where do you get your books from?

[thunderbird69]

I was reading about how independent bookshops are upset about books being given away free for World Book Night and the threat to their businesses. I wondered how many people still use bookshops, independent ones in particular.

I can't remember the last time I bought a book from a bookshop. I get mine from -
Amazon
Ebay
Library (buy or borrow)
Borrow from friends/family

Amazon-for me because I have a Kindle

Amazon/charity shop/carboot/Ebay for dc.

Charity shops or if I really want a book then bookdepository.com

Waterstones (usually) or Amazon (for rarer things).
I tried charity shops but there's a reason most of them are in there.

I get books from all sorts of places. I occasionally use an independent book shop but not often as there are none near where I live.

Most of mine come from charity shops, but with the odd Amazon or Abe Books purchase if I desperately want something. Otherwise I use readitswapit, which can be brilliant when it works. Waited ages for a copy of 'Room' and have just succeeded in swapping it for one of my unwanted books. A win all round!

Sadly, though, I have to say that I rarely buy anything full-price from small independent bookshops. Although I feel guilty that I don't.

Usually Amazon, sometimes the Book Depository and sometimes Tesco books online. Very, very occasionally I will buy from Foyles in Charing Cross. I don't use independent bookshops as there are none near me and I must admit, I have become used to not paying full price for books.

Libraries always :)

Last time I bought new books from a bookshop for myself was in 2008...and then I left them on the plane I was travelling on along with the presents I had bought for my family in Canada I get all my books secondhand/borrow/swap with friends/family and have got some fantastic reads from charity shops. All the bestsellers/book club reads end up there eventually anyway.
I do occasionally buy new books for dc at the school book fair and I have once taken them to the amazing P&G Wells bookshop in Winchester and bought a couple of new books as I think it is worth supporting that type of business.

Amazon (kindle)/Play/Book Depository/manybooks.net/book club

If I'm out shopping anyway, I might visit an actual bookshop. There are mostly chains where I live, though, except for the odd secondhand or specialty shop. Because they are chains, they all have the same books, and they are also rather expensive. When I lived in the UK for a while, I went completely bananas in Waterstones. I think it's best for all concerned that we moved out again

When I was a child/teenager, I practically lived at the library, but haven't been there for years now. I think you really have to make a habit of it to even think of the possibility. Somehow it's so much easier to buy cheap books online and give them away again if I don't like them. My library doesn't have a big English section, anyway, and most books I read are in English.

I will have to get over this library avoidance before I start writing my Master's thesis, won't I

I borrow from the library, buy from Charity shops, ebay and sometimes from Amazon.

I'm always looking for a bargain though because money is tight, but I love reading so much

indep book shop locally but way too expensive

amazon
charity shops
swap with friends
supermarkets
poundland

Just remembr that if you don't make use of your local library you may visit in a few months and find that it has been closed. Loads are being threatened with closure! :(

Library (my DH is a library assistant so I have to!).
Oxfam book shop (good books in our local ones).
The book club thingy that comes to where I work (good for Richard and Judy best sellers).
Amazon (if I just can't wait - though it's been so long since I bought a full price book I just can't bring myself to do so).

Amazon, waterstones in local highstreet, WH Smiths, charity shops and readitswapit.co.uk. Really want to start using the library again, think it will become one of my resolutions this year.

My idea of heaven is having as long as I want to browse a bookshop

Library - they sell old stock and sell donations as well, and I have picked up some major bargains.
Amazon - for authors we collect
Charity shops - for holiday reading we are likely to leave behind in whatever accommodation we are in, for others to enjoy.
Franchise bookshops or independents - for specialist items.

oh yes i remember ds used to spend some of his lunch money on school library sell offs to bring home for me.5p each iirc.

Charity shops and Amazon. Very rarely from independent bookshops due to price, which is dreadful of me as my friend owns such a shop.