• Welcome to BookAndReader!

    We LOVE books and hope you'll join us in sharing your favorites and experiences along with your love of reading with our community. Registering for our site is free and easy, just CLICK HERE!

    Already a member and forgot your password? Click here.

Buy books?

Awake&Unafraid

New Member
I'm sorry if something like this has already been posted. . .

Where do you guys usually purchase your books?
Borders? Amazon.com? Barnes & Noble? Used bookstores?

Or do you go to the library & borrow?

I get most of mine from Borders. I've bought a couple from amazon.com as well. Every time I get paid, I make a trip to Borders. :p My girlfriend hates it. She doesn't understand why I just don't go to the library. She thinks most books are a waste of money.
 
I buy a lot of used books

I belong to BookCrossing (making the world a library - releasing books for others to find just for the fun of it), so I really buy a lot of used books.
I also trade books with others BCers.
However, I can't stay out of bookstores. I buy books for friends as gifts (especially books I was introduced to by other BCers). I buy books for myself and books are usually at the top of my gift list if anyone asks me what I want.
I love Amazon - both for new and used books. I have found some fabulous deals on used books ( in great condition).
I also peruse the neighborhood Barnes and Noble on a regular basis.
Sadly many of the smaller, independent book stores I used to love have gone under.
I should use the library more, but seem to only show up there when they are having a book sale. :D
 
I love the thought of stepping into a small, local bookstore and being able to literally smell the books. Unfortunately, 'round my area, I haven't been able to find a quaint "shop around the corner" although that would be magnificent. I currently shop at Barnes and Noble or Borders, whichever is closest to me at the time. However the library is a treat, too.
 
Amazon has a lien on my two children.:D I don't buy from a local B&M because that is just too darn expensive.
 
80% Ebay
20% Bookstores

I like to buy the majority of my books from Ebay, if you be patient you find really good prices on the books you want that a bookstore just cannot match.

The only time I really go into a bookstore to buy books is if I'm really bored on a Saturday or Sunday, and I get the craving to get a brand new smelling book immediately instead of waiting a day or two for one to arrive in the mail.

I very rarely purchase second hand books. It's just a little quirk that I can't seem to lose. I love the look of all my well 'looked after books' in my bookshelf that have only been read once. The only time I buy second hand is when I am after a extremely rare book that is either impossible to find new or would just take an eternity of hassle.
 
I have a wonderful library in my city so I haven't needed to buy books for a while. However, when I do, I usually buy them from Amazon. I've heard that Half.com is also a great place to get them, but I haven't used them before. Unline Choc, I have no problem seeing used and loved books on my shelf. I like to think that they are 'well-loved.' My husband, on the other hand, is a self proclaimed 'book snob' and only likes hard cover pristine books in his collection. And I must admit that sometimes I like the look of a nice new book on the shelves.
 
Generally from Borders or Barnes&Noble. Sometimes from Amazon as well. I don't generally buy from used bookstores, since the ones around my area don't have a great selection. I live 45 minutes from the city, and those used bookstores would probably have the best.
 
Chart books I buy from Tescos as they are usually half the price of other stores. Older books I buy from Waterstones or WHSmith's bookshop. The majority of books, I just hire from the library though.
 
I have a really good and lovely bookshop just 20 min away from my apartment. I can find basically any book i want there (they also have books in English which is nice) and they can also order for me if i want to get something. I use Amazon.com sometimes but now my card apparently doesn't work for that anymore.
 
There's a good-sized Half Price Books about 5 minutes away from my apartment that I love to use. But since I work at the mall (unfortunately) I also like to go to the Borders. I've also bought a lot from Amazon because they are often cheaper and I can get them quickly. There's also an outlet mall nearby where I used to work and they have two outlet bookstores. I'll do just about anything to get my books!
 
We only have a Books A Million, which doesn't have the atmosphere of a B&N or Borders, but it's better than nothing. I like to go to the library sometimes and browse, but I really like to own my books and I don't like to be on a time table to finish a book.
 
From most often to least often, I: Snatch books from my mom and grandmother, order them used online, get them at yard sales and used book sales, and as a special treat I sometimes buy from Borders or B&N. I hardly ever borrow from the library, just because I forget to bring them back. But it's great, I have found so many finds just going through my grandmother's little library.
 
I'm always buying books, every pay cheque I go down to the used bookstores that are a 10 min walk from my place or I go out to chapters. I would probably go to the library more if it was closer and I wasn't so lazy, although I'm not a big fan of the one that is around here.
 
These days I prefer to borrow from the library, rather than buy. However, I still love to browse bookstores. I just love the look and smell of new books. :D It also gives me a chance to look at the new releases and highly recommended sections for some books to add to my TBR stack. ;)
 
I borrow from the library. Mainly because it saves me money and I don't usually read a book more than once, so there is no reason to buy it.
 
I usually buy from Borders or Barnes and Noble. I rarely buy online though. Other than buying, I borrow or find some around the house. Buying them all the time is too expensive. I should probably start looking around for cheaper prices or libraries.
 
I borrow from the library. Mainly because it saves me money and I don't usually read a book more than once, so there is no reason to buy it.

I'm starting to feel inspired by all of the people who use libraries! I seriously have so many books that I will probably not read again. So, here's my mid-year resolution. I will gather up all of the books I know that I will not read again, sell them to a used book store, and get a library card! (I haven't had one in years) If I check something out and like it, I can go buy it then.
 
10% of the books I read come from the library. Amazon is too easy with just a click and fast service.:D Plus, when you buy, you can dog-ear it, mark it, write in it, not to mention drawing a fake mustache on the author's picture on the back in-set if it's Saul Bellow.
 
saulbellow2.gif
 
Back
Top