Excellent books at frankly ridiculous prices (thebookpeople.com)

Member Name: cerys82

Product:	thebookpeople.com
Date:	02/07/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent prices

Disadvantages: Limited variety, but the price makes up for that

I first came across The Book People as a company when they used to come into a couple of my former workplaces, and I bought a few books of them.

My partner's mum introduced me to their website about 2 years ago as she used it a lot and had bought me some books from there as presents.

I have now used the website a few times. It is fair to say that the variety of stock is limited, only in that you can't just want any book and just expect it to be there. However, those that are there are at super knock down, almost unbelievable prices.

The biggest savings can be found on reference books. I recently bought a giant Times History book for £15 down from something like £70 and Andrew Graham Dixon's comprehensive Art book, which has something like 2500 images in it for £10 down from £30. They have a good selection of fiction, but these usually come in boxsets - such as Alexander McCall Smith ones, Jane Austen, Paulo Cuehlo, Anita Shreve for about a tenner.

If you definitely want something it is best to snap it up straightaway as popular items can sell out fast when they get new stock in at the beginning of the month. I am thinking of a while back when they had all of that series's Richard and Judy book club reads for something ridiculous like £15.
They also have a sister site "bananas.co.uk" - which appears to sell off any books that haven't been sold on their website at even more knock down prices.

You also gain "book points" on each purchase, which when enough have been collected can be used to claim other books depending on their value.

There is a P&P cost if spend less than £25 - up to £3.50 for standard delivery. Given that books are usually heavy and come in a massive box I think this is quite reasonable compared to what I have paid for P+P on other websites for much lighter items.

Delivery is usually relatively swift 5-7 working days, although as it doesn't come through Royal Mail it is best to leave special instructions when you place your order to ask to have it left somewhere or with someone.

I think that the website seems to have more children's books than adult ones normally, and mostly in box sets. I think parents of young families would find this to be fantastic as they could get the whole set of a particular series for just over the same price as one book RRP.

The site itself is relatively easy to navigate and you can choose to search by adult or child books.

Also, don't be fooled that they only sell old irrelevant books, I have bought some at knock-down prices on there within weeks of their release.

You can also opt on the site to have the monthly catalogue delivered to you, and order through that if you so wish.

I have also noticed that some sites such as topcashback.co.uk offer cashback for this site.

All-in-all - I love this website and it will continue to use it (although I no longer have any bookshelf space in my house!)

Summary: One of my favourite book sites