Bestseller Books

Being an avid (when-I-have-time) reader, I enjoy hanging out in bookstores such as Borders or Barnes and Nobles and sitting there for hours and hours with my computer, a book, magazines and lots of coffee. When I don’t have that luxury for time to do that, I’ll usually purchase my books online.

If you enjoy reading books and shopping online, you will have fun bargain hunting surfing. There are more book sites out there than your already well-known Amazon (www.amazon.com). But if in case you’re not in-the-know, on Amazon, you can find new books along with used ones. If you’re not picky about having a used book, you can save yourself some money by clicking on the link for a used copy. It will usually list the number of available copies and a starting price. The link will also state the book’s condition and any special notes. Although you may be purchasing it through a third party through Amazon, you would purchase the used book the same way. Amazon processes the payment and the third party seller ships your book directly. If you’re not comfortable with doing this at first, check out the review, ratings and comments that were left by previous buyers.

If you don’t want to deal with all that extra stuff that Amazon has, try Alibris (www.alibris.com). They specialize in books and hooks up independent booksellers to buyers. There is a wide selection to choose from. You can also purchase books from independent sellers from Abebooks (www.abebooks.com) or Barnes and Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com). The sites do not take possession of the books, but they just facilitate the transactions. I personally enjoy ordering from Barnes and Noble because If you spend over $25 you get free shipping. In addition, I’ve often found hard-to-get books there.

If you feel up to playing the bidding game, you can check out good ‘ol eBay (www.ebay.com) or Half.com (www.half.com), which is eBay’s subsidiary. The books are grouped by condition and sellers can leave special notes for buyers. People searching these notes are usually looking for the latest releases at a heavily discounted price.

If you’re a college student on a budget, these sites are also excellent to find yourself some used textbooks that may be cheaper than in the school’s bookstore. You can also make some extra money by selling your slightly used books. Amazon, Half.com and eBay make it simple to do that. Their commissions are low, so you will most likely make more money than if you sold it to a used bookstore. In the “Sell Yours Here” link on Amazon, you will be charged 99 cents plus 15% of the sales price and a low closing fee that is usually less than $1. You will get a credit to cover shipping and pay when your book sells. If you decide to use Half.com, the percentage varies based on the selling price. For items under $50, the charge is 15%, but your shipping costs are reimbursed.

Enjoy your book bargain hunting!