SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

Where do you typically go to buy your books?

Do you (A) hop in the car and drive to your local bookstore (Borders, B&N, Angus & Robertson, etc), do you (B) logon to your favorite book site (Amazon, BookDepository, etc) or do you (C) grab books while picking up toiletries at your local convenience store (Wal-Mart, Target, Big W, etc)?

Short Answer: (B), if I want to buy something quickly and easily.

Long Answer: ALL OF THE ABOVE

As always, it's all or nothin' for me. LOL!

I do all of the above. I used to (when I lived in the states) have to wander through my local Borders every week, if not more often, just to see what I might be missing out on.

Since living overseas for that past several years, sometimes in countries who's primary language is other than English, I've been forced to buy more books at online stores. BookDepository being my favorite right now. In Australia, I found the prices were extremely hard to swollow when I knew what I could pay for the same thing (maybe with a cheesier cover) at 2/3 the price.

I have also been found making my rounds buying whatever household essentials at a convenience store (is that what they're called? discount store? whatever) when I pass the book section and MUST see what's available. At least 1/2 the time, I would leave with an armful of books b/c they were 10% (or more) off the cover price.

It's a sickness! We all have it! Don't judge me, join me! LOL!!

Lol! My answer is (B) 95% of the time (at Amazon and Bookdepository mostly). It's the easiest way plus I can pre-order and see who's dispatching new releases first.

The other 5% is (A) at Waterstone's and the discount book store. The other week I bought 14 books from the discount place!

Holy Crap, girl! That's a lot in one go. Although, I'm not one to talk b/c my *cough* purchases were eBooks. So, same diff, just different size. hehe

I'm 99.9% (B).
Living in a slightly "rural" (no mega-cities in our prefecture) area of a non-English speaking country means available bookstore books are very limited in selection and usually 1.5-2 times as expensive! When I travel to the states, I definitely browse any and all bookstores (and book racks) that cross my path (and load up on books to bring back). I love shopping online, but browsing in an actual store can't be beat!!

Australian book prices are extortionate, so for me its B to actually buy - i refuse to pay Australian prices.
We only have one bookstore in our small country town that really only stocks the latest best sellers. I do wander through occassionally but its not near the main shopping area.
The department store (Big W) has a small range too, I usually end up taking pics of covers with my phone and then look them up online when I get home :)

I usually end up taking pics of covers with my phone and then look them up online when I get home :)

I do that with so much of my other shopping too!! So many things are cheaper online....!

We constantly shopped online when we lived in AU. Don't know how people can afford to support their reading habit in AU without online book shopping!

We don't. My books are now towering around me and the computer since I discovered Book Depository. Amazon is way too dear for o/s people but BD doesn't charge postage so 'hooray'.

Of course, there's always ebooks too, of which I have plenty but I usually get them direct from the publisher or allromanceebooks.com. (Not just romance)

Sometimes you just see a book at the shops of course that you just have to have right now, especially if its at a good price.

Then there's ebay.

Thank GOODNESS I'm not an eBay user. :)

Usually B because I buy most books on my Kindle but I will sometimes buy books for cheap at thrift stores or receive them as gifts. These are ones that I already have some in paper and are collecting (like The Twilight Saga which i have in paper AND ebook) or the Sookie Stackhouse which I have all but the most recent and Touch of Dead in paperback. (So they match.)

Other than that my non ebook purchases are ones that aren't available on Kindle for whatever reason OR ones that have lots of pictures or that I flip around a lot in like cookbooks or art/photography/novelty.

Sandra wrote: "We don't. My books are now towering around me and the computer since I discovered Book Depository. Amazon is way too dear for o/s people but BD doesn't charge postage so 'hooray'.

Of course, there..."

Usually Amazon has free shipping (on most items) if you spend $25 or more which is very easy to to. That is in the USA only I believe though so I don't know where you are but it is handy. :) Just be sure to CHECK the free super saver shipping because it isn't automatic.

Sorry Awesomevegan no free shipping no matter how much you spend when you live o/s. I'm in Aus and its $12.49 per book shipping. So hooray for Book Depository, although sometimes I have to wait for books.

Amazon Japan has a similar deal (free shipping for over 1500 yen)--very thankful for that! Though it means I never order just one book...even if I really only wanted one specific book...rare as that is!

Slightly OT (although it works for books too), but if any of you who take pics of stuff to find online later have an iphone, there's an app for that. It's called Red Laser, and it's a barcode scanner. You just scan the barcode and it identifies the item and tells you prices for it at different online retailers.

And it's just a fun app. My kids scan stuff around the house with it all the time. :)

I buy from Amazon.com either paper books or ebooks for my kindle. And then I check out from the library -- ALOT. I also borrow from friends and I have a friend who we share ebooks on our kindles together.

I also buy used books from ebay.com and used from Amazon.com.

Very occasionally I buy books from BAM or borders.

Laura Lulu wrote: "Slightly OT (although it works for books too), but if any of you who take pics of stuff to find online later have an iphone, there's an app for that. It's called Red Laser, and it's a barcode scann..."

Very cool!

I've recently noticed that, Laura. I have a scanner on "Bing" which does the same thing. Very cool! Listen up, retailers! Reduce your prices or we will shop online instead! hehe Yeah, that'll work?!

For me, it´s also mostly B. I live in Germany and even if there´s a big book store in my town, it has only a small section of English books. Most of the time I can´t wait for the German release (if it´s released in German), so I end p buying the English copy. That´s why I´m hoplessly addicted to Amazon and Book Despository (thank god for free shipping!)

Amazon and BookDepository both have to LOVE all of us. We definitely give them a TON of $$. :)

For me it's all the above.
I even buy books through second-hand stores around the area (Goodwill)is good to find books too.
I also have three different libraries I belong to that I have buying books for me if I can wait that long:)

I buy from all three. Sometime the bookstore only has a book online and not in the store.

"brick and mortar" I LOVE THAT!

Humm, I do still buy from "brick and mortar", but that it becasuse I live in a small town and there is something to be said about customer service here in "Sidney: the booktown by the sea" I can walk into Tanners or any of the 7 used bookstores and the person behind the till knows my tastes so well that they can tell me what they have that might interest me and if it is not busy we can talk books for a while. Wonderful!

I like the conveince of buying online, but I HATE how impersonal it is! Though Chapters and Amazon keeps pegs on your buying habits and will offer suggestions, it is not the same when it is so one-sides. I will still use the online method, and frankly, with my love for my Kobo increaseing, I know that I will be inside Tanner's less and less.. but what can you do in a changing world? At least there are still enough people needing the feel of a real book in their hands that Tanner's will be there for years to come. (this is a town of the "newly wed, and nearly dead")

I have only bought from a convience store once or twice and it was because I was so sick there was no way I was walking or driving farther than a block for popcicles, gingerale and a book.

I hear you Anja, I don't head into Victoria unless I can't find it at Tanners, and they can't get it for me. And the last time I went into to Chapters it was to have a screaming match with the manager over exchanging my defunct Kobo (GIFT! Dammit) for one that worked.

I am proud of myself that I was able to calm myself down enough to say: "I have done the retail management thing, and I appriciate the position you are in, but trust me when I say this $150 product is NOT WORKING! I have done everything I can to not have to come in, my techie husband has even tried to save this device, it is not coming back from the dead. This was a gift, all I am asking for is an EXCHANGE, and I will leave all necessary particulars that you need" I am glad she did do the exchange, because this new one is doing things that I did not know where POSSIBLE! I just can't beleive how lacking large stores are in Customer Service! geesh!

Erin I'm just amazed that you live in a small town & have 7 used bookstores. How small is small?

I'm picturing a small town where these owners don't get along and all thought "I can do a better job with a used bookstore than, Miss PeggySue Jones could any day!" LOL!

I do all three. I do really love to actually go to the bookstore, but sometimes I don't have the chance and either go online or pick up a book at a non-book store while I am purchasing something else.

All online. Buying books in stores at the arse end of the world is a bad idea all round. Online, it can be up to 50% cheaper. Bookstores lost my loyalty a LONG time ago (not that we actually have any left, mind you).

Sandra sicc'ed me onto betterworldbooks and they have proved to be my doom and downfall. Damn you, ridiculously well-priced paperbacks!

Mainly online. Even though I still like to browse some of my favourite bookstores and second hand shops and sometimes can't stop myself from getting a book every now and then.

I read the other day that Amazon is planning to take over Book Depository. Hope that won't impact on the free shipping.

I buy almost exclusively online and have for years because:
1. I can get exactly what I want. No hunting around for a specific book in a series. Plus, I can read reviews before I buy.
2. I now buy either Kindle books or Nook e-books. I buy very few paperbacks or hard backs anymore.

My apologies to any bookstore owners out there, but I think that the book industry is evolving away from brick and mortar stores. :-(

I haunt my Half Price Bookstores! All 3 of the ones closest to me. That is where I get most of my books. I sometimes order from Amazon, but usually only when I need a specific book in a hurry, or want some good smut! Our Borders closed, and B&N just doesn't carry much smut. Forget about being able to find M/M or much BDSM.

Still don't have an ereader. Don't even have a cell phone yet! So, I haven't started buying or collecting ebooks.