Where do you usually get your books?

LeenZone was curious and so am I - where do you usually get the books you read?

For me, it's used - from used bookstores, charity book sales or garage sales. You can't beat buying a book like The Three Musketeers or 1984 for a dollar. I can't imagine better value for your money than a good used book.

I'll rarely buy a new book and usually only buy books at a retail store if they're on sale.

I don't use the library - I can't remember the last time I took a book out. I'd rather pay fifty cents or a dollar for a book, read it at my leisure, mark it up if I like and borrow it out to relatives or friends if they're interested in it.

There are so many great books out there and for the most part I can't really be bothered to waste my time reading something new, popular and average like Stephen King. The Twilight books may have sold millions of copies but I doubt they will move anyone in fifty years time. Oprah can take her book club and the sheep that follow her and shove it.

For me, there's just something wrong about reading every Terry Goodkind book out there and not taking the time to read a book like The Grapes of Wrath.

There's a quote I like but I've forgotten but the idea is when a new book comes out, read an old one and that about sums up me and books.

I usually get them new at the bookstore. I read a lot of horse-racing books, and around here, if you don't grab them the first time you see them, you'll never see them again. I learned that one the hard way.

I have gotten some good ones at flea markets/thrift stores/used book stores.
I used to get books from the library all the time, but anymore, I never have the time to finish them before they have to go back. I've found good stuff at library sales, though.

generally.. i buy them when the paperback comes out, but i'm slowly running out of space

i also take books out from the library, but usually i cannot find the books i want at the libraries closest to me (usually "older" books). now i just go online and request books to be sent to a library close to me. also, i can renew books online if i don't finish before they are due back.

i also look on the barnes and noble site at the used and out of print books to do some purchasing. the prices are good, but gotta pay for shipping & handling which is more than the price of the book

I usually buy mine used because they're cheaper. But lately I've started buying them online as they come out but I can find then for cheaper than I can at a new bookstore.

I'm surprised at you, Henry. You know how to get them for free. Just hide out in a vault, wait for a bomb to drop, and then check the ruins of the local library.

I'm surprised at you, Henry. You know how to get them for free. Just hide out in a vault, wait for a bomb to drop, and then check the ruins of the local library.

And the best part is that you don't need a book light to read them at night as they already glow.

I usually buy books new at either Boarders or Barns & Noble but I'll wait for the paperback. I rarely buy hardback anymore unless they're on sale. They're just too expensive.

I don't think I even have a current library card, haven't checked out a book in years. My reading time isn't always the same, before I finish the book it's time to check it back in. Just not worth the hassle.

It's definitely that socialist institution better known as the public library for me and here's why:


1) The city's major branch is less than a mile away from my home (yeah...that's uh..walking distance).

2) There is always a plethora of new release material that is almost never checked out (readers of any kind are very few and far between in my neck o the woods).

3) Renewals are quick and easy and they can be done online repeatedly for a period of up to four months for every item as long as there's not a hold on the book.

4) Since I'm only renting the book so to speak, there's no added clutter to my shelves after I get done with it.

5) IT'S ALL ABSOLUTELY FREE!


I used to be a fan of discount used book stores and buying stuff at garage sales and what not, but then, slowly but surely, I began to amass boxes and boxes of books that over time just began to take up space after I read them once or twice.

And for all you guys who haven't visited a library in a while, get yourself into one soon and sign up for a card. The online renewal option that most libraries offer is a refreshing break from the old days when it was a hassle to physically drag your ass back to the building to renew a book. I've personally been able to hold on to a book for nearly eight months while only going back to the library once in the interim.

Money magazine recently did an article breaking down the cost of a best seller and where all the $$$ gets distributed using a $27.95 John Grisham novel as an example. Here it is....


$4.19 to the author
$3.55 to pre-production
$2.83 to printing
$2.00 to marketing
$2.80 to the wholesaler
$12.58 to the retailer
____________________
$27.95

I usually get 'em used from Amazon.

Sometimes I find books I like at Borders, then go home and check 'em out online, and find that they're remainders -- you know, they didn't sell well and are supposed to be marked down? -- but Borders is still selling them at full price! So I buy them online!

Hey D, thanks for this thread. Sorry, I just ran across it today.

As I mentioned in the other thread I was a B&N, Borders shopper; always use my discount card and don't remember ever buying a book that wasn't on sale. I had a friend who had a used book store, but she had to close it.

If I couldn't find a book there I'd go to Amazon taking advantage of any offer to not pay for shipping.

I did get that library card first of all to save some money and next to clear the clutter.

If we all lived in the same general area we could have a book trade.

Oh yeah and like Ht2 I'll see a book in a museum bookstore (the most overpriced), write them down and get them on Amazon as well.

This post has been edited by LeenZone on March 23, 2009 09:54 am

I clicked on "Library." I get more books from the library than from all other sources combined, but I spend more time reading and re-reading books I own than library books.

there is a site online that does just that..

http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php

i never joined, because i do not have the time, but it looks like a good idea. the basic idea is that you register and post the books you are willing to swap and you get credits when you post a certain number of books. you use these credits to order books from other members. when someone orders one of your books you mail it to them and you get a credit for each book you send.

I never buy new books unless I absolutely must have that particular book right now. Otherwise it is the thrift shop.

Fairly accurate in some categories. Bookstores, book jobbers, libraries, and distributors require a 55% discount from the barcode retail price. The dollars to the author is probably a little too high, and the printing cost a little too low. Even Random House can't get hardbacks with dust jackets printed for $2.83 in bulk...

I buy my books at Chapters/Indigo, or Coles.

Borders, B&N, or online through amazon or Alibris.

I treasure my books, read a lot and read some books over and over. Just like listening to songs.

Goodwill store or garage sales or from friends. That is it.

Book publishers NEVER buy books new. We know about the trade rate deal.

*Wholesale Trade Rate: 'Books provided from wholesale outlets or publishers are priced at 55-60% off the barcode price for distribution, with a 90-day-sale-or-return policy in place.'

The best books, the collectible books, the worthy books, you will find at Goodwill, St Vincent de Paul's, and the like.

Never buy used paperbacks unless you really intend to read them, or they are extremely rare.

Never buy used hardcovers that are missing the dust jackets. If you want to build up a nice library on a cheap budget, hardback is your easiest road via the used store. Check flap condition, binding, pages, and title/copyright page. Maybe you'll get a First Edition cheap.

I work in technology so used books are mainly out of date. I grab them new as and when they come out. it's expensive but I need to stay up to date