Is Amazon killing off bookshops?

I live in a small village in the back of beyond. The nearest Book Shop is 15 miles away, and they have to order more unusual titles. (It takes 4 days). Our nearest library is closing soon.
Amazon provides a marvelous service for us. I order in the afternoon when I get home from work, and My book is delivered the next morning. I swop books with friends in the village.
So the likes of me think Amazon provides a terrific service.

Witzend - don't shop at Waterstones PLEASE! If you drawl back for my previous post you'll see why I'm saying this.

Kupari, that's why I use www.hive.co.uk
Is it a problem of the modern world, always in a hurry, that people can't wait four days for a book?
If I ordered now from Hive, I would probably get the book on Saturday. In fact< I'll do it now, and let you know. I need to get a DVD of A Christmas Carol for my grandson, as he's nearly finished reading the book.
More than £10 is postfree.

I do use Amazon. I am not in the fortunate position to choose where I shop. We do not have a local Waterstones and they tend to be very expensive anyway. I do enjoy the convenience of having free delivery to my home or work address.

Gillybob, have you ever been to Seven Stories? It's one of the independent bookshops supported by Hive.

I do own a kindle, and I have to say it is a lifesaver... I was running out of space to put all of the books I was buying. But also nothing can beat the feel of a real book in your hands, and I still buy the odd book just so that the stores will stay open... also I just adore getting lost in book shops, it's a feeling unlike any other.

I have never heard of either Seven Stories or Hive durhamjen Where are they situated? I will try to have a look on line later. Thank you.

Seven Stories is in Newcastle. It's in Ouseburn.
It's the National Centre for Children's Books, a converted factory down by the Ouseburn, a bit like a Baltic for books.

www.sevenstories.org.uk/about

Another link to Hive.

www.hive.co.uk

Just checked my emails. Order from Hive was on its way at 15.35. That's quick.

Just received my DVD of A Christmas Carol, less than 24 hours after I ordered it. Very impressive of Hive.

Not just Amazon that fiddles its taxes. It's also lots of companies that sell through Amazon marketplace.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/11/28/why-wont-the-government-take-action-to-beat-vat-fraud-on-amazon-and-ebay/

Amazon are punctilious about sending me VAT statements. Its not Amazon's fault if independent sellers trading via the Amazon website don't pay their taxes. I certainly do (although I'm very small fry)

£1-1.5 billion likely to go missing this year. Pleased you are not among them, Jane.

Hello all
I down load e books
Which I realy love doing. But I do go to book library which I enjoy that.

Hello Dolly i love our Library and feel that if we dont use it, we will lose it.

I've just checked out the links to Hive and the prices of the last three paperbacks I ordered are twice what they were on Amazon. No doubt I'll now be accused of personally killing off independent booksellers, but I haven't the luxury of affording those prices.

I do use the local libraries and charity shops.

I buy books on Amazon because I don't have to leave the comforts of home, bonus cheap books.

Yes it is..online shopping is killing the High St never mind Waterstone's, which killed off independent bookshops!

I do not doubt the convenience and cheapness of online shopping, and I do some myself but try to avoid Amazon and buy from independent businesses if purchasing online or from High St shops via click and collect.

My DGD2 wanted"Everywhere Bear" by Julia Donaldson for her birthday.I went to Waterstones but could not bring myself to pay£ 11.99 for a very thin book that will only be of interest for a while. It was £4.99 on Amazon.Some difference !

I've just bought three books from hive and thewy were cheaper than from Amazon.
Amazon can do cheap on lots of things because they don't pay their taxes.
What would you rather do?

Greenfinch, how did you avoid paying postage?

Eloethan wrote (page 1):
"useful for locating books that are no longer in print."
That's where I mainly find Amazon useful. I do miss browsing in bookshops though. There's a good one in our nearest town which I often visit to see what's new, but they're quite expensive.
And the Tabac/Presse shops here usually have a small book section, often of locally printed books.

I bought DGD a paddling pool as well and together they came to more than £20 so postage was free.

It's usually free postage on £20 worth of goods or £10 worth of books.

We used to have a wonderful Borders bookshop here which thrived, even with Waterstones on the oppsosite corner - great selection of books and a coffee shop, really miss it.