Best Place to Buy Books Online?

[sammyvine]

Hi all,

Where is the best place to buy books online? I know most people buy from Amazon, but I have ordered books from them recently and I have not been impressed. Some of my books arrived damaged, with bent pages and scuffed edges. I think Amazon do not use strong enough envelopes, so the books get damaged during transit.

I understand this may sound a bit picky, and books tend to get damaged overtime, but I like to keep my mine in good condition so they look nice on my book shelf.

World of books are very good. The books are second hand but usually in very good condition

Hive.co.uk
Bookshop.org

Both of these are good and they support smaller retailers and high streets. Much better than amazon.

World of books is good too although I've had some issues buying kids' books from them that claim to be in very good condition but have bits ripped off etc. I wouldn't buy children's books there.

Having said that, if you really care about packaging and perfect condition, you might want to try one of the big book retailers like Waterstones or Blackwells.

I use bookshop.org. They are great!

Postscript Books, psbooks.co.uk, are excellent in terms of price, packaging etc. All their stock is brand new but they don't generally sell new releases and the number of titles isn't massive. I think the term is publishers' remainders.

I always find World Of Books very good.

For new books Amazon will almost always be the cheapest, but as the saying goes "pay peanuts and you get monkeys". My local independent bookshop will order books and post them, but is unable to negotiate the discounts that Amazon can. For second hand books Abebooks.co.uk is the site to use, it unfortunately owned by Amazon, but is easier than looking up individual seller sites.

I use Blackwells, they are always excellent.

They don't even sell Outliers by Gladwell which isn't even a new book, so you are right that they don't have a large library!

Nope, they don't :-)
With them, it's more a case of seeing if they have anything you'd like, in which case service and value are excellent, rather than knowing the title you want and standing a good chance of them stocking it.

I always use Abe

Me too

Awesome books are excellent price and quality wise for secondhand. I buy from them via Amazon, but I think they have their own website. I've never been disappointed. World of Books, on the other hand, tend to misdescribe the book condition. For new I'd probably stick to Amazon, but I agree their packaging is not very good these days.

I buy from Fox Lane Books. Everything comes beautifully wrapped so it’s like a little present to myself when parcels arrive! The customer service is excellent and they often have special independent bookshop editions.

www.foxlanebooks.co.uk

They don't seem to have a large library. They don't have the Outliers book I am after.

I might be wrong but I think they can get hold of books as long as they are in print. I buy from Mr Bs Emporium in Bath and even if they don’t come up in the search box, if you email them they can get hold of most books :)

I like Blackwells for new books (last time there was no minimum fee to get free postage), and World of Books or eBay for secondhand.

I use Foyles for books and they’re pretty good - a wide range and the books usually arrive quickly too.

Yes, Fox Lane Books can get any book in print for you.

I've sworn never to buy physical books from Amazon again after I twice had to return an expensive hardback bought as a present for someone - both times it arrived with bent covers and folded pages, which to me is totally unacceptable with a brand-new book.

I find Blackwell's very good and, as others have said, the postage is free. That’s only for new books, though, which I rarely buy. Otherwise, World of Books is usually excellent and books they describe as 'used' more often than not turn up looking completely unread and pristine.

Yes, they are. Plus, independent bookshops benefit when you get your books there. Either independent bookshops in general or you can nominate a specific shop you'd like to benefit.

Are there books new and do they arrive in good condition?

Yes. All new and I have never had an issue with condition.

I use Hive, mostly because they support local bookshops - you can choose which one, or your contribution goes to a general fund. Never had a problem with condition of books, they arrive quickly or you can do click and collect to a bookshop.

Bookmarking to return later: I have used World of Books and abebooks.co.uk which is a wider site that includes WOB. Best option is to have a number of places to look, but it can be hard work. Do you just want to buy? - is your home full yet?

I like indie bookshops but I am hooked into Amazon through my Kindle.

I borrow lots of books but I also suggest libraries buy them, and I am also in a position to enquire about how my local libraries support local businesses such as local specialist booksellers. I think libraries buy a wider variety of books sometimes, and that's a good thing, and they will buy multiple copies of the latest shiny hardbacks, usually, though the multiple may be getting lower.