Cook the Books - The Cookbook Store

Scam website. Avoid at all cost. Looks like this was once a real business but the identity has now been hacked and is being used by scammers. Read all the other reviews of people being ripped off. I wish i did first. Book ordered in August 2025. It is now Late November and have not been able to collect the book. Both numbers go direct to voicemail and messages are never responded to. I have left about 10 voice messages and text messages to both numbers. None of my emails have been replied to in the last 2 months. Google business profile says it is open and in college hill. I visited the address and there is no book store there. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE ANYTHING. —— UPDATE They replied to this review with the same template they sent other victims within a few hours. But will not reply to any of the emails, voicemails or text messages I sent them. If they were true store the would reply to the calls and emails.

Do not buy anything from this shop. I ordered the book “our village kitchen” on August 25th. One copie of the book was available, and yet I still haven’t received it. After numerous Email and phone call Anna finally answered back on october 9th, asking if I would like a refund. I email back saying that I would like to be refunded for the book. We are now the 6th of November, she still hasn’t answer to my email, or pay me back. On top of that, my aunt went to the address indicated on their website, the shop doesn’t even exist. Avoid at all cost, you’ll only loose money, total scam. To answer back, as I can’t just answer directly to your comment, the number of copy on the website is 1 and not -1 I joined a screenshot taken just now. I would not have order the book in the first place if I knew you didn’t have it, so please don’t try to say that’s it’s my fault and I didn’t read the term and condition

Cook the Books communication is APPALLING! I ordered a book on 30/8/25 and have still not received it 9 weeks later. Cook the Books never answer their phone (always straight to VM), never respond to texts and very infrequently respond to emails. My card has been charged in full ($47.99) for this book and the refund I requested has not been actioned. Yes, the book was out of stock when I ordered it however to have still not received it by the 30/10/25 is poor form and it’s so frustrating to be ignored 99% of the time from a company that you’ve paid money too. I will never order from this company again and will also be making a complaint with the commerce commission out of principal. AVOID!!

Utterly shambolic and useless. Dreadful customer service and still no book receieved. Months and months waited for item, with no updates despite frequent requests. Eventually told that it had been received 9 months later by shop and that it would be delivered, however STILL yet to recieved. No response to messages / calls / emails sent. Complete cowboys. Do not spend your money with them

Excellent service from 'Cook the Books'. I had been looking for 'Me'a Kai : The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific', which is so difficult to find, for more than 3 years. Finally, tracked it down in Auckland and requested shipping to the UK. Freight to send such a heavy book 11,500 miles from NZ to London would have been a tad expensive but 'Cook the Books' Proprietor, Felicity O'Driscoll very kindly offered to bring it with her on a forthcoming trip to London and send it in the UK. Definitely above and beyond. Hard to think of better customer service. Highly recommended and special thanks to Felicity.

I wouldn't even give them a star if I didn't have to!! Bought a book 5 months ago...5 months!!...still not here...still no updates from this dodge business. So have decided it might be best to pay them a visit in person, because they don't respond to emails and I have never had my calls to them answered. So just do yourself a favour people...don't buy from this business! They take your money and run! Commerce Commission will be getting involved too. Update: I received an email after posting this review...how ironic. Look forward to seeing my refund when your accountant is back Tuesday as you stated in your email to me last night. What you could do different you say?..Communicate better with your customers on the status of their order and actually reply to queries, not ignore them until you get Google reviews. By the looks of the reviews on here it is a problem a lot of your customers are having or have had. Maybe to avoid upset customers don't allow for books to be pre-ordered if out of stock and you have no idea of when you will be supplied. I'm sure you yourselves would be upset waiting 5 months for an order with no update after parting with your hard earned money? It's a sad thing not to be able to trust and support a local business. I look forward to hearing from you with the refund details.

DONOT purchased any books from this business!!!! I ordered and paid for a book in May 2025. I have had no communication despite sending them numerous texts, calls and email. I have tried contacting them again 7/8/2025 but they are not replying, I have been conned and very unhappy with this service. I live in the South Island so cannot visit the store if in fact it even exists.

Just to confirm the bad reviews about this scam of a business. I had the same kind of experience as others. Bought a book, never received it. Called them lots of times to find out when I would receive it. Rude unhelpful dismissive staff. After several months of this, they finally gave me a refund and said they would call when they found my book. Haven't heard from them since. One word.... AVOID