Buying Books Online vs Buying From Bookshops

[jobean]

I've always bought books in bookshops but they can be so ridiculously expensive sometimes and I have had to stop myself this year!
I found this website:

www.booko.com.au

which finds the cheapest place to buy books in Australia. The cheapest places by far were all online - they were about a quarter of the price sold in bookshops! I've now switched to buying from the Book Depository (a UK bookshop) which has free shipping worldwide

So how about you - which do you prefer?

[Dominique]

I've always meant to start buying from Betterworld.com but I nearly always buy my books from stores. I guess there's something about being able to look at them and have them straight away that makes me do that. But that site you posted sounds great so maybe I'll try that next time I'm after something.

[erin]

I buy books online because I have a kindle. It's cheaper. I use Amazon.com for my kindle. If kindle dose not have a book I want I will go to a bookstore to buy it.

[Isa]

I'll only buy a book online if I can't find it at the store, of if I've already seen it at the store and know for sure it's the edition that I want. I don't like buying a book without having flipped through it first, so I buy most of my books in stores, mostly in secondhand bookstores to save some money (and it's sort of like recycling!).

[Hanna]

I voted for bookshops, but I guess I buy most of my books online. Mostly because then I'll get them in English, and because they are way cheaper. But browsing in a bookstore is awesome, so had that is definetly preferable:)

[Michelle]

While I buy a lot of books online, I prefer to buy them in the store. I like going to bookstores and wandering around. Plus, I'm more likely to buy a random book in the store. If I know what I want and I'm looking for a deal, then I'll go to Amazon.

[whitegold]

I used to always buy online because they're sooo much cheaper but now im trying not to spend on my credit card so i shop in the stores now.

[lindsay]

It is easy to spend alot of money when you're charging it on your credit card!

There's something nice about browsing through the shelves.

[Hazy]

I do buy a lot of books online, since book shops always seem to have inadequate or narrow stock, but I very much prefer buying from Book shops.

[Halie]

I don't really have a preference. Online is so easy, because you can always find what you want, but in-store is also great because you can often find things you'd never give a second look to, and end up loving.

[Dominique]

I think I will definately check booko before buying instore now. It looks like for a lot of things I could have saved a bit of money, even compared to when I have borders coupons. Thanks for pointing it out jobean!

[jobean]

no worries

[neh]

Yes, thanks muchly for the link!

I do prefer to buy my books physically in a store - there's some kind of thrill in picking one up and thinking "heck yes!" and then it gets put in a bag and you can feel all proud.... or mabye that's just me..... but i certainly do still make online purchases coz stores around here can be so insanely ill-stocked!

[Isa]

It's not just you, neh! Syl really gets a kick out of the way I carry the books I've decided to buy through the bookstore with this goofy, happy look on my face!

[annak]

I only buy online if I can't get it in the store and only if I'm buying enough to get free shipping. Just like everyone else, I like walking around a store and finding a book you might not have expected. Though to be honest, I usually check the reviews online of the book before I buy it.

I think I need to start buying with Amazon because everyone says its cheaper, but I really like Barnes and Noble so I can't see myself switching.