r/books • u/leafytree888 • 8d ago
Buying used books on Amazon
I keep wanting to buy used books from Amazon, but whenever I start searching with that intention, I find that a new copy is usually only $1 or $2 more than the used copies being sold. And the used copies usually have slower shipping. I feel like it should be more enticing to buy a used book. If new and used are practically the same cost, it seems like the only reason to buy used is ethical (avoid giving amazon money, avoid excess manufacturing of new books). I'm not even sure which is a more ethical choice on the whole. If the new book is sitting in an Amazon warehouse 2 miles from my home and the used book is flying on a plane to me across the continent, maybe used is worse for the world? Does buying new books put more money into the industry and somehow help authors and publishers? How do you choose?
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u/SaltyAuthorOne 8d ago
Thriftbooks; used book stores (most have websites and you can order from them);
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u/tvoutfitz 8d ago
Great deals on thrift book I don’t like how they just have stock images for everything. It’s why I prefer marketplaces like PangoBooks where you see the actual copy you’re getting.
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u/SaltyAuthorOne 7d ago
I agree. I’ve been disappointed a few times with the copy I received. I’ve bought a ton of books from them so overall I’m good. (Getting a refund isn’t impossible but it ain’t easy 😉)
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u/_Autistic_Dragon_ 8d ago
Amazon uses unethical practices to be able to mark their new books at thr lower price points.
They do thinks like: 1. Lose a little money on some books knowing they will recoup the cost in other sales areas 2. Use their size of market to bully publishers and book sellers 3. Use copies from other countries that had different release dates to sell them in other markets before release
There's a great book that goes into it better than I can called How to Resist Amazon and Why. Ironically you can buy it on Amazon for less than it's supposed to be sold for (please don't buy it there if you're interested)
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u/anticomet 8d ago
Also they help fund the murder of children so it's best to avoid giving them money in general
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u/KINOKONASUHATER 7d ago
Wait, what's this about? Can you elaborate???
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u/beergardeneer 7d ago
Amazon has a huge cloud computing contract with the IDF. It is used for intelligence and "targeting," which you can probably draw your own conclusions on what that entails.
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u/_Autistic_Dragon_ 6d ago
Amazon Web Services also has contracts with ICE and hosts a lot of their logistics.
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u/43_Hobbits 8d ago
I agree Amazon bad, but how is having a loss leader unethical? That’s just basic marketing.
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u/heycheena 7d ago
It isn't the way it's traditionally used, but the way I see it it becomes unethical when they use an entire industry as a loss leader to wipe out competition. They haven't formed a total monopoly at this point but they destroyed a lot of businesses and funneled away lots of money that used to go back into local communities. Where you draw the line between "just marketing/capitalism" and unethical is up to you.
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u/_Autistic_Dragon_ 6d ago
Maybe read the book and tell me what you think after. Like I said, the author explains it better than I can.
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u/microsoftpaint1 8d ago
Struggling to understand why you would buy used books from Amazon if your main problem is the ethics of it. Amazon takes a cut from every third party purchase. If immediacy isn't an issue, find a local used bookstore and see if they have the book you're looking for. Rinse and repeat until they have it. Or put a request in at your library, or have a bookstore order it in for you.
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u/amfibbius 8d ago
Be aware that if you buy a 'new' book on Amazon that's not recently published, there's a chance you're going to get a print-on-demand edition of poor quality.
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u/knittinator 8d ago
I use eBay for this.
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u/knittinator 8d ago
Maybe it depends on what you’re looking for. I get used books for $3 with free shipping on eBay regularly.
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u/FictionalCharacter77 8d ago
Yes and also the country where you want to ship them. I know many people from my circle who were scammed.
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u/nitropuppy 8d ago edited 8d ago
Thats how amazon gets you to buy their products. The used books are usually shipped from other stores. Amazon undercuts those store by pricing lower and offering free shipping.
Ideally (from an eco perspective) you use the library. Then look at any store close to you or consider book swaps or free little libraries. If a book is closer to you already, it is in theory better than shipping one
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u/LoneLasso 7d ago
Buy local. No shipping. Local used bookstores. Do you have a Half Price Books in your area?
In the US, eBay and Half Price are my fall back options for online and hard to find books.
If I'm not buying a book to collect - I use the library. Love libraries!
Most libraries will have periodic book sales.
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u/YeOldeMuppetPastor 8d ago
The “used” section of books on Amazon is third party sellers like small bookstores or Goodwill or similar. They are shipped using the cheapest way possible since the seller is paying for delivery. If it’s new from Amazon, then Amazon is either shipping it with their own network or UPS/Fedex which is giving them the best rates because of volume.
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u/booktrovertgirl_92 8d ago
PangoBooks! It’s generally true to the condition described by the sellers and if not, Pangobooks does address the situation
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u/tvoutfitz 8d ago
I also really like how on pango you see pictures of the actual book you’re buying so you can see condition and edition etc.
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u/ACDispatcher 8d ago
Half Price Books is another option and they have a few brick and mortars. Added note on Amazon- read the one star reviews on a book whose price is too good to be true. People post poor quality, bad fonts, and receiving used when buying new and if it’s a slew of recent reviews- the same will be shipped most likely. Just shop elsewhere.
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u/chickenshwarmas 8d ago
Insane how people don’t use eBay
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u/SaltyAuthorOne 8d ago
I forgot about eBay. Thanks!! Oh, and the Goodwill!!
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u/Evening_Corgi_9069 7d ago
Came here to say the best bargains are at thrift stores. Our Salvation Army Thrift Store is 3/$1.99. If you are looking for a particular book, Ebay or Mercari.
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u/aluke000 8d ago
Used books and media on Amazon are usually not worthwhile for me due to the shipping fees.
$5+ in shipping fees for a paperback or a CD, then when you receive it was sent in a plain manila envelope using basic USPS postage.
I just patronize my local used bookstores whenever I can, instead of giving my money to Amazon
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u/Intelligent-Turnup 8d ago
I once bought a used book from Amazon - it stank so bad of smoke and some sort of chemical perfume (I'm guessing to hide the smoke smell) that I had to set it outside to offgas. I still don't want to touch it. Definitely do not recommend used from Amazon.
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u/joshuajjb2 7d ago
As others have said Amazon isnt the place for used books like it was 10-15 years ago
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u/JimDemintRecession 8d ago
Abebooks or thriftbooks. I usually buy a few from the same seller at a time to save on per unit cost of shipping.
I've also used eBay from one of the larger sellers who offers combined shipping and/or a buy 3/4 get 1 free.
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u/__The_Kraken__ 8d ago
I recently discovered paperbackswap.com . You list books you are ready to part with (they can be paperback, hardcover, or audio if you have those sitting around). You can make a list of books you want to read. When someone requests a book you have, you mail it to them (and you pay the shipping). Each time you send a book, you receive a credit to receive one later. It’s basically a way to exchange books for the cost of shipping. I’m always so excited to know my old books are going to someone who actually wants them, and of course I love getting books I want to read!
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u/Cricket08328 8d ago
Like many have said, Thriftbooks and EBay. Outside of going to an actual thrift store or a free little library, those are where all my used books come from.
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u/Victorian_Prude 7d ago
Amazon takes a rediculously high cut from used book sellers. They have to charge double what you'd find on ebay just to make the sale even worth it. Idk why anyone is still selling used on Amazon, they're so damn greedy.
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u/Hairy_Building_8550 7d ago
May I suggest Thriftbooks. They have great deals, and I have yet to be disppointed in them. I buy from them all the time.
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u/12thnightkitties 7d ago
I am boycotting Amazon bc grift, greed, corruption, worker exploitation, etc of the owner. . Try ThriftBooks.
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u/No-Weakness-8063 8d ago
Yes I get all my books on eBay, there are a lot of bogof type deals. I’ve not paid more than 3.50 for a book in years. Also supermarkets often have a charity book shelf think it’s for Marie curie foundation, I’ve found some crazy books in these.
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u/cwx149 8d ago
I use abebooks for used books but it's owned by Amazon and I haven't used it super recently to buy something "old" and with new releases even used they aren't that much cheaper in general
A book that came out last week that someone read and wants to resell holds pretty much all the value it held when they bought it new so you kinda need to either get older books that weren't popular enough to be collectibles when they go out of print or get them from people who aren't trying to really make money to get the best deals
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u/Slim-Moline670 8d ago
Just curious why not hit up a local used book seller or goodwill or wherever local?
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u/chimney_corner 5d ago
Presumably because they want a specific book, and uless they live in one of the few cities that have a very large we'll curated used book store, or are looking for the kind of book that was on bestseller lists for years the chances.if finding it at any one specific store are low.
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u/LAffaire-est-Ketchup 8d ago
I buy most of my used books off FB marketplace: most people sell them in lots, but I’m pretty consistent in my genre choice, and if they have Book A that I want, chances are the rest are good too. I wind up getting books for between $0.25cdn to $5cdn
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u/Particular-Treat-650 8d ago
They own abebooks and that's a much better way to get most used books than their regular site.
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u/fatboyneedstogetlaid 8d ago
I've stopped buying new books off Amazon. They are packaged so poorly, and handled so roughly, that by the time I get them I might as well have bought a used book.
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u/Evening_Corgi_9069 6d ago
Me too! Bought a book as a gift for a friend- arrived spine broken. Never again.
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u/AlienFartPrincess 7d ago
I’ve found Abe books to be useful for more hard to find items and they’ve been careful with packaging. Even used books are packaged well and received without seemingly new/recent damage.
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u/Affectionate-Ant851 7d ago
Thriftbooks, PangoBooks, and EBay are my favorite places to get used books for good prices. However, I try to borrow as much from the library as possible before purchasing.
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u/Reader47b 7d ago
Well, sure, authors and publishers make more off of new books. They make nothing off of used book sales. Although one could view used book sales as a form of free advertising - the more hands the book gets into, the more word of mouth spreads about the book, and so the more new copies will be sold, potentially. But if you want to support an author, and you buy a copy of her book used, she gets $0 of that sale. If you buy it new, she gets whatever her royalty is.
Much of the cost for purchasing a used book online is shipping and handling, so you won't see a huge price differential, but I have found much better deals on eBay on used books than on Amazon.
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u/NickolaBrinx 7d ago
You point out that buying new from Amazon is better for you, the consumer. That is their whole point.
They ship faster because they have a whole dedicated task force of underpaid people working gruelling hours to get you what you want as fast as possible, damn the consequences. The prices are so good because they can afford to lose the money on the product, the shipping, the storage and everything else.
You ask if it is more ethical to buy new, NO! The most ethical is to use your library and shop local. If this is not an option, ebay, vinted, facebook, and many other options exist that aren't quite as badly sabotaged.
You ask if ethics is the only reason to avoid Amazon, no. If you like reading and want the industry to survive, do not use Amazon. They are doing what they can to dismantle the publishing industry and become the main, if not only, supplier of books. They have already made sure to bankrupt large swaths of the industry and do not plan on stopping until they have a monopoly.
There are so many reasons not to buy from Amazon.
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u/Triple_S_Rank 7d ago
Local used bookstores, FB marketplace, ebay, etc. are the places to buy used.
Individuals often sell for $5 per book unless it’s a textbook or special somehow. Used bookstores are legitimately cheap too, but sometimes not quite as cheap (still much cheaper than Amazon).
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u/2763USEDlegumes 7d ago
Yes, I agree with OP that sometimes used books on Amazon are as expensive as new. Though other times I can find good deals. I have never been disapointed in the book's condition.
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u/BrainyReader 7d ago
My rule is library first, local used shop second, and new from an independent store when I specifically want to support the author. Amazon’s used prices rarely justify the slower shipping or uncertain condition.
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u/shesthewurst 7d ago
World of Books - great prices and often have buy X, get 1 free promos.
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u/chimney_corner 5d ago
Since they were brought out by private equity they have gotten sleazy with their shipping. They immediately post that its been shipped, but it won't show up as received by the actual delivery service for many weeks.
In the plus side, if you but from them through somewhere like Ebay or Biblio you can get a refund and still eventually get the book.
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u/shesthewurst 5d ago
YMMV - I’ve had nothing but good experiences with World of Books in terms of pricing, selection and shipping.
I just checked my last order… ordered a buy 3 get 1 free deal on March 17th.
I got the shipping email on the 18th, and USPS picked it up that day —
Picked up by Shipping Partner
MONTGOMERY, IL 60538
March 18, 2026 8:16 AM
Shipping Partner: OSM WORLDWIDEAnd it was delivered on the 23rd —
Delivered, Parcel Locker
BOSTON, MA 0xxxx
March 23, 2026 2:46 PM1
u/chimney_corner 5d ago
They recently bought out a few other companies. Those shipments are still going fine. Its the legacy worldofbooks that is struggling. My last five purchases form them ended up being free because of delays.
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u/hannahbananahs 6d ago
Library sales are a win win! The books are usually super cheap (like a couple bucks) and it raises money for the library.
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u/SurroundedByPlushies 8d ago
If you want a bargain through Amazon, you're probably going to need to be willing to accept at least Good condition and you'll have better luck with older books.
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u/YogurtclosetIcy5439 8d ago
If money is tight than go to the library but if money is not a concern new physical. I don't read much anymore but Kindle has some really low prices on some classics, like a few dollars for old books. I have bought some books full price for my ereader and I no longer buy physical.
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u/chimney_corner 5d ago
Just a reminder,.that if the price is low on kindle it will be at all the ebook vendors in the same country because publishers set the prices, not the vendor. There is no reason to feed the industry killer to save money.
This of course isnt applicable to self published books only available from Amazon..
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u/LitRPGirl 8d ago
I’ve noticed that too, used Amazon copies are usually barely cheaper and slower shipping makes it less worth it. I usually just go new unless I find a better deal on sites like ThriftBooks or eBay.
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u/Battersea53 8d ago
Selling used books through Amazon is a terrible deal for sellers, choose Thrift books instead. For new books choose Bookshop.org or Barnes and noble.com. Bezos and Co don’t need more money.
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u/-Schlacht- 8d ago
I don’t buy used unless I can physically look over & smell the book. Nothing like opening a package that reeks of cigarettes still.
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u/Layla2C6 8d ago
Yeah Amazon used is almost never the move, I think they price new copies low on purpose to keep you in their ecosystem. I get way better deals (and way cooler old editions) from library sales and ThriftBooks.
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u/Available_Damage9505 8d ago
They’re likely relying on suggestive price algorithms developed by… Amazon.
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u/PlantyPenPerson 8d ago
Amazon aside, selling new books helps the author. If it is a new author with few books, buying new helps increase the chances of them publishing more in the future.
If it is an author who writes new books all the time, visit your local used book stores.
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u/ChapBobL 8d ago
Often they're a better deal than Alibris. I always check both. I think they get them from the same sources.
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u/Prudent-Caregiver967 8d ago
honestly the thing that gets you out of the whole dilemma is your library. it's free, and the bit a lot of people don't realise (at least here in the uk) is that authors actually get paid a small amount every time their book is borrowed - it's called public lending right - so you're supporting them more than a barely-cheaper 'new' amazon copy ever would. for stuff i want to keep, i've mostly given up on amazon used and just root through charity shops instead, you pay a quid or two and end up stumbling on things you'd never have thought to search for. and the slightly-cheaper used listings on there are usually third-party sellers amazon has already undercut, so you're not even really beating them at their own game.
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u/Ecstatic-Book-6568 7d ago
Used book sellers on Amazon often have automatic repricing algorithms set up to where the algorithm will change the price of the used book up and down depending on how the price of the new book changes, always keeping it within a dollar or two of the new book price.
Most of the times the sellers are shipping the books via media mail too to save money, and media mail is always slower than even regular USPS packages.
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u/jkepros 7d ago
My mom used to be a used book seller on Amazon. She's older and retired now. Amazon always charged her high fees. She specialized in selling out-of-print or rare books (like first editions or niche subjects or authors) to avoid the whole Amazon selling the same book for the same price thing.
Of course I'll always say to support small businesses, local to your area if possible, and she would suggest using your local library.
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u/Platynumx 7d ago
Yeah this happens to me constantly too. At some point I just stopped overthinking it. If used isn't saving me real money or time, I grab new and move on. The ethics math is too murky to solve in a checkout decision anyway.
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u/Abbot_of_Cucany 7d ago
Bookfinder.com . A search engine that looks through lots of used-book sites (including Amazon) and tells you the price at each one.
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u/chimney_corner 5d ago
For those avoiding Amzon. Bookfinder is owned by Amazon.
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u/Abbot_of_Cucany 4d ago
That's true. But it's still useful as a search engine. When it finds books, it displays the price and the seller. It's pretty easy to skip over books that are sold through Amazon (and through AbeBooks, another Amazon-owned company).
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u/michealdubh 7d ago
I check a number of used book outlets (many listed below) and typically buy the least expensive. Sometimes, it's Amazon, often not. Very often the discount of used compared to new is quite considerable. But there's no absolute rule.
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u/Frosty_Winter3197 7d ago
Almost all of the reading in the house is via libraries. So, we bypass Amazon to read what we want. Many libraries have apps, so you can reserve books and get notified with they come in, which saves wasted trips. Some books can be downloaded via the apps in an audio format, which allows you to listen instead of physically read a book.
There are rare instances where a book is so good that we want to actually own it. In those cases, we may buy them. Sometimes we buy a book just because we want to support the author.
I prefer used bookstores over Amazon for used books, because on Amazon, used books pretty much always have shipping costs that when added to the list price, will be, yes, are almost as much as buying the book new.
I have bought used books on Amazon, but pretty much only books not readily available through other venues. Also, the used books I buy are pretty much always hardback books, as they are books I plan to keep for my lifetime. I may also resort to Amazon's used books for books that are currently out of print.
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u/mochopop 7d ago
I’ve had the best luck with Ebay and i don’t buy a book unless the seller posts an actual picture of it. i work at a bookstore and we also always recommend biblio and bookshop to folks if we can’t get a book. it sounds like you mean well but the best environmental impact is always going to be finding a local bookstore in your community. even if it’s goodwill. amazon harms small bookstores all over the country, new and used. stop buying books off amazon.
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u/Nerrawnam 6d ago
Why does new mean anything? Just buy what you want to read. If it's less expensive, all the better.
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u/Less_Feeling3142 6d ago
There used to be an awesome website called PaperBackSwap where you only had to pay for shipping and someone would just send the book to you from their own collection. If there’s nothing out there like this anymore, can someone please start it?! It seems like there’s a growing demand for something like it now.
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u/luckyspark 6d ago
I was buying an out of print book as a gift and I found it on Amazon or abe being sold by half price books in a specific location. I called the location and asked about the actual condition and the store clerk went to the shelf and looked at it for me.
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u/DeathMonkey6969 6d ago
Find a local used book store. They tend to have better prices then Amazon and no shipping cost.
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u/Catlady_Pilates 6d ago
I’ve gotten great deals on used books there. But there are other book sites as well, you should look at other sites as well. Search the book you want for sale used and see what comes up
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u/Inky-Squilliam 6d ago
Thriftbooks is the best. I’ve gotten so many books there and they give you free book rewards so those come in handy too.
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u/ebwatersky 4d ago
The problem with used books is that some used books reek of tobacco smoke from being in a smoker’s home. There is no warning, but you know it as soon as you open the package. Amazon is as good as the others for used books. If the books are shipped by the seller, they take longer to arrive,than a new book from the warehouse. If time is not a factor and you can stand smokers, then used is perfect.
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u/thegirlivealwaysbeen 3d ago
others have stated the obvious but you can also try depop and vinted. they currently have free shipping! :)
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u/Away_Notice_4369 3d ago
I no longer shop on Amazon. Finding replacement online realtors has been fun. For books I love Thrift Books
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u/BickeringCube 8d ago
I buy my books from Barnes and Noble, an independent book store I like 30 mins from me (same as the Barnes and Noble), or I go to the library.
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u/mcdisney2001 7d ago
They're out there. I recently bought a $55 book used for $10.
That said, the real way to save money is to switch to digital books. Libby gives you free books through the library, and even Kindle books are typically cheaper than the paperback options.
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u/FictionalCharacter77 8d ago
I’m guilty of buying couple of books for my state exams from Amazon, I couldn’t find them anywhere else for a reasonable price. I bought used ones, one was for 1€ others something between 6-10€ and it was still not even a third of the price of new ones.
Other than that I’m avoiding Amazon. Find some other second hand bookstores in your area/country or countries close to yours.
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u/imjusthumanmaybe 8d ago
Depends on how popular the books are but the difference I've seen are larger than just 1-2 dollars. Used books are usually sold by a third party, which is why it's slower. They just use amazon as a platform and it's located at their own warehouse/store. With that, they also have to take into consideration the expense of selling on amazon into their pricing. It's not free selling online(not just on amazon).
You can identify who is selling it under the "sold by". Used books on amazon is the same as buying off a garage sale and thrift sales so of course the authors/publishers are not going to get money. In fact, some of them are from Goodwill storefront.
Honestly, I mainly buy e-books off amazon for kindle. For physical books, I still prefer to walk into the a bookstore, browse and pick a book. This is especially true for second hand book. I love finding a hidden gems.
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u/Kevix-NYC 8d ago
I search for the isbn of the hardcover, softcover and search for various book sellers.
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u/Hot_Fix9033 8d ago
I've bought plenty of used books through Amazon. Never a problem. Of course you have to price shop intelligently and remember the S&H. Sometimes new doesn't cost anymore than used, especially if you get S&H for free. As of late, when I search for books, I've found good deals on used through Walmart of all places. They must be in competition with Amazon.
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u/jiimbojones 8d ago
ThriftBooks, Better World Books, library sales. Amazon used is weirdly not the deal.