Borders UK Partners With Alibris to Sell Used, Rare Books

The Bookseller reports that Borders UK has launched a used books section on its website. It will also offer rare and out of print books for sale. The company said that it wants to bring the greatest range of books possible to customers who are cash-strapped because of the recession. Borders has partnered with Alibris to offer 9 million titles.

Academic bookseller Blackwell signed a similar deal with Alibris in February last year. Borders will also be competing with Amazon and Play.com, which both offer secondhand books. Borders UK head of e-commerce Julie Howkins said that the retailer had decided to set up the new offer on its website to "make sure we're offering our customers the greatest range of books possible". Howkins added that "cash-strapped parents and students have now got another alternative" for back to school titles.

Individual product pages now offer second hand books where available along side other variations, such as hardback or e-book. Howkins said that this would insure that customers had the "widest selection possible". The section launched at the beginning of August, however Howkins said she expects sales to increase with the back to school season.

It's an interesting move by Borders in the UK and one that will probably be popular.