If you’re buying a textbook for a college course, you may be able to find a used older edition of the book online for a relatively cheap price. Ask your professor if the older edition will cover the necessary material for the course. When shopping on eBay, look for postings with the “Buy It Now” option, which allows you to purchase a book immediately instead of participating in an online auction.
Avoid giving out your personal information. If you arrange to purchase anything over Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, meet the seller at a busy public location, such as a supermarket parking lot.
If you’re looking for a specific book, call the bookstore in advance or use BookFinder. com to see if any nearby stores carry it.
Although prices vary from store to store, you’ll probably find paperback books for around $1 and hardcover books for around $2 (U. S. ). Note that you’ll likely find a limited selection, since thrift stores rely on donated items to stock their shelves.
Search for local estate sales at https://www. estatesales. net. Read descriptions of posted sales and look for listings that include lots of books.
Books prices at library sales are usually rock bottom. Hardcover books may go for $1-$2, while paperbacks are often priced at $0. 50 (U. S. ). Buying books from library book sales is not only a good way to buy cheap books; it also helps support your local library!
For deeper discounts, browse clearance sections at supermarkets and major retailers, as well as at dedicated bookstores.
Examples include Random House’s DoubleDay Book Club and the Books-a-Million Millionaire’s Discount Club. You could also subscribe to a book box program. For a monthly fee, you’ll receive new releases at a discounted rate, plus curated items, such as bags of herbal tea to sip while you read. [10] X Research source
While most international editions have different covers, they usually have the same text and pagination as their U. S. counterparts. Images may be black and white, and the paper may be lower quality. However, international editions can cost at least 50% less than U. S. versions. Look for the online retailer’s guarantee or return policy. Some companies, such as TextbookRush, offer full refunds if the content doesn’t match the U. S. version.
For example, OnlineBookClub. org sends free books to reviewers, and they try to match titles with reviewers’ interests. Be wary of sites that require reviewers to pay a fee, purchase items, or write only positive reviews.
Dedicated e-readers range in price from approximately $50 to $250 (U. S. ). Invest in one if you don’t have a tablet and want a more convenient way to access ebooks than a smartphone or computer.
Apps may be free to download and offer a limited selection of free books. However, you’ll need to buy ebooks that aren’t offered for free, and you may need to purchase a subscription in order to access complete libraries. In the U. S. , you can also get a library card and download Overdrive to check out free ebooks from public libraries across the nation. One drawback is that books are automatically removed from your device when the due date arrives whether or not you’ve finished reading. Additionally, there are often waiting lists for popular titles.
Even for bestsellers, ebooks typically cost a fraction of their print counterparts.
If you’re interested in brushing up on classic literary works, access Project Gutenberg at http://www. gutenberg. org.
