# ThriftBooks Scraper - Used Books & Prices (`lulzasaur/thriftbooks-scraper`) Actor Scrape ThriftBooks used book listings. Search by keyword and extract titles, authors, prices, ISBNs, conditions, ratings, and availability. Detail mode adds full descriptions, publisher info, and all edition prices. - **URL**: https://apify.com/lulzasaur/thriftbooks-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [lulz bot](https://apify.com/lulzasaur) (community) - **Categories:** E-commerce - **Stats:** 3 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $5.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## ThriftBooks Scraper Apify Actor for scraping ThriftBooks used book marketplace listings. Uses CheerioCrawler for fast, efficient HTML parsing without a browser. ### Features - Search ThriftBooks by keyword (title, author, subject, ISBN) - Two modes: quick search results or full detail scraping - Extracts titles, authors, prices, conditions, and formats from search results - Detail mode adds: ISBNs, publisher, release date, page count, all edition prices by condition, reviews, and ratings - Parses JSON-LD structured data (Book offers, Reviews) with HTML fallback - Automatic pagination (50 results per page) ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |-------|------|---------|-------------| | `searchQueries` | string[] | `["fiction"]` | Search terms to scrape | | `maxListings` | integer | `100` | Max listings per query (0=unlimited) | | `scrapeDetails` | boolean | `false` | Visit each book page for full details | | `proxyConfiguration` | object | `{}` | Proxy settings (recommended for large runs) | #### Example Input ```json { "searchQueries": ["python programming", "harry potter"], "maxListings": 50, "scrapeDetails": true } ```` ### Output #### Search-only mode (`scrapeDetails: false`) ```json { "title": "Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner", "url": "https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/python-programming.../300868/", "author": "Michael Dawson", "price": 8.19, "condition": "Very Good", "format": "Paperback", "imageUrl": "https://i.thriftbooks.com/api/imagehandler/m/...", "position": 0, "searchQuery": "python programming", "scrapedAt": "2026-03-17T12:00:00.000Z" } ``` #### Detail mode (`scrapeDetails: true`) ```json { "title": "Python Programming for the Absolute Beginner, Third Edition", "url": "https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/python-programming.../300868/", "author": "Michael Dawson", "price": 8.19, "condition": "Very Good", "format": "Paperback", "language": "English", "isbn": "1435455002", "isbn13": "9781435455009", "releaseDate": "January 2010", "publisher": "Cengage Learning", "pages": 464, "rating": 4.43, "reviewCount": 6, "description": "If you are new to programming with Python...", "lowestPrice": 6.89, "conditionPrices": [ { "condition": "Like New", "price": 11.09 }, { "condition": "Very Good", "price": 8.19 }, { "condition": "Good", "price": 7.19 }, { "condition": "Acceptable", "price": 6.89 } ], "offers": [ { "isbn13": "9781435455009", "price": 8.19, "currency": "USD", "condition": "Used", "sku": "8099977", "availability": "InStock" } ], "reviews": [ { "author": "Huntdawg", "rating": 5, "title": "Excellent book for a beginner.", "body": "Above", "date": "9/6/2023 7:21:13 PM" } ], "imageUrl": "https://i.thriftbooks.com/api/imagehandler/m/...", "searchQuery": "python programming", "scrapedAt": "2026-03-17T12:00:00.000Z" } ``` ### How It Works 1. Builds search URLs for each query using ThriftBooks browse endpoint 2. Parses search results from `AllEditionsItem-tile` HTML elements (50 per page) 3. Extracts title, author, price, condition, format, and thumbnail from each tile 4. Automatically paginates via `b.p` parameter when more results are available 5. Optionally visits each book's detail page for rich data extraction 6. Detail pages are parsed via JSON-LD `Book` and `Review` schemas plus HTML metadata ### Quick Start ```bash apify run --purge ``` ### Deploy to Apify ```bash apify login apify push ``` ### Related Scrapers More marketplace scrapers and data tools by [lulzasaur](https://apify.com/lulzasaur): - [AbeBooks Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/abebooks-scraper) — Rare and used books - [Bonanza Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/bonanza-scraper) — Online marketplace listings - [Contractor License Verifier](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/contractor-license-scraper) — Multi-state license verification - [Craigslist Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/craigslist-scraper) — Classifieds and for-sale posts - [Goodreads Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/goodreads-scraper) — Book ratings and reviews - [Grailed Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/grailed-scraper) — Luxury fashion resale - [Houzz Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/houzz-scraper) — Home improvement professionals - [IMDb Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/imdb-scraper) — Movie and TV show data - [Nurse License Verifier](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/nurse-license-scraper) — State nursing board verification - [OfferUp Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/offerup-scraper) — Local marketplace listings - [Poshmark Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/poshmark-scraper) — Fashion resale marketplace - [PSA Population Report](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/psa-pop-scraper) — Card grading data - [Redfin Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/redfin-scraper) — Real estate listings and prices - [Reverb Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/reverb-scraper) — Music gear marketplace - [StubHub Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/stubhub-scraper) — Event ticket prices - [Swappa Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/swappa-scraper) — Used electronics marketplace - [TCGPlayer Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/tcgplayer-scraper) — Trading card prices - [Thumbtack Scraper](https://apify.com/lulzasaur/thumbtack-scraper) — Local service professionals # Actor input Schema ## `searchQueries` (type: `array`): List of search terms to scrape (e.g., 'fiction', 'python programming', 'harry potter'). Each query will produce a separate set of results. ## `maxListings` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of book listings to scrape per search query. Set to 0 for unlimited. ThriftBooks returns 50 results per page with automatic pagination. ## `scrapeDetails` (type: `boolean`): If enabled, visits each book's detail page to get full description, ISBN, publisher, release date, all edition prices by condition, reviews, and ratings. Slower but much richer data. If disabled, only scrapes search result data (title, author, price, condition, format). ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Proxy settings. Recommended for large-scale runs to avoid rate limiting. ## Actor input object example ```json { "searchQueries": [ "fiction" ], "maxListings": 100, "scrapeDetails": false, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "searchQueries": [ "fiction" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("lulzasaur/thriftbooks-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "searchQueries": ["fiction"] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("lulzasaur/thriftbooks-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "searchQueries": [ "fiction" ] }' | apify call lulzasaur/thriftbooks-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=lulzasaur/thriftbooks-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "ThriftBooks Scraper - Used Books & Prices", "description": "Scrape ThriftBooks used book listings. Search by keyword and extract titles, authors, prices, ISBNs, conditions, ratings, and availability. Detail mode adds full descriptions, publisher info, and all edition prices.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "AYxayCm9OA8I3fXPV" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/lulzasaur~thriftbooks-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-lulzasaur-thriftbooks-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/lulzasaur~thriftbooks-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-lulzasaur-thriftbooks-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/lulzasaur~thriftbooks-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-lulzasaur-thriftbooks-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "searchQueries" ], "properties": { "searchQueries": { "title": "Search Queries", "type": "array", "description": "List of search terms to scrape (e.g., 'fiction', 'python programming', 'harry potter'). Each query will produce a separate set of results.", "default": [ "fiction" ], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxListings": { "title": "Max Listings per Query", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of book listings to scrape per search query. Set to 0 for unlimited. ThriftBooks returns 50 results per page with automatic pagination.", "default": 100 }, "scrapeDetails": { "title": "Scrape Full Details", "type": "boolean", "description": "If enabled, visits each book's detail page to get full description, ISBN, publisher, release date, all edition prices by condition, reviews, and ratings. Slower but much richer data. If disabled, only scrapes search result data (title, author, price, condition, format).", "default": false }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy Configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Proxy settings. Recommended for large-scale runs to avoid rate limiting.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": false } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```