Where do you buy from? And are you picky about what you buy?

[Xenia]

I prefer new books or used books in good condition. I buy used books from sellers who advertise on amazon and half dot com. The used books I receive are always in great condition and without being expensive.

[Lawrence]

Yes, I am some what picky because I want them to be in relatively good condition when I'm ready to read them. When I was buying books for my library, which I've slowed down a lot because of space, I would get them at the county library "For Sale" table in every library in St.Louis, MO. The price range from 50 cents to $2 best sellers. I also would go to the biggest book fair in St. Louis and St. Charles once a year and I would still keep an eye out for the county libraries annual book sales at every branch. I am now purchasing books from Amazon.com-Kindle and Kobo, both for my Cruz Tablet/eReader. I have over 250 free purchased books from Amazon.com on my eReader and still growing. I get an email every day with a list of free ebooks on Amazon.com for a two to three days at that price, then it goes back up to regular price between 99 cent to $9.99.

[Thom]

I really can’t imagine the number of books I would collect if I lived in an English speaking country. Here the majority of the available books are in Dutch. German, French and English books are also available but in lesser quantities. I have and read all four languages but prefer English. Most of the other books are either technical or reference books. My library counts more than 5000 but 95% of them are English.

[Karen]

Lawrence wrote: "I have over 250 free purchased books from Amazon.com on my eReader and still growing. I get an email every day with a list of free ebooks on Amazon.com for a two to three days at that price, then it goes back up to regular price between 99 cent to $9.99."

Lawrence: Can you tell us how to get on that email mailing list? Thanks!

Karen Chung, Taipei

[[deleted user]]

I havent shopped online yet, otherwise I buy new or used pretty much anywhere. I am pretty mad at myself, today I bought a bargain priced book from Walmart that I knew I had wanted to read only to come home and remember that I paid full price at the mall for that same book two weeks ago.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

The Dollar General stores in my area and the Family Dollar always have these great books brand new so I have been hitting them up every few weeks for months now. It's a favorite thing for my best friend and I to do. They have a small spinning rack. The books are either 1.25 or 3.00. Lots of cozy mysteries, hardcase crimes, a few paranormal romances, some westerns, and some from Dorchester.

For new books (besides above) I love Amazon. I generally just get the free shipping by adding on a few more books to get it.

Finally, for used I'm addicted to Abebooks. Have gotten about fifty books the past four months from them. There's also a great used bookstore in my town but I don't get to go often.

[Paulfozz]

Tammy wrote: "I am pretty mad at myself, today I bought a bargain priced book from Walmart that I knew I had wanted to read only to come home and remember that I paid full price at the mall for that same book two weeks ago. "

That would really annoy me something rotten!

For some of the books I've been buying online is the only real option - I could order them from my local Waterstones but then they would cost me £50 each rather than £30-35 and many of them Waterstones just don't sell. Nothing better than looking around used bookshops though, they're wonderful places to browse in and you get the thrill of never quite knowing what you'll find!

[booksofthedead]

Any bookstore, really.

However, since I've gotten a Kindle, I've been buying off Amazon. I thought that getting a Kindle would slow down my book buying... Oh dear God, was I wrong.

[Karen]

Thank you to whoever got the information on free Kindle books to me - I've now downloaded several!!! Some are not available to us here in Asia, but I've already gotten some good ones that are. 謝謝你！Xie4xie ni3! (Thank you!)!

[sonya]

i like to get mine from my sister-in-law. when I lived in Manchester, I went to the library almost daily for used books.

[Ilean]

Kind of picky -
I buy books at Sam's Club, Barnes & Noble (if I can't find what I want at Sam's) and I go to several book fairs a year, trade books with my daughter and mother in law. I have a friend I have not seen in a number of months that she and several friends of hers and I exchanged books. On a great and few occasions I get a book from Amazon that I can't seem to find anywhere else. Once in a blue moon from Doubleday Book Club. And sometimes my husband will surprise me with something unusual that he has heard about.

[Jocelin]

I LOVE to buy my books @ B&N and B&N.com. I am looking to start buying books from independent book stores. If anyone knows of any good booksellers in the metro Atlanta area; please let me know. Thank you.

[Alondra]

Since my last post in Sept. 2011; I have found about 6 Used Book Stores!! I have been in the Charlotte area for 10+ years and could never find any and no one knew of any. There are none in the Gastonia area at all; but for the past year I have been on the serious hunt for used book stores since many of traditional chains are going belly-up. Also searching out independent sellers, which are showing up a lot more.

[Melissa]

If I see books for sale I stop and look, Flea markets, yard sales, auctions, library sales, ebay, amazon, walmart or whatever book store I am by.

If I'm looking for a particular book I hit ebay and amazon first because they are usually cheaper than anywhere else.

[Rebecca]

I buy most of my books from Amazon,Play.com or The Works, although I do get a lot from Charity Shops too. If I'm buying a new book, then I'm picky about it's condition, if it arrives damaged I send it back. But if it's second hand, I'm not bothered if it's a little damaged, I can always buy it new later in life when I have more money :)

[Angeline]

Lately, I have been buying used books from library sales. I also buy used books from thrift stores and local bookstores. The used books I buy have to be in very good condition or I will not buy them. When I buy new books they are usually from Barnes & Noble, Powell's, or Amazon.

[[deleted user]]

I am currently reading a book from the friends of library sale. I am not picky about where I buy from as long as they are in good shape.

[Gayl]

Caitlin wrote: "Do you buy just from one source? or many? Do you only buy new or a picky about the edition? Please share I'm curios about others book buying habits.

I buy online from Amazon and I just place my fi..."

Better World Books is the best. I try to purchase all my books from them. I haven't been disappointed yet.

[Lára]

I have a favourite bookstore (not virtual) that I visit everytime when I´m near it (at least once a week). I buy all the books there, even those I order. I just give the list of the books I´d like to buy in the bookstore and they order it for me. Free shipping as well.

I don´t usually use ebooks, not if I can chose the edition. I have couple of kindle books that I´ve got as gifts and I had a hard time converting them in epub so I can read them on PC (I don´t own kindle and I don´t understand e-formats at all).

And yes, I guess I am picky. I have to get the exact edition I want, book has to be brand new and without errors. I don´t know why I do this, though, since I never re-read the books. I buy them, read them once, store them on the shelf and never pick them up again.

[sonya]

Mainly amazon.com for my kindle editions. Library otherwise.+















































amazon.com for kindle editions or the library otherwise

[Karen M]

Lára wrote: "I have a favourite bookstore (not virtual) that I visit everytime when I´m near it (at least once a week). I buy all the books there, even those I order. I just give the list of the books I´d like ..."

Lara have you downloaded the Kindle App onto your computer? You don't need to convert books on your computer if you have the Kindle App.

[Melody]

Well, I'm a bit of a hardcover snob. But, secondhand is fine with me.
No thrill like finding an out-of-print, signed, first edition.
Used from Amazon, Abebooks, garage sales, used bookstores
New from Cemetery Dance, Easton Press, Subterranean Press, Amazon, Chapters

[Lára]

Karen M wrote: "Lara have you downloaded the Kindle App onto your computer? You don't need to convert books on your computer if you have the Kindle App. "

Ugh... what? Whoa, sorry, I really don´t understand.
Is that some kind of .. device or program? Do I need kindle for this?

[Moloch]

I try to buy only used books, mostly on line (Il Libraccio - Italian site -, ebay, swapping from other readers), otherwise wherever I find them :-) For new books I shop almost exclusively on line (wherever I find the best prices).

[Noy]

Some time I buy my book from goodwill, thrift stores, barnes & noble, or amazon.com. I am not picky on where I buy my books because I just would like to read them. And I don't care if I re-read them too.

[Rintheamazing]

My latest obsession is betterworldbooks.com
Used books at good prices (which include shipping worldwide) and for every book sold, they donate one to a literacy charity. I could easily spend my whole paycheque there.

[Melissa]

I don't usually stress to much over the condition of used since I expect some damage. If it says brand new then I expect brand new, no bent corners or wrinkled pages.

[Sam]

i buy books from bookgator.com it gives me a feature of price comparison. through which i compare prices and buy the cheapest one available online..

[Cammie]

I buy from Barns & Noble, Half Price Books, Target, Lifeway and Walmart.

[Samantha A]

I almost exclusively buy from Strand... but if they don't have a book i'm looking for, I will venture to Amazon or B&N and I have been looking into Ebay for some books lately too.

[Jocelin]

I like to buy my books from B&N (especially with coupons and my membership). There is also a great little book store that used to be right around the corner from us, but we moved. It's called The Book House. It's been around for over 35 years. The woman that owns the store is very personable and she knows her inventory. She sells new and used books. The new books she sells for 25% off list price which is really good. The store is in Mableton, GA. If any one in BBAA lives in the metro Atlanta area you should check her out. Plus she can order and book that is in print.

[Stacey]

I love to look for books everywhere. But I tend to do most through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Since I found Bookbubs, I'm much less picky about what I "buy." I love the free books and I'm not stuck in a genre so I can really add quite a few to my collection.

[Bonnie G.]

Jocelin wrote: "I like to buy my books from B&N (especially with coupons and my membership). There is also a great little book store that used to be right around the corner from us, but we moved. It's called The B..."

Good to know. I live in Atlanta and don't much venture OTP, but next time I have something at Mable House Amphitheater I may take a side trip. If you are ever in East Atlanta I recommend Bound to Read on Flat Shoals. Great place! And if you like beautiful old books hit Atlanta Vintage Books on Clairmont near the Peachtree DeKalb Airport. It is near my house so it gets points for that, but it is worth a trip. It looks a little scary, but it is awesome.

[Bonnie G.]

I am a library book sale girl and also use Paperbackswap.com and bookmooch.com. When I buy new I go to one of the few indie bookstores here in Atlanta or Barnes & Noble. I like having bookstores, so I will generally buy from them even if Amazon is a couple dollars cheaper.

[Karen M]

Lately I've been buying through www.abebooks.com and I just do my browsing online. I do lose track of the time but they always have whatever I'm looking for. I tend to buy older books to complete different series that I'm reading or have read.

[Jess]

The dollar store, the library close to my house sells books too, winne dixie, walmart, thrift stores, giveaways and of course b&n .. most times I look for authors that I know but usually if the cover or title catches my eye

[Thom]

Do you really judge a book by its cover?

[Tamara]

I'm a big fan of Goodwill and my local public library branch. There's nothing like finding a hard cover book that normally retails for $25 for $1! I'm frequently on a waiting list for half dozen books at the library. It's a great resource if you're patient.

[Bonnie G.]

Tamara wrote: "I'm a big fan of Goodwill and my local public library branch. There's nothing like finding a hard cover book that normally retails for $25 for $1! I'm frequently on a waiting list for half dozen ..."

I am with you. The downside is that I overbuy. I have a house full of books.

[Tamara]

Boy do I overbuy! If I live to be 100 I probably won't read everything in my collection.

[Thom]

That's the joy of being a book buying addict, you have it for life. Let your descendents catch the fever or clean up the mess. I have resigned myself to my fate and informed my children of their options. We only live once………let it be surrounded by books.

[Kelli]

Thom, I think I might be in love. Whenever I'm surrounded by books I'm happier, so... what's wrong with buying a few more? I just can't help myself. :)

[Thom]

Kelli, I can believe its love. When I open a new book it can take me anywhere. I experience love, pain, sorrow and passion; I am whole. I have always been a collector as the sight of multitudes has always excited me (some would say here: different strokes for different folks). As weird it may sound, literature gives my world color, feeling and life. I truly hope you are as deeply afflicted as I am……it is heavenly.

[Bonnie G.]

Tamara wrote: "Boy do I overbuy! If I live to be 100 I probably won't read everything in my collection."

Tamera, I have about 500 books in my house which I have not read (forget the fact that I do reread books I love and that new must have books are released every month.) Tomorrow I will be 51. We can all do the math :)

[Joanne]

I continue to buy lots of books. They are used, so cheap, and I hand them on to friends and family. It makes me happy to have the stack of unread books. Hopefully, the stack of books already read has made me smarter...

[Tamara]

Bonnie wrote: "Tamara wrote: "Boy do I overbuy! If I live to be 100 I probably won't read everything in my collection."

Tamera, I have about 500 books in my house which I have not read (forget the fact that I d..."
Now I feel compelled to count my stash! Happy birthday!

[Bonnie G.]

Thanks!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Thom wrote: "Kelli, I can believe its love. When I open a new book it can take me anywhere. I experience love, pain, sorrow and passion; I am whole. I have always been a collector as the sight of multitudes has..."

What a beautiful description of reading and books!

[Marylene]

I do buy books from used bookstores, thrift shops, library sales and flea markets sometimes, but I mostly end up buying my books from Barnes & Nobles with coupons and my membership. When I buy used they have to be in good shape, so I'd say I'm picky about that. I do own a Nook and have over 100 e-books as well, but I don't like those half as much as the real books.

[Kelli]

Erin wrote: "Thom wrote: "Kelli, I can believe its love. When I open a new book it can take me anywhere. I experience love, pain, sorrow and passion; I am whole. I have always been a collector as the sight of m..."


Agreed! <3