What are the best alternatives to Amazon for buying new (or used) books? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 5 months ago by sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

45 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I'm in Canada, so options available in Canada are especially appreciated.

top 45 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[-] pdxfed@lemmy.world 40 points 5 months ago

It doesn't answer your specific question and isn't meant to be preachy, just want to say that I'm shocked more people don't use public libraries for books they don't want to keep forever. Check it out as often as you want, no need to keep it on a shelf, if you really love it, then buy it.

[-] notnotmike@programming.dev 23 points 5 months ago

My toxic trait is that I want to keep every book I ever read ..

[-] steal_your_face@lemmy.ml 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I hope you hire movers or never move

[-] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 5 months ago

You don’t even have to go there! Ebooks and audiobooks are widely available through libraries too. Depending on your area you might also have access to free language programs or classes on other subjects. Emedia has really taken off with libraries.

[-] whotookkarl@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I use the Libby app with my library card for digital loaned books and audiobooks, maybe the same system works with Canadian libraries

[-] cerement@slrpnk.net 14 points 5 months ago

new books – Bookshop
used books – Biblio

[-] jqubed@lemmy.world 11 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Are there any local bookstores near you still? I’m an American and we still have a few Barnes & Noble around, but there’s also at least one independent local bookstore that has a decent selection of new titles and can order most other titles currently available from publishers. They regularly have events with authors on tour, so that could be a way to find a store near you.

[-] sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 months ago

Yeah but they don't have the Robinson Jeffers book I'm looking for.

[-] No_Change_Just_Money@feddit.de 3 points 5 months ago

Can they not order it through their contacts?

[-] sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 months ago

Yeah probably.

[-] guyrocket@kbin.social 1 points 5 months ago

I appreciate local bookstores and brick and mortar B&N...BUT prices.

Unfortunately online is much cheaper than in store.

[-] Rolando@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago

Sure, there's a price differential, but I think of it as a "cover charge" for going and hanging out in their bookstore.

[-] guyrocket@kbin.social 1 points 5 months ago

If the difference were only a nominal % I might agree with you.

When I bought the Complete Calvin and Hobbes the price at the local bookstore was about twice the online prices.

[-] benignintervention@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months ago

If you want to support local book stores, you can use bookshop.org. not sure how that affiliate outside the US though

[-] notnotmike@programming.dev 2 points 5 months ago

I really like the concept, and I see a store on their list that I've been to several times recently. Really makes me realize how addicted to buying books online I've become, rather than going in person.

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months ago

https://www.powells.com/

But you're better off coming down to Portland and visiting the mothership in person.

[-] Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 5 months ago

I haven't been (to PDX) since before the pandemic. Powell's is an excellent reason to change that.

[-] Moontress@lemm.ee 7 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Well there's always Indigo, they're not much better than Amazon but they do have a comparable selection. If you're in Toronto, BMV has decent prices and variety of books, mainly paperbacks editions though. They're website isn't mobile friendly so in-store is the way to go.

[-] Timecircleline@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 months ago

Book outlet! They're based in Thorold Ontario. They don't have everything but I always check them first.

https://bookoutlet.ca/

[-] sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 months ago

Looks worth checking whenever I'm looking for a book, but their catalog is very limited.

[-] Kaiyoto@lemmy.world 6 points 5 months ago

Secondsale.com has treated me well

[-] notnotmike@programming.dev 5 points 5 months ago

Really surprised nobody has mentioned Better World Books yet. Good selection of books, most of the used books seem to be former library books, and they (at least claim) to donate books to charity with every purchase.

You can get really cool books for really cheap with their bargain bin sales too.

I've also tried ThriftBooks but I got too many bad copies - one book, Lord of the Flies, which was owned by a high schooler and had writing on every single page of the book and another book which clearly had urine of some kind on it judging by how obsessed my cat was with the yellow stain on the spine. Their edition picker is also terrible, very similar to the way Amazon handles their options to where different editions are all smashed into one page.

[-] thefactthat@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I use www.ethicalbooksearch.com to find the best second hand options in the UK. You can change your location to Canada, for which they say they search Awesome Books, Better World Books, Biblio and ebooks.

[-] owatnext@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

I just want to let you know that abebooks is owned by Amazon.

Last book I bought online was from Wob. World of Books. I don't think they are owned by Amazon.

[-] poopsmith@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

Maybe Thriftbooks? They do offer shipping to Canada but it's not always cheap.

[-] NeptuneOrbit@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago

Abe books. Ebay. If the book is new, bookshop dot org.

But 💯 thriftbooks

[-] thefactthat@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Abe books is owned by Amazon :(

[-] orvorn@slrpnk.net 3 points 5 months ago

Depending on what kinds of books you're into: https://www.pmpress.org/ https://www.akpress.org/

[-] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 months ago

Biblio is a solid but not perfect

[-] sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 months ago

Yeah, looks like they have a pretty good selection. Thanks!

[-] Bwaz@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

AbeBooks. Usually better prices than Amazon, too.

[-] astreus@lemmy.ml 3 points 5 months ago

AbeBooks was bought by Amazon in 2008.

[-] sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago

dammit why do they own everything relating to books? I did use AbeBooks and they were great but I guess it's still funding Amazon.

[-] sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago

This is what I used and they've been great.

[-] nikita@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 months ago

Facebook marketplace for used books and used goods in general. Lots of good quality basically new stuff on there for cheap. I guess because so many Canadians just buy stuff without thinking and then it piles up and they need to make space.

Some neighbourhoods also have some boxes on posts (not sure what they’re called, they resemble mailboxes) where people can take and give away books for free as well.

You can also type ‘bookstores’ in google maps and seeing what local stores will come up.

[-] hperrin@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

Kobo isn’t bad.

[-] sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 months ago

I'm looking for hard copy books. Paper in my hands!

[-] hperrin@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

Maybe a local independent bookstore?

[-] jet@hackertalks.com 2 points 5 months ago

If you want digital books the high seas provide plenty now.

[-] sentient_loom@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 months ago

I hate screens. I read on paper whenever I can. However, yeah, sometimes only digital is available (or available at a reasonable price).

[-] lennybird@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Tangential but I really wish audiobooks were accompanied by e-books that were keyword searchable.

So often I'm thinking of a passage in a book I want to reference. Can sometimes find by googling but not always.

[-] fubarx@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago

A lot of Amazon used book sales go through Powells or AbeBooks.

Could just go direct.

[-] Teppichbrand@feddit.de 1 points 5 months ago

For Germany, just in case.

Gebraucht:

Neu:

[-] asm_x86@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

From my experience, rebuy has also been good for used books and other media: https://www.rebuy.de/

[-] Paragone@lemmy.world -2 points 5 months ago

Canuckian results from www.DuckDuckGo.com include..

( I'm just copy/pasting interesting-looking links: I haven't experience with these, but am just saving you some clicks : )

https://chatelaine.com/living/independent-bookstores-canada/

https://www.thestar.com/business/rise-of-the-indies-as-big-bookstores-like-indigo-struggle-independents-are-flourishing-here-s/article_5dc6c3fa-67e1-50ea-bffc-2e8390677b2b.html

https://www.savvynewcanadians.com/best-bookstore-toronto/

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/

( they are the Canadian equivalent to Am & B&N: they bought & wrecked Chapters, years ago )

https://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/home

https://www.renaud-bray.com/home.aspx

http://pulpfictionbooksvancouver.com/

http://www.aaronbooks.com/

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/tripideas/the-most-beloved-bookstore-in-every-state-21-isn-t-just-for-ivy-leaguers/ss-BB1n8ku4

_ /\ _

this post was submitted on 28 May 2024

80 points (95.5% liked)

Ask Lemmy

26933 readers

391 users here now

A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions

Please don't post about US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world

Rules: (interactive)

1) Be nice and; have fun

Doxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, and toxicity are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them

2) All posts must end with a '?'

This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?

3) No spam

Please do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.

4) NSFW is okay, within reason

Just remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com. NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].

5) This is not a support community.

It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions. If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.

Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.