Price of books - Amazon the pirates!

I try to avoid using Amazon and usually buy from Waterstones, and usually pay less.

However, all my novel reading is out of copyright and on my kindle and can be found for free on Project Guttenburg.

BelindaB You do not say how long ago you tried Kindle, but each new issue has more features. I have had my current one about 2 years, I can very the size of the text and font and also adjust the lighting. I have turned down the ite sity of the light and 'warmed' it, togive a reading experience that is easy on the eye and hleps me drop asleep.

My son works for one of the large publishing houses, the cost of paper and printing like everything else has rocketed. A lot of the printing was done in China but that is no longer the case. A while back there were some major supply issues some of which pertained to that container stuck in the Suez, all in all a perfect storm of quite a few factors affecting the price of books, but as other have pointed out, you do have to shop around there is often a disparity in what Waterstones charge compared to say Sainsburys, or any other large supermarket. I try not to use Amazon for books if at all possible, Occasionally if I find a little independent books shop I'd buy something there, I'd just hate to see these places disappear.

Like you Belinda, books are also a passion for me. I started using the library again a while back, I buy less books now as a consequence, if I've loved a book that I've borrowed from the library I will buy it even if I've read it because I want it on my shelves and it's the best way to support an author, but I buy far less run of the mill stuff now, I've become more selective.

Books are still used, it doesn’t matter about the age of the thread.

We have an excellent local bookshop too.

Oh dear - old thread!

NotTooOld

Sounds like you mainly want to read the new releases, Belinda, hence the price? I like to read the new ones too but if you wait a few weeks the prices always drop. Pity you don't like Kindle as there are hundreds of books on there for only a pound.

Or free!

I refused to download the Richard Osman book on to my Kindle as it remained at £9.99 but in fact the paperback version was cheaper in the end.

The Works sells some books as do some Garden Centres. Charity shops.
Unless you are looking for a specific author.

Do you have friends who read a lot too - can you swap amongst yourselves?

You do get used to Kindles and they are wonderful . I never pay more than 99 pence though.
I order best sellers and favourites from my library, a bargain at £1 per reservation.

Ps I recently took at least 30 books to the local charity shop.

I’ve bought several books from Amazon of late and they were all the cheapest option and delivered quickly. Yes I know we should all buy from book shops and until covid I did exactly that and for that reason. I wrestle with my conscience but as I am now in my eighties and been a voracious reader since a young child reading books from shops and library all my life I have tried recently to make life easier for myself and hope the younger generation will take over buying in the book shops. My grandson does that and says he wants to help maintain book shops. As his love of books was generated by me more than anyone else I try to relax about it.

I love books, REAL books, not Kindle. But I would never buy from Amazon- our local Charity bookshop is just amazing- or I use our local bookstore.

Bookstores are fabulous- if we don't use them, they will disappear, along with our wonderful town centres.

Not that being a big company is wrong!

ABE
www.abebooks.co.uk/
This is where lots of 2nd hand and antiquarian book dealers sell their goods.
The other site they use is Biblio
biblio.co.uk/

World of Books is a single big company

Thanks for all the replies - and I'll have a look at WOB today. As for Blossomings "You can't be that hard up" - nasty comment and in fact, I neither drink, smoke or go out and cut corners on a state pension and a small works pension, to enable me to buy books. I have been using a book loan some kind soul has started at our local train station and yes, I do buy from charity shops although recently, I've taken the books to the book swap instead of back to the charity shop.
As I have had several eye ops I won't try Kindle again (could be why I found it so difficult to use). I have a passion for fantasy as well as really, really good detective/crime fiction - especially the American ones, which does not help! It's all a bit specialised.

Anyway, many, many thanks for the input.

Charity shops are amass with both popular fiction and non fiction.

You have to pay vat on e-books 😡

I use world of books have had some amazing books from them at fab prices. Please check there.

I use World of Books too. They're very reliable and straightforward about the condition of their books. The ones I've bought from them have been described as "good condition" but have been so good that they've seemed brand new.

BelindaB
Some of the Kindle downloads have been very expensive too, especially new releases. The price is set by the publishers, I think. I refuse to pay £10 or more for a download. There's nothing I'm that desperate to read!

There are some good suggestions on here for other outlets.

A Kindle is useful, particularly if you want to take it away on holiday.
There are lots of free or 99p Kindle books on offer too.

Although I did find recently that the new paperback version of a book I'd wanted to read was £6.50 compared to £9.99 for the Kindle download!

The Works are online. Very cheap usually.

You can’t be that short of funds if you can afford to throw Kindles in the bin . Have you thought of selling your read books to fund your next purchases?

I too use wob, very good.

Maggiemaybe

WOB's good for second-hand books, Belinda, certified B-Corp, and they have a huge selection.

www.wob.com/en-gb/about-us

I have a mile high pile of books waiting to be read as our local charity shop sells them 3 for £1. I appreciate this isn't much use if you're looking for a particular book.

I'd urge you to try the Kindle again - it has its disadvantages, but is great for downloading cheap and free (from the library) books. I usually have a "proper" book, an e-book and an audiobook on the go at the same time - it can get confusing!

Thank you for the link to wob, I'd not come across them before.

I buy used books from abebooks.co.uk and I've found them very good too.

I have no idea of the actual genre of books that you read OP but some big supermarkets do have deal great deals on non-fiction paperbacks, have you considered looking there?

Sounds like you mainly want to read the new releases, Belinda, hence the price? I like to read the new ones too but if you wait a few weeks the prices always drop. Pity you don't like Kindle as there are hundreds of books on there for only a pound.

WOB's good for second-hand books, Belinda, certified B-Corp, and they have a huge selection.

www.wob.com/en-gb/about-us

I have a mile high pile of books waiting to be read as our local charity shop sells them 3 for £1. I appreciate this isn't much use if you're looking for a particular book.

I'd urge you to try the Kindle again - it has its disadvantages, but is great for downloading cheap and free (from the library) books. I usually have a "proper" book, an e-book and an audiobook on the go at the same time - it can get confusing!

Charity shops? Secondhand book shops ? (although there aren't that many any more...)