Comments on: Book Buying Habits – TSS

By: melanie

melanie — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:00:41 +0000

i wish i bought less. i probably buy about 50% of what i read, but i try to get them in online clearance/bargain sales. some things i just can’t wait to read…and i know i’m going to loan them out. that’s how i justify. but it’s not a pretty sight.

By: trish

trish — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:29:55 +0000

I might buy less than I did before, but I’m fairly picky about used books. I like them to be in very good condition, so it limits what I can get off bookmooch. Also, I like to support Borders, which is my favorite bookstore.

By: Lenore

Lenore — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:26:21 +0000

I still buy many books, expecially YA and picture books where it’s difficult to get ARCs. If I loved a book I got from the library, I will usually buy it retail because I like to have it on hand in case I want to go back and reread a passage or lend it out to a friend. And I buy a ton of books as gifts.

By: Bellezza

Bellezza — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:11:12 +0000

I go in spurts between buying to my heart’s content at amazon.com (usually used, where the shipping’s more than the book), and going to the library. I think my biggest problem is not so much spending the money as storing the books.

By: marie

marie — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:36:33 +0000

I buy many, many fewer books than I used to, before I discovered Bookmooch and ARCs. I still buy them once in a while, if it’s something Ihavetohave right away, or can’t find any other way, but it’s rare. Now I use my book shopping trips to find titles to put on Bookmooch!

By: C.B. James

C.B. James — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:18:07 +0000

I love bookstores. I’d rather spend the afternoon browsing a good bookstore than just about anything.

So, even though I’ve been a library regular for many years, I require myself to buy at least one new book a month. Just one.

If you love something, you have to support it.

By: Alea

Alea — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:27:49 +0000

Hello! I get books all over the place, several from bookmooch (i haven’t used it enough to get tons of points) used bookstores, library sales, and borders with a coupon of course. I’ve tried to stop checking out books from the library because i have so many of my own i need to get through!

So no, I don’t buy less, probably more… cringe!

By: Sam Houston

Sam Houston — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:04:36 +0000

I do buy fewer books than I did before discovering all the great alternatives out there these days but I still visit bookstores as often as I did in the past…and I still do buy quite a few new books from them.

I collect a few authors and always buy a pristine first edition copy of their work, regardless of the cost and I buy quite a few books on American history that aren’t likely to show up on the sites I frequent.

But, no doubt that I am acquiring more books than ever in the past and spending considerably less money to do it.

By: Lisamm

Lisamm — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:50:14 +0000

I’m buying less for the very reason you are.. I’ve been sent so many ARCs that I can’t keep up!

I still buy tons of books for my kids, and for myself when I have a gift card to use.

By: Bryce

Bryce — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:26:34 +0000

Unfortunately for my checking account (and my general financial well-being)I will always be a bookstore hound. I like to browse. I’m pretty sure it’s compulsive, but if book-buying-binges are my cross to bear, I’ll bear them gladly.

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:28:09 +0000

Personally, since discovering library sales and book trading websites (I used to do paperbackswap and now I do bookmooch) I buy a lot fewer books at full price than I used to. I think the main reason is just that my TBR pile has increased so dramatically (I currently have at least 70 unread books) that I always feel guilty for even thinking of purchasing a book at full price when I KNOW it will be a long time before I ever get to reading it. On the other hand, I also go to libraries less, which is sort of sad for me.

By: The Kool-Aid Mom

The Kool-Aid Mom — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:25:33 +0000

I am right beside you at the bookstore, let me tell you! There’s a thread on LibraryThing titled “Fear of Bookstores!” that deals with this very issue! AND yes! BookMooch and PaperBackSwap are definate boons to aid the bankrupt bookaholic Lately, too, I’m finding ARCs to be even better, because now I’m reading the best sellers before they are even out

By: Helen Oram

Helen Oram — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:54:07 +0000

My husband and I created Book Sale Finder. Our library book sale expeditions go back to when our children were small – some 35 years ago! Because the books were such bargains, we let our kids buy as many as they wanted. It does take a bit more search when you want a specific book. MY problem is walking out with dozens I didn’t plan on! And it really is a wonderful fundraiser that helps provide libraries with things that taxes would not manage – making libraries better for us all! Win Win Win. Helen Oram

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:52:37 +0000

I have such a backlog of ARCs and TBRs that I have no problem waiting for BookMooch or PBS.

By: Petunia

Petunia — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:16:53 +0000

I never did buy many books new. Between PBS and the library I can find almost everything I need or want. I also frequent Salvation Army and my library’s used book store regularly to find treasures for under $2. New books are nice but more books for less is much better.

By: tanabata

tanabata — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:13:54 +0000

I still mostly buy new books, a result of geography. Even at the used book stores here, the books are rather expensive. I’d usually rather spend a couple more dollars for a new book that isn’t all beat up. I keep saying it but I really should join bookmooch one of these days.

By: iliana

iliana — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:57:59 +0000

I still buy quite a lot of books but I do tend to check out Bookmooch or Half Price Books first. I would love to buy all new books but that is just not in my budget.

By: Jeane

Jeane — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:23:04 +0000

I use those two sites and don’t buy nearly as many books as I used to. When I lived in Baltimore where there’s a freebook place, I didn’t buy any books at all! Now I only buy books that I really, really want to have and keep. For reading new titles, I always visit the public library!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:33:58 +0000

I still love new books and I lov emy local bookstore. There are fewer new books in the budget these days, but I dearly love them. Still, I am a regular at the library, I’ve been getting a lot of ARCs lately, and I don’t mind swapping books with fellow LibraryThingers. And, by coincidence, I’m listening to Unaccustomed Earth right now, too. Really good – I just keep hoping a glimmer of a happy ending.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:32:16 +0000

In response to your TSS…
I don’t buy very books! People find that hard to believe because I read so much, but that’s exactly why I don’t purchase. I get my books from the library by putting them on hold online. I browse the big bookstores for my TBR list, as well as the internet, and I of course have my favorite authors/series that keep me busy.
The only “buying” I do is to go to the local Annie’s Book Swap. I get mysteries and some adventure/romances there, but by the time a book gets to PB I’ve usually read it.
I do, however, buy books for gifts all the time, and when I receive a book store gift certificate I of course use it. Usually on something for my classroom, not for me.