Where Do You Buy Your Books?

Fidelis

Apart from the obvious answer of "a bookshop", I was wondering where people purchase their books. I use Play.com and Amazom.com myself. Any other sites people could direct me to?

TIA

Rabies

I have only ever bought one two books online. Got them from Amazon I think.

Michael G

I feel guilty about it, but I usually go to Amazon too. Otherwise when I am in Dublin I go to Read's in Nassau Street. The reason I feel guilty is that if I want to buy meat or fish I go to a real butcher or fishmonger, not Tesco or Dunne's or SuperValu because they sell ****e, and I feel I ought to go to a real bookshop for books. But I don't know of any. Eason's don't count, because they have been ripping us off for years and the sooner Amazon drives them into insolvency the better.

philologos

Amazon.co.uk Marketplace, theres a decent saving on some of the books when you get them through other sellers.

Fr Clint Power

When I buy online I use http://www.find-book.co.uk/ to find the cheapest site for the book I'm after.

http://www.thebookpeople.ie is always worth a look too, small selection but great prices.

John

Hodges & Figgis, Amazon.co.uk, ebay.ie and abebooks.com

Backtoblack

www.biblio.com

good bargains sometimes!

Second hand book stores can be great too.. where abouts do you live in the country?

Karoma

Usually buy from http://www.bookdepository.co.uk but usually rely on reviews / further information from off-line shops mainly, and other websites.

Mrs. MacGyver

Karoma wrote:

Usually buy from http://www.bookdepository.co.uk but usually rely on reviews / further information from off-line shops mainly, and other websites.

I do too and find their selection brilliant and free postage too! Was able to get the complete reginald perrin omnibus and Jodi Picoult books that aren't published in Ireland yet, so it was a righ little gem. Wouldn't go beyond them!

Blush_01

Fr Clint Power wrote:

http://www.thebookpeople.ie is always worth a look too, small selection but great prices.

Thanks for that. Just got some reference books and about 15 novels for €55 with free p&p. I don't know whether to hug you or smack me.

I normally buy my academic books on e-bay (although postage can be a stinger) or if they're not available there, Amazon. It's rare that I'd get a book for college in a shop since I got the credit card. However, I'll buy books anywhere I see them if I want them. I find Easons have a woeful selection at times. I love sales in Waterstones and H&F, I adore Chapters, O'Mahony's in Limerick is alright, I love book stalls. I nearly died when I was in London. I only allowed myself to go into two shops on Charing Cross Rd. and had to be dragged out If I hadn't had so little luggage space, I'd have taken half the road back with me. I'm a fiend for buying things. I got about 30 books over christmas this year, and I have a huge backlog from when I was an undergrad, I don't know where I can even store the books I have anymore, about 20 of them are in bags, I have boxes full at home... mental. I love them all though.

r3nu4l

In Ireland I always liked Chapters for a good bargain

If any of you are ever in Cambridge you MUST visit Galloway and Porter.

They have one shop and a warehouse. The shop is absolutely amazing. The books are not second-hand or used. I bought my copy of Jonathon Norrell and Mr. Strange there for £2.95, two months after the book was released. I got Stephen Kings Cell in Hardback for £1 and a signed copy of Bill Cullens 'It's a long way from Penny Apples for £1.

It's just a pity that they don't have an online shop but as I say if you are ever in Cambridge it's well worth a visit.

I generally just buy used books from Charity shops these days unless it's a special occassion such as Christmas and my Birthday.

BossArky

ebay

nesf

Anywhere that I spot a book that I want. I have zero loyalty.

John

r3nu4l wrote:

If any of you are ever in Cambridge you MUST visit Galloway and Porter.

I might be over there for training. Bookmarked.

Valmont

I usually just go to Hodges Figgis or Waterstones, they're the best bookshops in town and right beside each other

Fidelis

Thank you in particular for that link to the Book Depository, I shall be using that site in future!

I also find H&F on Dawson Street to be a great place to browse entire sections and for sampling books.

luckat

Amazon if I want something that's not available easy and fast in Ireland. Otherwise Dubray, Hodges Figgis, Rathgar Bookshop, Read's, Green's Library in Clare Street, the Oxfam bookshop (if it's still there, haven't been in Parliament Street in a bit), Eason's, Chapters, the secondhand bookshop that used to be a bank and turned into a Polish food shop so moved two doors up and upstairs in Rathmines beside the Stella, Books Upstairs. Used to go to the Winding Stair but I think it may be gone now (?) and loved Webb's, which is long gone. Oh, and the Secret Bookstore in Wicklow/Exchequer Street.

Pherekydes

When I'm not buying cheap paperbacks in the usual spots I'm augmenting my library with fine books from The Folio Society

Backtoblack

nesf wrote:

Anywhere that I spot a book that I want. I have zero loyalty.

Me neither!

I don't particularly like Easons though myself.. I would prefer HF or a book store with some character.

Tar.Aldarion

Dubray books, recently adverts.ie as I got 6 on friday and want 5 more off there.

Esmereldina

I have recently discovered the joys of Ebay for buying rare academic books (specially ones from Italy...). Normally I buy books from just about anywhere really. Bookshops in any city I am in, Amazon, Amazon marketplace, publishers' websites... anywhere I find a book I want/need

OfflerCrocGod

nesf wrote:

Anywhere that I spot a book that I want. I have zero loyalty.

Ditto!

Backtoblack

Esmereldina wrote:

I have recently discovered the joys of Ebay for buying rare academic books (specially ones from Italy...). Normally I buy books from just about anywhere really. Bookshops in any city I am in, Amazon, Amazon marketplace, publishers' websites... anywhere I find a book I want/need

Why do you mention Italy? Just curious!

Esmereldina

Backtoblack wrote:

Why do you mention Italy? Just curious!

Oh yeah, that'd be because I am researching Italian history for my PhD... forgot that might have sounded a little strange

Backtoblack

Esmereldina wrote:

Oh yeah, that'd be because I am researching Italian history for my PhD... forgot that might have sounded a little strange

lol no no, I fretted I might have been asking a silly question!
Cool! Sounds interesting!

nesf

Slow coach wrote:

When I'm not buying cheap paperbacks in the usual spots I'm augmenting my library with fine books from The Folio Society

Yeah I've been staring at them for ages. They do very nice editions of books and there's usually something in their catalogues that interests me.

Eoin

John wrote:

Hodges & Figgis, Amazon.co.uk, ebay.ie and abebooks.com

www.Abebooks.com for me as well; just received a shipment of 17 books I managed to sneak into the house before the better half spotted me.

The shipping is a pain - generally $3 or $4 per book, but at $1 it sort of works out OK. Obviously it's only a good site when you know what you're looking for, but I managed to get a load of books I lost over the years, and also used the "10 books" sticky to get some inspiration. The books are generally in very used condition, and probably ex-library books, but once it's legible and intact, it really doesn't bother me at all.

Failing that, if I'm passing Blackrock market on a weekend, I'll drop in and see what's in stock in the stall near the entrance.

John

I got some rare neuroscience books from the twenties and forties from abebooks recently. My next target for my collection is unfortunately well over €350 for the cheapest copy and I just got outbid on it on ebay for only £50! :mad:

Backtoblack

eoin_s wrote:

www.Abebooks.com for me as well; just received a shipment of 17 books I managed to sneak into the house before the better half spotted me.

The shipping is a pain - generally $3 or $4 per book, but at $1 it sort of works out OK. Obviously it's only a good site when you know what you're looking for.......

For shipping that's really good. On biblio.com I pay $9 per book shipping, so it can add up. I'm going to add abebooks.com to my favourites. Will check it out over the next few days. Biblio.com is still good value compared to buying new sometimes though too!

simu

amazon, litriocht.com, Waterstone's and Vibes and Scribes in Cork

Rb

Amazon, Waterstones, Easons.

Backtoblack

Secrets Bookstore in Dublin!
Brill!!!!

scop

I'm kind of surprised so many of you seem to rely on online bookstores to get your books since the joys of the real-life bookshop are boundless! I buy my academic books online as they are quite specific, but for fiction or random non-fiction its Chapters, Waterstones, and a couple of others. All in the city centre and within 15 minutes of each other.

nesf

scop wrote:

I'm kind of surprised so many of you seem to rely on online bookstores to get your books since the joys of the real-life bookshop are boundless! I buy my academic books online as they are quite specific, but for fiction or random non-fiction its Chapters, Waterstones, and a couple of others. All in the city centre and within 15 minutes of each other.

Cork has an unfortunate lack of choice when it comes to bookshops. It's one of the things that I'm most jealous of when it comes to Dublin.

scop

nesf wrote:

Cork has an unfortunate lack of choice when it comes to bookshops. It's one of the things that I'm most jealous of when it comes to Dublin.

That would drive me nuts! I'm not a great spender so its one my one little vice in that respect. Makes me feel like some kind of consumer

Blush_01

Sorry if this is off topic (which I know it is, but it's relevant in its own way).

Just got a delivery of over €300 worth of books - cost me €55.24. Also, because I was paying over €55 the P&P was free and all the books are brand new. If anyone's interested in buying new books online (granted they're in bundles, so if a group of friends with similar interests wanted to buy together it might work too) the formerly suggested bookpeople website is (IMHO) great. Doesn't have the thrill of the chase of e-bay, but excellent and very reasonably priced.

scop

Great link blush.

Fidelis

http://www.alibris.co.uk/ - searches through a network of independent bookstores

Blush_01

scop wrote:

Great link blush.

I wish I could claim credit, but someone posted it earlier in the thread. I believe it was Fr. Clint Power, but I'm open to correction.

OfflerCrocGod

pk100 wrote:

Starting tomorrow kennys.ie - Irelands Largest Online Bookshop will offer free shipping worldwide! For 5 days only! Visit kennys at www.kennys.ie

I believe such advertisement is against the boards rules.

r3nu4l

OfflerCrocGod wrote:

I believe such advertisement is against the boards rules.

Ruu sitebanned him hours ago

Mrs. MacGyver

nesf wrote:

Cork has an unfortunate lack of choice when it comes to bookshops. It's one of the things that I'm most jealous of when it comes to Dublin.

The mainly murder booksop on Paul St. or vibes and scribes (Cork's equivalent of chapters) are quite good.

ashyle

Amazon.co.uk, some sellers charge like 1p! Can't be right... (can anyone explain why they are so cheap??) Still they usually arrive quickly and I've never gotten a second hand book, they are always brand new!

Other than that I use the secret book shop off Grafton st, near Tower Records. Loove second hand books...

jrey1981

Bought my last 4 books from the Book Depository, saved quite a bit on the Amazon, Reads or Easons prices.