my incorrect title with this note and the customer phone line number was also printed on the despatch note with the returns policy.

Returns are easy - so long as you follow the correct procedure - you must contact the customer services to get an authorisation number to return. If, as in my case, the item is damaged or incorrect, they will organise a replacement and collection/free return of the item. You have 28 days to return unwanted/incorrect items, although they request you notify them within 7 days.

The range of books on the site changes regularly as it is selling the last bits of stock from the book people arm of the business. The website seems to be automatically updated as I saw books disappearing as I was shopping. This is a good feature of the site, I often buy online for sale items from M&S and it's so frustrating when you put something in your basket and checkout only to be sent an email the next day telling you it was out of stock.

It does mean though if you see something you want - buy it now - it may not be there next week.

Summary: A great website for saving money on books.