Amazon vs. bookshops

[AutumnOctober]

Ordering a book on Amazon:

Great! You've chosen to buy a book. Would you like it in Kindle, Audio, or paperback?
Paperback please
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE FROM OTHER SELLERS
Okay thanks that's fine I'd just like to order the paperback please, I don't really mind who the seller is
FREE DELIVERY BY MON 5TH JULY
Thanks, I don't really care, I just want to buy a book
YOUR ORDER QUALIFIES FOR FREE DELIVERY IN THE UK
Okay whatever thanks, I just want to buy the damn book and complete the checkout process
PREMIUM DELIVERY CHARGE: £3.99
Wait, what? You said it was free. I didn't ask for premium delivery
GET IT BY TOMORROW IF YOU ORDER WITHIN THE NEXT 17 MINUTES
Okay forget it, you're being weird
YOU HAVE PRE APPROVAL FOR A CREDIT CARD - CLICK HERE
Jesus closes app
reopens app
ADD £4.30 OF BOOKS DISPATCHED BY AMAZON TO GET FREE UK DELIVERY
restarts phone
RETURNS ARE EASY! UNLIMITED PRIME DELIVERY FOR JUST £8.99 PER MONTH!

Ordering a book from a bookshop:

Hi, do you have this book?
No but I'll gladly order it in for you at no extra charge
Cool, thanks

I try to use Wordery - free delivery on all books with no minimum order.

I actually agree that Amazon isn't a great place to buy books. Even if you know the book you want it can be hard work trawling through all the different editions and sellers, new or secondhand etc and if you don't know what you want their website is pretty useless for browsing. I prefer Blackwells online, much better website for browsing books, competitive prices and free delivery.

sadly I love Amazon. I have a kindle and can get a new book ready to read within minutes!

Bookshop, I have to go there, maybe order the book, go back and collect it. And then there are the opening times...

I really love the "instant gratification " that is e book shopping on Amazon.

I'm lucky enough to have an independent bookshop in my town, which orders in what it doesn't have in stock nearly as speedily as Amazon would deliver. It also developed a decent website during lockdown, which - combined with a pick-up service - again meant I could get books very quickly. I also find that browsing there is much better than browsing on any website - if I don't have a specific book I want to read I frequently go in there and come out with one (or two or three). So, yup, its only the price that they can be beaten on, and I totally appreciate that can be an issue - but it hopefully means authors earn slightly more, therefore meaning they're more likely to carry on writing books.

I find that books shops normally don't have the book you want, often can't order it in and if they can, you have to waste time and money to go back to the shop to pick it up

Libraries tend to have already sold off the book that you wanted to read it it's permanently out and takes ages to get to as it's on the other side of town and is a bus ride away.

Charity shops never have the book that you want in.

Often if I want I book, I'll go to eBay or Amazon because they will actually have the book I want and will post it to me.

I'm lucky enough to have an independent bookshop in my town, which orders in what it doesn't have in stock nearly as speedily as Amazon would deliver.
They probably get them delivered by Amazon Prime and sell them on at a higher price 😂

When I need to buy books I use Hive like a previous poster. Their prices are great and it does feel good to not use Amazon.

Independent bookshops are generally found in tourist type places, probably lots of them in the Cotwolds, not general high streets, not sure I count Waterstones and WH Smith which are the ones generally found in towns

I suppose I do a mixture. I find Amazon very convenient. We don't have a local bookshop but I buy from small book shops online. Amazon if I want something quickly or it's expensive (like an academic textbook) and I want a good price. Bookshop (online) if I've got a bit more time/spare cash.
Our Waterstones is nice for a wander around but I don't always find what I want and usually end up buying additional. Kids section is nice for DS to choose a book. Our library isn't open again yet and I miss I a lot.

I had no idea independent book shops still existed! I always buy used from Amazon, saves an absolute fortune.

Remember to buy second hand if you can. I'm in a second hand books FB group. We also have a local "free" fb group where people hand on items to each other (it can be anything) and I often put books on there.

I buy second hand on Amazon when I can from smaller sellers

I order online from Blackwells. They are excellent.

@jasminoide

I had no idea independent book shops still existed! I always buy used from Amazon, saves an absolute fortune.

Yes independent bookshops still exist, dear.

Classica Well they don't in my city. Haven't seen one since I was a child 30 years ago.