THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: Joe Molotov on October 08, 2009, 08:59:10 PM

Title: Bookstores blow.
Post by: Joe Molotov on October 08, 2009, 08:59:10 PM: I wanted a new book to read over the weekend so I went to a bookstore. This was a mistake. I thought I'd pick up the new Pynchon novel Inherent Vice but it was $28 everywhere I went. I thought there would be like 30% new release discount or something, but no. They had like 10 new books on sale, and Vice wasn't one of them. This book is $18 on Amazon, I'm not paying $28 for it, screw that. I finally decided to pick up Terry Pratchett's new book Unseen Academicals since it was on sale, and I still wanted a book. It was $18 in store, but on Amazon it was still only $15. You still gotta pay shipping, but sales tax almost balances that out, and then there's almost always tons of used copies for sale that are even cheaper than the regular price. At bookstores...well, you get to read the magazines for free.
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: Mr. Gundam on October 08, 2009, 09:04:45 PM: Amazon sells TONS of stuff so they can get away with lower prices on items. Bookstores? Not so much.

Be glad you don't live in Washington state, where you have to pay sales tax on orders with Amazon.
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: CajoleJuice on October 08, 2009, 09:08:53 PM: Quote from: distantmantra on October 08, 2009, 09:04:45 PM
Amazon sells TONS of stuff so they can get away with lower prices on items. Bookstores? Not so much.

Be glad you don't live in Washington state, where you have to pay sales tax on orders with Amazon.

I think he lives in NY like me, which also charges sales tax on Amazon orders.

I still buy all my books on Amazon unless I have a 40% Borders coupon and a book I particularly want.
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: Bocsius on October 08, 2009, 09:10:24 PM: > $10 for a book? Screw that noise.

:bow mass market paperback :bow2
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: Smooth Groove on October 08, 2009, 10:06:19 PM: I thought you were going to talk about getting blown in a bookstore. :(
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: Positive Touch on October 08, 2009, 10:16:31 PM: does anyone know when/why book made the huge leap in price? seems like i can look in the back of books published as recently as the 70's and see forms to order books for a fuckin quarter
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: Rman on October 09, 2009, 01:31:44 AM: I agree. I live in NY too and I still get better prices on Amazon than most bookstores. I also have Prime subscription, so shipping is extremely fast.

I do have a soft spot for bookstores, so around a quarter of my book purchases still come from random browsing at bookstores, mostly independent ones, however. Could care less about the chains.
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: Himu on October 09, 2009, 01:32:42 AM: Completely agreed.
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: The Fake Shemp on October 09, 2009, 01:33:26 AM: I support a second hand bookstore in the San Fernando valley out in California, but that's because they've got great prices and some amazing, older books.

Buying print in a mainstream store is stupid with Amazon.
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: Himu on October 09, 2009, 01:35:37 AM: Half Price Books is king.
Title: Re: Bookstores blow.
Post by: etiolate on October 09, 2009, 01:52:26 AM: Paying shipping on each different mini-retailer from half.com or amazon gets annoying. It may be $2 for the book used, but it is another $5 on top of that to ship. I can find a used copy locally for around 6-8 dollars and have it right away.But then again, Santa Cruz is pretty ripe with bookstores. Used and new.