Are books (generally) the cheapest on Amazon?

[viaggiamo]

Hi

I am an Aussie coming to the USA and your books are soooo much cheaper than ours! Like more than half price cheaper if I go by the Amazon prices.

My question is: Is amazon pretty normal for books or are they way cheaper than a physical store?

We will be in CA from LA-SF and would like to know which chain stores have great, cheap books? (children's and adults?)

Thanks

PS: I have ordered some from Amazon, but just curious as to whether I should keep shopping or wait until I get there.

 

[disneychrista]

Amazon is generally cheaper than a B&M book store.

 

[LJSquishy]

Yes, most of the time Amazon (or even Walmart.com) will have the cheapest prices.

Every so often Amazon will be the same price as Barnes & Noble though so if we want a book "now", we buy it at a store. Otherwise, we generally prefer shopping online for convenience.

 

[Missy1961]

Most book stores don't discount books much unless they are best sellers, or if you belong to their loyalty programs.

 

[Egdisney]

If I am buying brand new books, Amazon is usually the cheapest. One reason I love my Kindle is that books are so much cheaper for it. The latest John Grisham was less than $4. Can't beat that!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You can also buy books (limited selection, but many bestsellers) at Costco.

 

[mistysue]

I depends if you want to pick your book, or just take whatever the store is trying to get rid of. If you want selection, you want to shop on Amazon. I pick up a lot of books for my elementary school child in the dollar aisle at Target, but they are the child versions of the same ones that are free on a kindle. Occasionally we end up with strange books just because somebody was selling them for a dollar or two. When not running a sale or for a brand new book I've found Amazon is usually fairly close to in-store pricing.

 

[3boymthr]

Target generally discounts the best sellers and new releases in store about 20% but the selection is just that best sellers or new releases - very little or no back stock. For back stock Amazon tends to have better prices. But...It also depends upon whether you have to have new books or gently used books. I very often will buy my books at the used book store. At my local used reseller all books are 50% off cover price and if I bring in my old books to trade I get an additional percentage off the cover price. Ebay is also a great place to buy used books in bulk. You can buy "lots" of used books with 15 - 20 books in a lot from a reseller for about $1 each.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

If you dont mind gently used books, go visit half price books. All there books are half off the cover price. I found a ton of like new kids books there for my classroom

 

[Canooknic]

Check out thebookdepository.com, I believe they ship worldwide. I have got some amazing deals sent to me in Canada

 

[wiigirl]

Amazon is generally cheaper than a B&M book store.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

If you want the absolute cheapest price anywhere online, use bookfinder.com.

This service goes out to all the reputable sites and finds the lowest price offered for a book. I'm usually a big fan of Amazon, but sometimes the only copy of a book I want that's available at Amazon will be quite pricey. Then I'm off to Bookfinder and sometimes (not always but fairly often) a different bookseller will have that work at a more reasonable price.

 

[SueInBoston]

Amazon is running a 12 days of Christmas special on books..Every day it will release books at a very discounted price....keep watch if you buy from Amazon.

 

[kiki02]

WE buy a lot of books on line and in stores. I do NOT think or find amazon to be cheapest. search on internet for cheaper. half price books too/ slightly used.

good luck

 

[sksjasams]

Amazon is running a 12 days of Christmas special on books..Every day it will release books at a very discounted price....keep watch if you buy from Amazon.

I can't seem to find this...do you happen to have a link?

Thank you

***ETA found it - thanks!

 

[daughtersrus]

Half.com also has low prices on books.

If you're not looking for anything in particular,I have found so great books at Goodwill stores. I often find many books that look like new. At one of our local stores there are a few people that hang out all day with their smart phones in hand to scan the books being put ou. They buy the ones selling for higher prices online and pay less than $1 for it at Goodwill.

 

[ellone]

Half.com also has low prices on books"!.

I wouldn't recommend half.com for anyone only staying for a limited time in the US. (It sounds like the Op is only visiting). Some half.com sellers are slow and it can take 3 weeks for a book to arrive.