Where do you buy books? I only buy books at yard sales, thrift stores and flea markets.
Am I in the minority? I only buy books at yard sales, thrift stores and flea markets. My heart would stop if I paid retail! ?
92 Answers
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Loading Please wait
I only pay retail if I’m desperate! I like supporting authors but, I can’t afford it ?
I meal prep / eat like a college student which is how I justify my books budget going up since graduation.
(But the majority of the books I read are still from the library, and a lot of books I get are either from secondhand bookstores or places with crazy discounts.)
You’re not alone. I do the same thing. I will buy “retail” if it’s on sale or if I really really really really really really need the book.
Some of my series is don’t even match I have half and hardback helping paperback some without dust covers and some with dust covers some with one picture some with another cover. Myself is very eclectic. I plan on starting a book 2 by the end of the year and I think I am one of the few people whose going to have that kind of eclectic bookshelf
I second that
I buy retail but I get the members’ discounts.
Depends on the writer. If I want to support a writer I’ll buy their book new ?
If they already died I’ll get a second hand copy haha
you should!! it’s fun to hunt for that book and also its great use of recycling. I purchase used books all the time mostly at a local used book store and I find good deals on Amazon.
I figure I have so many books on my TBR pile there’s no need to rush out and get new releases, so I’d rather wait and see what I find at the second hand shops and library book sales. I do on (rare) occasion order new if I do want to read it in a timely fashion and/or if I figure there’s a slim chance it’s going to end up second hand.
Everyone has to get their books in the way that makes the most sense for them. I don’t like to see criticism about where we should or should not buy. These are personal choices and we all have to go with what works for us. Continued good luck in finding those treasures, @Charles.
I always check goodwill and thrift shops first, paper backs are .50!
My library recently started printing how much books cost on their receipt. It says something like, “You’ve saved $57.06 so far this year by reading books from the library.”
That’s a awesome idea!
Mine does that too!
I always wonder how Authors earn their money as most the people I know buy discounted books or visit the library. I do occasionally buy Kindle versions when it is on sale. But when I watch book blogs on YouTube I see shelves and shelves of books so someone is buying.
Me too!!
I only buy used unless I’m desperate to read it.
I only get my books on hold at libraries or free from Netgalley
I can’t do it! I know I will find it at the library or soon enough in the thrift store
Not at all. I used to love buying books but I find that the price of those nice oversized soft covers went up about $4 all at once. At least at Chapter’s. I now use the library more than before.
With only a few exceptions, yes. I’m cheap.
I will pay full price for books I’m waiting for, especially from my favorite authors. But generally, I’m a bargain shopper. Thankfully, my favorite store sells used as well as new. Plus, they sell below retail even on new. So, still get bargains.
Me too, except once a year on my birthday I treat myself to 3 new books. My present from me to me.
Once in a great while I will pay retail for an author I love, otherwise, I never spend more than $3 on a book whether a physical one or ebook.
Same! Amazon is great too
Same
Me too
Have not paid for a book in a couple years.
I go to the library.
I seldom buy books. I use the library all the time.
Poor authors. 🙁
Susan, give this some thought. Not everybody can afford to have a houseful of books.
I can acknowledge that fact while still feeling bad for the authors who put their souls into writing books & then hearing people brag about never paying for them.
I would never have posted this had I even thought it would bring out negative comments! Good grief!
Who will love those books if not us?? others burden, others business, our treasure,?
I live in a small town. The library rarely has the books I am looking for. I wish they did! ?
Don’t they have an interlibrary loan system that can get books for you from other libraries?
@Peg, I have not checked on that. Thanks!
I hope to be you.
But when i see a book I want it is hard to resist. Even if I resist it turns to an itch that haunts me. 🙂
Same! Check out used link on amazon ??
Me too…I read a book a day, even bargain price I sometimes run very low on my book fund!
Library! We have a wonderful consortium of libraries here. You can get a book sent to your closest library if it’s not on the shelf there. I get lots of advice from my librarians on good reads.
I do buy retail. ???
It’s hard to resist when you see a book you really want to read!! I love my birthday Christmas and now mothers day. I make my partner a short list of what I want to read or he gets me a voucher!!
Same! Although, very rarely I still manage to fork over the big bucks for a brand new book lol
How do authors make their money otherwise?
If the book was purchased second hand, the author already got proceeds from the first full price sell of it, right?
I mostly just buy ebooks, and mostly when they’re under $5, just a few a year that cost more than that. That and libraries, but both ways a book is being purchased (even if I’m not the one buying it). I do buy used and new print books, too, mostly for my mom as she can’t figure out the tablet I got her for ebooks.
I don’t see a problem with people buying their books used or on sale (though I realize authors don’t get paid on used books, but what’s the alternative, people throwing away books they no longer want?). And since libraries pay a lot for ebooks (vastly more than the price an individual would pay for it on Amazon), and even can have limited licenses whereby they have to repurchase the books after a certain number of checkouts or length of time, I know my on-sale ebooks and library checkouts are helping authors get some $$.
Wait….amazon has a used link?
I’m with you! The price of new books is too much for me, it’s rare I buy one. I use the library a lot
I buy a lot of my books at second hand bookshops, but most of my daughter’s books I have bought at a retail shop (the second hand bookshop I love does not have a wide variety of YA) and I will pay the retail price for books by local authors.
I almost NEVER buy a book… library is free!
I buy new books. Usually as gifts. I check out a lot from the library but I buy new books if they are really good.
I buy lots of books, at this point, double income, adult kid who still lives with us. But I used the library lots when kids were little.
Exactly. Plus I’m a frequent user of the library.
I get most of my books from half price bookstore!
i use goodwill thrift store,trade for them and thrift books. com
Not alone, I do the exact same! Plus, I like to think that many people enjoyed the book before me!
I buy new but seldom pay retail price. How would authors ever get by on just library sales? My preference are ebooks but I buy hardbacks from time to time.
Once and a while I will go retail ?
I buy books anywhere I can!!! Lol
I never buy retail; can’t afford that. Thrift stores, my neighborhood book exchange, and the library.
I very seldom buy new books. I use the library or Thriftbooks, or ABE Books.
Same here
Same. The thrill of the hunt is half the fun! I don’t have a new book budget. If I did, I’d probably still buy used. A new book is a wonderful treat as a gift sometimes though!
I buy my that way too. The only time I buy new is if I’m buying for my book exchange partner.
Get a library card! I do the electronic service and I can read whatever I want on Kindle for free ?
If not for that I’d be reading less. I’m very thankful for the library.
If I want the book, I’m buying it come Hell or high water……..with the exception of hardbacks. I draw the line at the price of them.
I get a lot of books at used bookstores, thrift stores, Kindle deals, and discounted through Bookbub or even Walmart. However, I’ll also buy something full price from a retail bookstore or from Amazon if I really want it. However, I only buy hardbacks as gifts. Books are my only splurge as I’m not into buying clothes, shoes, accessories, or whatever else a lot of people splurge on.
I basically only buy new when I love the author and REALLY want to read the book ASAP and have my own copy. I prefer the library, used book sales, thrift books, etc… I just can’t afford it. I can afford way more books by buying used also!
Me too.
Am lucky I don’t have to buy books. I have a library, we have a book cart here at the ymca where I work and my mom has lots of friends and again lucky we love the same authors…
I usually don’t pay full price, however, if I find one I really really want and I know I will had to my collection, I will pay full price.
I read so often that I would be homeless if I paid full price.
I buy 99% from thrift stores and library sales. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is the only exception in a very, very long time. (One chapter into the audio book and I headed for the nearest Books A Million) ??
Ido all of those.
I get all my books from Thriftbooks.com-$3/10 with free shipping-can’t beat that at all
Same, here.
i buy at my library’s bookstore and on better world books. never retail
I am that way in general I don’t like to pay full price which is always too much when you can get it cheap.
Me too! I have a rule where don’t spend over $5 on a book unless it’s a favourite author, and I resell books straight after reading them if I know I’m not going to reread it! I also get a lot of free arcs from publishers
I’m a library gal! I’m lucky!!!
I only buy the odd fiction book these days. I will absolutely buy reference type books. But it has to be darn important to outright buy a novel.
Don’t you love this group?
Oops! I lied earlier. I do have a few series that I pay full price on Kindle. They’re still cheaper than a retail store though. ?
But what is more worth buying than books? I am always amazed by people who grudge spending money n books, but can apparently afford expensive electronic devices to go on the Internet. also, how do you expect them Togo on producing books if nobody buys them?
I am on disability and my income is below poverty level. I own a phone because I need one. I don’t own a computer or a tablet. I cannot possibly pay full price for a book.
Respectfully, a LOT of people are buying books at retail prices. I dont believe we are in danger of a book shortage. Our local bookstores both national chain stores and privately owned are thriving. Thankfully, all of those book sales eventualy translate into thriftstore & yard sale finds for those who can’t afford to buy at retail stores very often. I consider books bought in thriftstores to be beneficial to those workers and the beneficiaries of those charities. Just my POV, for what it’s worth. ???
I like ebay!