How do you Buy your books?

[Gregory Sanders]

I would like to know how everyone here gets their books, online or through a brick and mortar store? Do you borrow more than you buy?

Thanks!

[Robert S.]

I usually head into my local Chapters store (the Canadian answer to Borders...) to pick up my books. I had an evil experience with credit cards many a moon ago and have forsaken them; which makes shopping online a little tough. But I just found our local library!! (we've been living here just a year) I think I will be getting many of my books that way from now on. Cheaper, convenient, and doesn't leave me scratching my head to find more shelf space!! :)

[Smash]

I love paperbackswap.com. I get a lot of my books through there. For newer books, I usually go to B&N or Target. I'm just now getting into ARCs, and hope to be getting more of those, soon!

[joemmama]

I buy quite a few from our local indy bookstore Tattered Cover and Arches Bookstore in Moab. Some I get some new from Amazon or used from Alibris, some library books, but the wait is long on so many, and the library has so few books, and finally I am very lucky to have a friend who reads a ton and gives her books to me when she is finished. I have several thousand books in my house, so I am probably almost stocked as well as my local library.It is getting a little crowded here...lol.

[cindysloveofbooks]

Since starting to review books I don't buy as much anymore but when I do if I know what I want then I tend to order from Chapters online. If I am at walmart, chapters or costco and I see something that i really want then I buy it. The same goes with my son. Even for him I order online or through two scholastic orders (one from his preschool he use to go to and one from school) The school one is french books only and the preschool is english.

[Lexie]

Mostly through Amazon, but when my boyfriend has Employee Appreciation days I go to Barnes and Noble (where he works is affiliated with them) so I can get the 40% off and when Borders is running a good deal on their books I go there (I went for the last one where all the manga, fantasy, romance, young adult and mystery were 4 for 3...I got 16 books for $102 made my day).

I also go to two used book stores--one is mostly romance/fantasy/young adult and the other is an older bookstore that stocks mostly collectible and before 2000 book series. Very rarely does it have 'new' books (but hey I found Sydney J Van Scyoc's trilogy there for $2 each, first edition and perfect condition plus found Joyce Ballou Gregorian's Tredana trilogy for $0.50 each perfect condition first edition...). One Saturday a month my friend and I go to the local thrift store and I buy my romances that way (since I can get new romances for under a buck) and there's 3 huge book sales I frequent each year as well.

[drey]

I buy online (amazon), at b&m stores, and borrow from the library. I do the buy-3-get-1-free on amazon for paperbacks, and I like their 30% off hardcovers too. With as many books as I go through, I've got to save any way I can... Of course, these are for books I can't get from my library, or books I have to own for re-reads...

[Melody]

I buy my books from both online and brick and mortar stores. Occasionally, I visit the used bookstores too. I used to visit the libraries some years back but didn't do so nowadays as I want to read at my own pace, given my hectic schedules.

[William Bentrim]

I frequented Amazon, the local newspaper's annual book sale which has become bi-annual and the AAUW book sale for years. Still do but paperback swap, bookmooch, title trader and swaptree are now my main sources of books. The only problem I see is that I am getting books faster than I can read them and they are piling up.

[Marg]

I borrow a lot more than I buy. When I do buy books I generally buy them over the internet. It's not very often that I walk through the doors of a brick and mortar bookstore.

[Norm Goldman]

I generally purchase my books online and I look for used copies. However, I must confess, that reviewing has kept me quite busy that I rarely purchase books.

Norm, Bookpleasures.com

[Musa]

I still like to buy my book the old fashion way through brick and mortar stores. I just think you can't discover a book through online. for example I was in boarders and found this book title, :The New Rules of Marketing and Pr. Now if I was online there's no way I would of pick up this book. I pick up this book sat down and read a good portion and loved it and decided I would get it. I just don't think I can get that experience from online. I know most online bookstore allow you to go through a good portion of the books they have for sale, but it wasn't the same.
Take my book Title "please Don't read This" which you can find at www.pleasedontreadthis.net there were times where I've lowered the download to a dollar and still no bits, people rather still have the real thing.
From what I heard online is better, more books are being sold online then in the bookstore but for me I still like heading to the bookstore and not having to wait for shipping, unless it's a book I can't find, or a use book.

[David Lingholm]

I recently started going back to my local library. The main branch of the Detroit Public Library is a fascinating building that is fun to explore as well as grab a few books. I do still buy books at Borders. For both the DPL and Borders, I just like the experience of wandering through all those books! Since I do a fair amount of driving, I also listen to audiobooks, which I will borrow from DPL or download from ITunes.