Anywhere and Everywhere! (Where do you buy your books?)

Member Name: ld75454

Product:	Where do you buy your books?
Date:	07/01/09 (278 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Vary depending on the shop

Disadvantages: Costly for me

I read so much. My boyfriend always asks me why do you bother reading so much, and the honest answer is I really enjoy it. Whether it is in the bath or on my lunch break at work, nothing quite fills the time as well as reading a good book. I really don't understand people who when asked, state proudly that they don't read. What is so good about that? But, back to the point, where do I buy my books?


www.amazon.co.uk

Where price is concerned, amazon is pretty much unbeatable. They are almost always significantly cheaper than the rrp and for me this is an important factor is purchasing a book. I also love getting parcels, so buying books on amazon suits me down to the ground. I adore the feeling of seeing an amazon package come through the letterbox to discover my latest order. I'm like a child, I know. The negative point of amazon for me is that you haven't physically got them in your hand. When buying a book by an author I haven't read before, I tend to like to read the first page to get a grasp on whether I like their style of writing. Also, if you are impatient, like I can be, you won't like waiting for them to arrive. Especially as I refuse to pay any delivery fee.

Waterstones

I don't have a local Waterstones, my nearest is probably at Lakeside or the Galleria but any time that I go in one of their store, their 3 for 2 deals ensure that I never leave without having taken them up on their offer. You really cannot beat the experience of reading the backs of books in Waterstones. I love it. Wandering round the store, browsing about thirty or forty books to then chose your favourite three to buy. I love the fact that there are such a wide variety of books available. Almost any book that you could wish for is at your fingertips. The only negative with regards to Waterstones is their price. They don't seem to be competitive with amazon or the supermarkets, even after their 3 for 2 special offer.

Supermarkets

In particular Tesco and Asda. They have reduced their prices so much in recent years where books are concerned. Any time I go into Tesco, I almost always come out with a book in tow. It is like a compulsive disorder of mine. They sell paperback books for approximately £4 and hardbacks for £9-£10. The only problem with the supermarkets is that they have a limited range of titles available, just ones that are in the charts.

My local library

I said earlier that amazon are pretty much unbeatable on price, but obviously the library goes one better. It is free. And they have gone one better over the past year, whereby you can pre-order the latest releases via their online website. I don't know about all countys, but for Essex all you have to do is sign up to join the online ELAN website and you can order up to books at any one time. I now use this service on a regular basis, in order to save me a small fortune, especially since you can renew online aswell!

My only bugbear with the library is that you only have an allocated three weeks to read the book. Usually this is fine with me, as I tend to read a book in the space of a week at the most, however it is so frustrating when you are coming to the end of your three weeks and aren't quite finished the book. You tend to rush the last part of the book, and somehow not enjoy it as much. I also, like many others, don't like the thought of many people having had their hands all over the books so tend to try and only get the newer looking ones from the library.

And where not to go in my experience... Charity Shops

I've always been told to go into charity shops to get my books by work colleagues. But unfortunately my local charity shop doesn't seem to have the same pricings as the ones that they use. They charge you just as much, if not more than amazon and they are used, and generally not of a great quality so I tend to think, why am I going to buy them from here when I can get them brand new elsewhere.


Basically, my addiction to books leads me to buy them absolutely anywhere and everywhere. It depends on how much you want to spend and the offers available at different times. I can't narrow down a single preference of where I like to buy my books, so my advice is to make up your own mind, or like me, use anywhere that suits you.

Summary: Where don't I buy my books