Cheap Books

Finding Cheap Books Online

The Internet has made it surprisingly easy for avid readers to find affordable books. Whether you’re passionate about romance novels or searching for a good mystery, you can find what you need at a reasonable price. All it takes is a little comparison shopping!

To get started on your search for cheap books, check out the following helpful websites:

• Amazon.com likes to brag that it has the world’s largest selection of books, electronics, computers, and apparel.
• Buy.com advertises that its prices are 10 percent lower than Amazon on thousands of titles.
• Half.com, an affiliate of eBay, lets readers buy and sell a variety of books, textbooks, movies, CDs, and video games.
• BiggerBooks.com is geared more toward fans of non-fiction books, but the site’s selection includes a diverse group of topics such as history, folk art, computers, travel, and spirituality.
• BookCloseouts.com specializes in bargain books, or titles that have been discounted 50 percent to 90 percent by the publisher.

Of course, to maximize your savings, it’s always best to purchase your books when you can get free shipping. Many sites offer free shipping on a regular basis for customers who spend a certain dollar amount, while others only offer free shipping as part of a special promotion. Read the company’s policies carefully before making your final decision.

Another resource you can use when searching for a specific book is PriceViewer.com. Although this site doesn’t actually sell cheap books, they do provide a handy search engine that lets you compare prices on a specific title from over 50 different online book stores.

Other Sources for Affordable Reading Material

Shopping online might be the most convenient way to find books, but it’s not the only way to add to your personal library. If you’re not after the latest bestsellers, there are plenty of other ways to find the cheap books you want.

Library sales. Although most people know you can check out books at your local library, many people fail to realize that libraries periodically hold sales to get rid of unwanted books. For a small fee, you can purchase plenty of books to add to your own collection and help your library buy new books for the whole community to enjoy. Ask your librarian for details.

Used book stores. If you’re lucky enough to live in a larger community, see if you can find a used book store. These stores buy and sell a variety of fiction and non-fiction books. Some are more organized than others, but most will employ staff that can help you find what you need.

Thrift stores. Not all thrift stores sell used books, but many do carry a small selection of reading material. Next time you’re out shopping for cheap furniture or inexpensive children’s clothing, don’t forget to look for a few books for yourself!

Garage sales. It takes a lot of time to search, but garage sales can also be great sources of cheap books. Read the ads carefully and don’t be afraid to call ahead if you think someone might be selling books that interest you.

Additionally, Half Price Books is a chain bookstore that specializes in selling discounted books. However, the company only has stores in 14 different states. Visit their store locator to see if there’s a location near you.

External Links

My Book Exchange allows registered members search for particular books held by other members, pay a $1 fee, and "borrow" the book for as long as needed. This is an especially popular alternative to reduce the cost of textbooks, but the site offers other types of books as well.

Have fun releasing your old books "into the wild" through Bookcrossing. Designed to share books with the world, it's an interactive journal and tracking system of books that people leave for others to find.

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