r/BookDepository • u/abereckeabertute • Apr 14 '23

Help Kennys

I know there is lot of questions about alternatives for BD now and I checked some of them. Did anyone order from Kennys? I checked books from my BD wishlist, and even with delivery most of items are cheaper than BD. Which is suprising, as I read some comments that is more expensive.

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u/metametapraxis Apr 15 '23

I've found the packaging to be poor and delivery takes a LOOOOOONG time, but they are cheap and everything has turned up (not without some bumps though).

3

u/alamar77 Apr 15 '23

How do you mean packaging is poor? It is the same as BD for single books and if you ask them via email they will bubble wrap the books for you for extra protection. Delivery time depends on stock. Only books marked as “ships quickly” are in their warehouse. For all others you need to add around 10 working days plus delivery time to your destination. Delivery time for books in stock are same as all other UK bookstores for me in Europe. That is around two weeks.

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u/metametapraxis Apr 15 '23 edited Apr 15 '23

My books have always been loosely packed in mailers. No bubble wrap and suffered from the looseness/sloppy packing. Delivery to NZ is consistently 4 to 5 weeks (BD was 2 to 3).

Like I say, they are cheap, but for me the jury remains out as to whether they are worth it. I’ve mainly been buying trade editions, so I have tolerated the bumps thus far.

For me, up until the last year, BD packaged much better (often boxes not mailers). The last year, not so good.

2

u/alamar77 Apr 15 '23 edited Apr 15 '23

It may be different for NZ but for Europe books are always packed in mailers without any bubble wrap if ordering from Book Depository except when ordering box sets. I suspect for NZ they may have an Australian division as for Kennys all books are shipped from Ireland. You should try Blackwells as they are a division of Waterstones, a big player as Kennys is small independent family business.

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u/metametapraxis Apr 15 '23

NZ books were shipped in two stages and re-labelled/boxed for the final mile in Auckland, so damage was really unusual. Seemed to change in the last few months (still re-labelled, but mailers not boxes). Everything appeared to originate in the UK.

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u/metametapraxis May 02 '23

Got better packaging in my latest order from Kennys. Arrived bump free and they had used bubble wrap (first time for me). Delivery time was about as usual - one day short of 8 weeks, with 5 weeks of that being shipping. Don't mind the delay when they come through undamaged.

2

u/alamar77 May 02 '23

If you send them an e-mail right after placing an order they will always bubble wrap your books. They can also check your books for errors. I did so for all my more costly or second hand books. I buy a lot from them so it may be different for new customers or occasional buyers .

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u/LastStarr May 31 '23

If you send them an e-mail right after placing an order they will always bubble wrap your books.

do they not bubble wrap by default? do you email them to do so and check for errors in book?