Book Depository (Bookdp World)

Book Depository: online bookstore with free international shipping

Book Depository presents itself as an online bookstore with international reach that sells over 20 million titles and offers free shipping to more than 170 countries. The site, accessible at bookdp.co.uk, operates under the name Bookdp World and has warehouses in the UK and the US, from which it dispatches orders.

Catalogue and categories

The catalogue covers a wide variety of genres and formats. Main categories include children's books, graphic novels and manga, literature and fiction, business and finance, art and photography, biography, computing and internet, crafts and hobbies, food and drink, health and lifestyle, religion and spirituality, romance, suspense and thriller, travel and holidays, as well as antiquarian, rare and collectable books. It also includes calendars, diaries and annuals.

The store organises specific sections for new releases, bestsellers, deals and promotions, with a today's deals section. In addition, editors have created themed selections such as adult colouring books, Harry Potter, Roald Dahl, books on screen, Man Booker Prize winners, LEGO and Minecraft, among others.

Shipping and purchase conditions

The site advertises free shipping for orders over £10 and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Free delivery is available in the UK, and free international shipping extends to more than 170 countries. Catalogue prices are shown in pounds sterling and many products appear discounted from the original price.

Examples from the catalogue

Among the titles featured at the time of analysis are Travelling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell, the biography by music critic Ann Powers, with a reduced price from £23.44 to £17.61; Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won The War, from £17.00 to £13.12; The Midpoint Plan, from £20.61 to £16.01; and In a Place of Darkness, from £13.52 to £9.90. Cookbooks such as Verdura: 10 Vegetables, 100 Italian Recipes, from £22.00 to £17.78, and novels such as Think Twice, from £15.36 to £10.78, also appear.

The bestsellers section lists titles such as Have I Got News For You: The Quiz of 2022, Official Strictly Come Dancing Annual 2024, Colder: The Illustrated Story of Britain's Greatest Polar Explorer, Courses for Horses: A Journey Round Racing in Britain and Ireland, The Trainspotter's Notebook, Lonely Planet Beautiful World Japan, Atlas of Dark Destinations, Hong Kong Then and Now, Best of the World: 1,000 Destinations of a Lifetime and The World Atlas of Street Art.

The young adult and YA literature section includes titles such as The Persephone Code, The Hacienda, Tides of Sorrow, Broken Mate, Best Horror of the Year, Volume Fifteen, Carnal Secrets, Deal with the Demon, Delicate Condition, Stray Witch: The Complete Collection and Madness Behind the Mask: Hard Edition.

Presence and operation

Book Depository operates under the brands Bookdp World, Bookdp Australia and Bookdp United Kingdom, reflecting its focus on different markets. The site offers user account features, order tracking, shopping cart and wish lists. The company describes itself as the world's most international online bookstore, a claim that corresponds to its own presentation and not to an independent assessment.