Buy Books Online
From LoveToKnow Online
When you buy books online, the world's libraries are at your fingertips, with new and used options for every budget.
Buy Books Online New
Online Bookstores
- Amazon.com is arguably the biggest name in online book sales.
- Barnes and Noble sells books through its website in addition to its standard retail locations.
- The brick-and-mortar chains Borders and Waldenbooks actually sell their books through Amazon's system.
- Retail chains with an online ordering system carry books, so you can search for available titles at Target.com, Walmart.com and others.
Book Buying Tips
Buying books online works best when you already have an idea of what you want to purchase. It just doesn't work as well as a physical store or library for browsing. However, many sites have lists of best-sellers and "if you like ______, you may enjoy _______" suggestions, so these can be a start if you're undecided.
Many online bookstores offer discounts on bestsellers and other selected titles. They sell so many books they can negotiate good deals with publishers, or sometimes they just want your business so much they're willing to slash prices. They also don't have the same day-to-day costs of doing business as brick-and-mortar stores. At the same time, online retailers can offer a better selection of less popular and niche-market books because they don't have to worry about shelf space.
Buy Books Online Used
Online Used Bookstores
- Alibris offers a large selection of used books from a network of sellers.
- Abebooks acts as a clearinghouse for independent booksellers and is a good source for rare, collectible and out-of-print books.
- Sellers on auction sites like eBay list hundreds of used books every day.
- Amazon.com has a system for selling used books alongside their new titles.
Used Book Buying Tips
When you purchase a used book at a local bookstore or yard sale, you can pick it up, flip through the pages, check the binding and get a general idea of its condition before handing over any money. You don't have this luxury when buying books online used, but that doesn't mean you have to resign yourself to receiving sub-par books.
The first thing you should do is read any descriptions carefully. If you're buying from a site with pictures, you should also look at these carefully for signs of wear on a book. Pay attention to information on editions and copyright dates to make sure you're getting exactly the book you want. This isn't as important if you're buying a copy of a classic novel because the 1978 printing is just as good as the 2005 one. If you don't consider these points carefully when buying a college science textbook, you could end up with a worthless, overpriced book.
You should also take advantage of site rating systems and feedback. Most auction sites and many used book sites offer customers a chance to rate the sellers after a purchase. This helps keep sellers honest and lets you know which merchants you might want to avoid.
Compare Shipping Prices
Any cost savings you've realized from purchasing books online can quickly drift away if you're not careful with shipping costs. Before placing an order, make sure you understand the shipping costs. This can be especially important with online auctions where the actual shipping price may be buried in a paragraph of description. Look for special shipping offers, like free shipping if you spend a certain amount, and wait until you need to buy more than one book. Buying multiple books at once can also save money when online retailers charge a certain amount for shipping the first book and a significantly smaller amount for each additional book. Some sellers will also offer bargain shipping to take advantage of the United States Postal Service's Media Mail rate letting people ship printed matter for as little as $1.59. If a seller doesn't list this as a cheaper shipping option, it doesn't hurt to ask.
What's The Catch?
You've decided to only buy books online to take advantage of great deals and the convenience of having them arrive right at your door. There must be a catch, right? The one downside to buying all of your books online is the money it takes from local bookstores. If your community has a small bookstore, consider whether it's more important to you to save money or to help a local resource stay in business. It's a personal decision, and sometimes you have to look at the bottom line rather than be idealistic.
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This page has been accessed 862 times. This page was last modified 12:27, 31 March 2006.
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