Books - where do you get them from?

[Miss Chicken]

I buy the majority (about 90%) of my books online.

It is cheaper for me to get books from overseas than to go to an Australian bookstore. New books in Australia are ridiculously dear. For example I just purchase the paperback version of "Black Seconds" by Karin Fossum from Book Depository (British online store which offers free postage) for $AUD10.56, the same book at my local bookstore is $24.95.

The other 10% I buy either at a bookstore (if the book is on special) or occasionally from a second-hand store though secondhand book stores are getting rather too pricey for me. The above mention book at a second-hand bookstore I visited was $9.95. However I can sometimes find something good at an op shop (thrift store) or at a garage sale for only a dollar or two.

Nearly all of my sci-fi novels have been bought at secondhand bookstores (in the days before such shops started to charge $6-10 for a book).

I don't like receiving books as presents, though I don't mind getting a gift voucher for a bookstore.

I don't borrow books from the library any more. I very occasionally borrow books from family or friends.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Ever since I got my iPad, I resolved to buy all my books in e-form, from the iBooks application (if they're available there). Before, I used to get books from Barnes & Noble or Borders.

 

[auntiehill]

I get them from the library or from Amazon---or as gifts. I love getting books as gifts; anything that saves me money is appreciated.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Books I get as gifts are usually end up being books that I don't want to read. My family do not understand my tastes at all.

If my friends want me to have a book as a present they will usually just give me money to buy a book online. I wish that my best friend was on the internet so she could buy off my wish list.

 

[Mary Ann]

I'm lucky that my city has an excellent "read and return" second-hand bookshop, which is where I get most of my Trek books. Waterstone's often has a 3-for-2 offer, though most of the time I walk out with more than 3 books, which is why I hardly go in there (I have no self-control in bookshops). Most of my craft and non-fiction books I buy online. I hardly ever go to the library, but I do regularly lend and borrow books among friends and colleagues.

 

[Rii]

It is cheaper for me to get books from overseas than to go to an Australian bookstore. New books in Australia are ridiculously dear. For example I just purchase the paperback version of "Black Seconds" by Karin Fossum from Book Depository (British online store which offers free postage) for $AUD10.56, the same book at my local bookstore is $24.95.

At first glance I, err, think I'll be buying books from Book Depository as well.

Thanks, MC.

 

[Kestra]

Secondhand shops are great. I love getting cheap paperbacks for vacations and such. If I need a particular book I'll probably get it from Amazon, and I look for my textbooks from wherever looks the cheapest yet reliable.

 

[Misfit Toy]

I get most of mine from Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift stores.

 

[Mistral]

I get most of mine from Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift stores.

These days, yeah, me too. Cheaper. And B&N and Borders have driven the small shops out of existence around here.

 

[Miss Chicken]

It is cheaper for me to get books from overseas than to go to an Australian bookstore. New books in Australia are ridiculously dear. For example I just purchase the paperback version of "Black Seconds" by Karin Fossum from Book Depository (British online store which offers free postage) for $AUD10.56, the same book at my local bookstore is $24.95.

At first glance I, err, think I'll be buying books from Book Depository as well.

Thanks, MC.

I have now received a total of 16 books from Book Depository and am awaiting the arrival of another 4 (two of which I purchased today). The books arrive quicker (7-10 days) than when I buy them from Amazon (10-14 days). Even when you buy more than one book in a single purchase each books arrives separately which might be the reason they arrive quicker.

The books are usually a little bit dearer than they are on Amazon but with free postage end up being cheaper. Now I am only buying DVDs and extra cheap books from Amazon, or books that Amazon has that Book Depository doesn't.

I plan to buy some secondhand books using AbeBooks next week. I haven't used AbeBooks before.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Second-hand stores, charity shops and the internet. Other people's unwanted crap is my treasure .

 

[DBR]

It's probably a pretty even split between Chapters and Amazon for me. Some harder to find books I have to go to specialty shop or eBay for, but that is pretty rare these days.

 

[nevermore]

Amazon. Or Barnes & Noble if the urge strikes to pick something up on a lark.

 

[Marie1]

I try to peruse the local used book stores -found something I'd been after for ages, The Girl of the Sea of Cortez recently- I was so happy! When I was little, my mom got the audio book from the library, and I used to listen to it at night. But I'd long forgotten the name, so I went to the library to try and tell them the bits I remembered, and one of the guys on staff said he thought he knew what it was- it's by the author of Jaws. So the library is a great place too!

For new stuff I want, I almost always go to Chapters- a big box store, but the parking is a million times better than the other places.

I sometimes order what I can't get here- but I'd had stuff arrive from Amazon and other places in pretty bad shape, and I'm really fussy about things being in good condition. I check over every copy in a bookstore and pick the one in the best condition.

Funny story- I won a free book, and it came from the U.S. -and it arrived without even bubble wrap in better shape than a lot of what I get from Amazon in those fancy boxes!

 

[Admiral Shran]

I buy almost all of my books from bookstores like Borders or Barnes and Noble. Only if I absolutely can't find it after visiting multiple stores will I buy it online, and then from Amazon.

I perfer book stores to online shopping because I like the ability of having the book right now and not having to wait for it to be delivered. I don't care if it costs more; in my experience it's worth it. And I love just being in bookstores - I love their atmosphere.

Sometimes I'll borrow a book from the library, but only rarely. Most of the times I go to a library it's just to enjoy the atmosphere again - I absolutely LOVE being surrounded by books, even if I'll never read them.

I refuse to use e-books. The feel and smell of an actual book is something I could never give up. And after that crap Amazon pulled with 1984 and Animal Farm on the Kindle, I'll never be able to trust any of them.

 

[ancientone51]

Barnes & Noble, Hastings, Borders and even Wal Mart...I have a list of authors that I get as soon as they come out so they are often on sale I just got two today. I also have a couple of the discount cards which help.

Half Price is good for filling in holes in a new,to me, author.

I do like my hands on a book.

 

[Kirby]

My books mainly come out of thin air. I have a Kindle and probably 90% of my books come from there. I do read some books for work and I have to have a physical book to get reimbursed.

 

[Tom Riley]

Generally Borders, but if I happen to be somewhere else that sells books then I have a look.

 

[Eyes]

Mostly Waterstones, or even WHSmith's, but sometimes I'll get them from Amazon.

I tend to wander around in bookshops not buying anything. It's normally very hard for me to decide on one to actually get.

 

[Adm_Hawthorne]

I buy books at bookstores that are locally owned if I can. I always buy my D&D/comic book stuff at my local comic book store.

However, I've been known to purchase from Amazon in a pinch.