Buying Books

Friday 25 November 2016

For quite a while now, I've been trying to be more supportive of bookshops rather than Amazon. There are few independent bookshops in my area, so I have to settle for chains such as Waterstones, but I've also taken advantages of a weekly second hand market stall.

In this digital age - where it can be easier to order groceries online rather than travel to the store - it's not a big surprise to think that bookshops may eventually become extinct. These days, I wait to spend my money in person rather than online. Well, for some things, not all.

This way, I get to ensure the quality of the books I'm buying before parting with my money. It's very rare to receive a damaged book through the post, but accidents can happen. But not only am I able to check for wear and tear in store, I can also sample the work before buying - an option not always available when shopping online.

That being said, I have found that Amazon does have a much wider, more readily available, range. Not surprising, seeing as how big the company is. This does lead to frustration when I walk into a shop and can't find something, but can find it with a quick search when I get home. This is only added to when Amazon offers such good prices (five quid for a paperback? Don't mind if I do!) that only end up being doubled when it comes to shipping costs. Unless you spend over a certain amount, of course. And then there's the waiting... Not something I'm good at.

Do you support Amazon over bookshops?

9 comments:

  1. Great post! This is actually something I get quite conflicted over. As much as I want to support independent book stores, I usually always buy my books from Amazon because of the cheap prices and easy shipping. Especially since I'm a broke college student without an income. In the future, I would love to spend more money on bookstores though. I would hate to be one of the people contributing to the extinction of bookshops.

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    1. That's exactly what I'm like. Amazon is just so easy compared! But then instantly getting the book from a store is so satisfying, especially if you're impatient!

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  2. I think there's room for both! I can't stand it when people say 'Amazon isn't actually cheaper,' b/c sometimes it is - it really depends on the book, shopping around is nothing to be ashamed of. That said, it's worth reminding yourself to buy books from bookshops every now and then. (Plus I find that The Works has soooo many awesome bargains!)

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    1. Yes! I like to look in stores first and then if I can't find it I'll order it online when I get home - whether that be from Amazon or Waterstones. I love the points systems places like Waterstones have too, unlike Amazon. Makes me more likely to support them in order to earn money off and use points instead of cash.

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    2. The Works reward system gives 5% back - so I tend to make use of that ;)

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  3. I had amazon prime for a while which was great, because of the two day free shipping. During that time I didn't really buy from actual bookshops, but then when my membership expired and I didn't renew I started looking at what my local indie bookstore had, and kind of went from there. It helps cut down on the amount of books that I buy, because a lot of times I end up wanting more books than I can actually read. I don't mind paying full price at indie bookstores, because I know it's helping keep them afloat. I can't say that I haven't bought books off Amazon recently, but having to spend a certain amount to get free shipping sometimes isn't worth it for me so it's really rare when I do buy from Amazon.

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    1. I've found that, too. I tend to stick to the buy one get one half price deals in store as well which helps save money, and means I'm not buying more than I can currently handle. But then, when I know I have the money to spend and there are books that I want I can't help myself, regardless of where I'm shopping!

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  4. I do a mixture of both! I love shopping at second-hand bookstores - there's so much variety, and you also get the sense that they've been read/appreciated before. But at the same time, Amazon is definitely a lot more cheaper at times, which my poor uni student wallet definitely appreciates!

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    1. I'm quite picky about second hand books, but have been buying more to save money! I don't like the fact that they've been read before, as they feel dirty in my hands and I find it very difficult to hold them long enough to read, and I also like my books to be in pristine condition. Challenging myself by buying nearly all my Stephen King books second hand, though! Just got to read them all now haha :P

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