Where to buy cheap paperback books?

[dawn1620]

I need suggestions on where to purchase cheaper paperback books. I look at the used books on Amazon, other sites like that but when you end up paying around 3-4 bucks on shipping for a used book I might as well go to the bookstore and get it.

I have been reading a lot lately and my bank account is starting to show the wear and tear from it. I don't mind used books as long as they aren't in bad shape, smell like old socks or are missing pages. I have found a used bookstore in my area and am going to check it out after work.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ckay87]

I am so addicted to this site:
www.paperbackswap.com

If you have 10 books to post, you get 2 free credits. Each credit gets you a book. You pay postage to send books out, you do not pay anything to receive books. No other costs associated with the site unless you choose to purchase from their marketplace or if you buy postage from them. Totally on the up and up. Furthermore, it's addicting!

So basically you get one book for the cost of postage. With Media Mail, typical postage is about $2.50. You can't beat it.

PS....if you decide to join, pm me. I could get a credit for a referral, which would be cool. If not, no biggie.

 

[diznygirl]

Look around for a library book sale. Our county just had one this weekend. Paperbacks were $.50, but if you waited for Saturday you could get a grocery bag full of books for just $2.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

Check your local library. Our four local libraries all have used bookstores inside. You can sometimes get paperbacks for as low as 25 cents. Also, check your local hospitals. A lot of hospital volunteer groups sell used books for fundraisers.

Also, another idea is Book Swim. It's like Netflix for books. You pay a monthly fee, and they ship you the books. www.bookswim.com

 

[RitaE]

the library?

What types of books do you like to read? Used bookstores are really good and I've had excellent luck with paperbackswap.com. I hardly ever buy from Amazon anymore because I went through a stretch where books listed "like new" or "good" were anything but and it was pissing me off.

I used to buy lots of books off of eBay too. Its a great way to purchase a whole series at once.

Now of course we are almost an entirely digital reader family - Kindles and Sony. We check out eBooks from the library too. Since Kindle books get licensed for (usually) up to 6 devices many new releases I share the costs with my Mom, a neighbor, and a couple of friends. We take turns buying.

 

[akcire]

I am in unincorporated so no library services. My goodwill has paperbacks for $.89 and hardcover for $1.79.

I will hit the garage sales in summer.

I use swaptree too.

Let me know what you like to read---I have a box in my basement. You can PM if you don't want to share your literary taste with all of the Dis.

 

[solotraveler]

I second both the paperbackswap suggestion and the library suggestion.

Paperbackswap has been great for me. Nice people and a really inexpensive way to trade books with others. Of course brand new releases are tougher to get your hands on, but if there are other books you are interested in reading, they are certainly out there.

In addition to the in-library bookstores, check to see if your library has a system-wide sale every once in a while (our does quarterly). You can pick up some amazing deals there as well.

 

[dawn1620]

I am so addicted to this site:
www.paperbackswap.com

If you have 10 books to post, you get 2 free credits. Each credit gets you a book. You pay postage to send books out, you do not pay anything to receive books. No other costs associated with the site unless you choose to purchase from their marketplace or if you buy postage from them. Totally on the up and up. Furthermore, it's addicting!

So basically you get one book for the cost of postage. With Media Mail, typical postage is about $2.50. You can't beat it.

PS....if you decide to join, pm me. I could get a credit for a referral, which would be cool. If not, no biggie.

I've heard of this site before but I like to keep my books because I always like to go back later and reread them. I'm very possessive about books, I don't even like lending out my books to friends.

I do go when my library has a book sale but they aren't scheduled to have one anytime soon.

Right now I'm in the Vampire Romance phase and have been reading a lot of different book series that I have seen recommended on a book thread. I also like suspense and drama. I don't enjoy books that are sad even if the story is beautiful.

 

[MoonFaerie]

The library or used book stores. We have an AWESOME used book store here that is huge.

I don't re-read books that often, other than my faves, and I just don't have enough book storage. About a year and a half ago, I decided to try bookswim, which is like Netflix but books, and I really like it. The shipping is a bit slow, but it saves me a lot of money.

 

[1stluvispooh]

Garage sales. We have a store called half price books. I too was getting tired of buying books and watching the bank account dwindle so I started going to the good old library. Can you also organize a book swap among your friends. You all bring books that you no longer want and everyone gets to pick a "new" book from what other people have brought.

 

[NotUrsula]

I am in unincorporated so no library services.

Have you checked with some of your neighboring library systems? Every public library system I've ever worked with had a program to let folks in nearby unserved areas buy in at about the same amount that your property tax would contribute if you lived there. Most of the time that is less than $50/year for your family.

 

[Ohiodislover]

We get a lot on half.com You can usually see what else a seller has and they will combine shipping.

 

[my3sonsagn]

Library sales - even if your area doesn't have its own library check out other areas; my library system no longer does book sales, so we go elsewhere. I look here: http://www.booksalefinder.com/index.html to find local library (and other) book sales.

Goodwill and other thrift stores

If you look on ebay you can often find "lots" of books (usually separated by genre and/or author); buying by the lot usually saves on shipping.

Ditto with craigslist - search "book lots"

I've often wanted to try paperback swap, but I usually like to re-read books; the ones I don't want to keep are generally the ones others don't want, either. lol

 

[ilovepcot]

We have a store called half price books.

And ours if Traders. Many towns have book swap stores, just look in the yellow pages under "Books - New & Used". Our store is so nice and I usually spend half a day there. They have hard bound books (money only for them) and paperbacks that you "swap" your paperbacks for. The place is set up just like any retail book store with categories the same as there or in a library and I find the newest bestsellers. Can't say enough about the place.

 

[Denine]

Library book sales!

 

[Imzadi]

I am so addicted to this site:
www.paperbackswap.com

Fellow addict here too!

I've heard of this site before but I like to keep my books because I always like to go back later and reread them. I'm very possessive about books, I don't even like lending out my books to friends.

OP, you don't even have to mail out books if you don't want to. You can buy credits from the Paperbackswap kiosk or buy them from fellow members who have extra credits to sell. You use PayPal to pay for the credits. They go for around $2.85 - $3.45 per credit. Then you use one credit for each book. NO extra charges. No postage fees.

Also, Paperbackswap has hardcovers too, not just paperbacks. Depending on the genre, I've gotten pristine, Like New and sometimes brand new books through them. Some books were probably given as gifts and the owner just didn't want them. They were able to swap them for books they did want instead.

 

[laurafergie]

I like bookmooch.com - very much like paperbackswap, but has one on one communication.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I hit the thrift stores. Some have good book selections and other meh book selections, so you have to learn which are which. One thrift store has a better selection than many used bookstores though, and books are usually less than a dollar each.

 

[Planogirl]

I like going to actual brick and mortar bookstores so Half Price Books is my favorite. I find lots of good hardbacks at discount prices too.