# Best Online Book Retailers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625 "2003-08-30T14:33:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nisosbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@nisosbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisosbar)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/1 "2003-08-30T14:33:12Z")
Amazon has great customer service and an extensive selection, but isn’t good at stocking or finding the really obscure works, and doesn’t have a good stock of older editions (even, like, early 90’s stuff). BN is much better with a wider selection of books, but again, I find the selection of books kind of parochial, as in books mostly of North American origin, and if not, then of the English-speaking world. I like WH Smith because they have many more of the European-published titles which may not make it across the pond, but their customer service seems lacking, and of course, you have to wait longer for delivery! :mad: If you are looking for foreign-language books, I like [fnac.fr](http://fnac.fr). [half.com](http://half.com) is good, too. You’re as likely to find it there are anywhere else. Though they’re used. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/2 "2003-08-30T14:54:54Z")
You can always try the books section of [ebay](http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/books.html). All sorts of weird and wonderful stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/3 "2003-08-30T18:38:54Z")
I like Amazon, I’ve been using them since '97 and have always had good luck. [BN.com](http://BN.com) is alright. ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/4 "2003-08-30T22:05:24Z")
My son and I are probably keeping [Powell’s](http://www.Powells.com) in business… all by our lonesomes. And they are a member of the Independant Booksellers Association… fight chains! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/5 "2003-09-02T22:22:46Z")
[Bookfinder.com](http://Bookfinder.com) is a metasearch site that looks through about 30 book sites online, both new and used. The list of booksellers can be found at [http://www.bookfinder.com/about/booksellers/](http://www.bookfinder.com/about/booksellers/) It includes Powell’s, several of Amazon’s sites, [half.com](http://half.com), and at least half a dozen other sites listed as selling new books. I use it all the time as my first approach to finding an obscure book. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/6 "2003-09-03T00:47:42Z")
I have been a rare book dealer and collector for some time, so my biases run towards used book sites. I like [abebooks.com](http://abebooks.com), with some reservations. It has an amazing breadth of books from thousands of dealers in all price ranges. I have found some incredible bargains there. Now for my gripes. They do a lousy job of ensuring that books are removed once they are sold. I have run through ten books in a row only to find them all already sold. They also have a more minor fault. There is a function that lets you only look at new listings so you can check on a particular subject or author you have searched before. Dealers will continually update their entire inventory as new though so you get an unreasonably huge amount of listings that have been there forever. For new books I find Amazon really hard to beat. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/7 "2003-09-03T05:33:39Z")
Amazon really cannot be beat for the depth, breath and selection. I buy most of my books from them, used. But, I’ve found, [strictlybooks.com](http://strictlybooks.com) that caters to the remaindered books which I’ve scored heavily on for my insatiable urge to own buttloads of children’s books. (None of which I have read yet, but they are piled so neatly on a shelf waiting patiently.) [basbleu.com](http://basbleu.com) has been a delight to get lesser known books from. They cater to a more literate crowd and until recently, I just looked at their pretty catalog wondering if I could handle some of their selections (and not even the loftier stuff. mid-brain level stuff. I pride myself in my low-browness. Where’s the short bus?) Now, I am eating them right up. I have had excellent success with [Half.com](http://Half.com) . [Daedelus.com](http://Daedelus.com) revolves around remaindered books, so that can be a great source if you know what you are looking for. I’ve gotten a few books from [abe.com](http://abe.com) and have been happy, though some of their prices are a little much. And, it wouldn’t be a book thread if I didn’t plug my favorite kids book on line site: [www.chinaberry.com](http://www.chinaberry.com) ---
**Author:** ![Rainbowthief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4bbf92/32.png) [@Rainbowthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rainbowthief)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/8 "2003-09-03T06:31:36Z")
For new English language books, [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) wins because of their superior customer service and selection. For Spanish language books, I use [Paquebote.com](http://Paquebote.com) For used and out of print books, [Alibris.com](http://Alibris.com) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/9 "2003-09-03T11:06:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*But, I’ve found, [strictlybooks.com](http://strictlybooks.com) that caters to the remaindered books which I’ve scored heavily on for my insatiable urge to own buttloads of children’s books. (None of which I have read yet, but they are piled so neatly on a shelf waiting patiently.) \*\* May I make a recommendation? I first bought Cooper Edens’ books in the 70’s when he was a student at the U Dub (that’s University of Washington, to the uninitiated) They are some of the most beautiful childrens’ books I’ve ever encounterd. The three I have are, “If You’re Afraid of the Dark, Remember the Night Rainbow”, “Caretakers of Wonder” & “With Secret Friends” I don’t know if they are still in print. I don’t even know if he did any others. They are worth the search, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/10 "2003-09-03T11:44:30Z")
For price, [AllDirect.com](http://AllDirect.com) 38% off, free shipping for orders over $99 Kind of a bare bones site, but hey! ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/11 "2003-09-03T16:18:46Z")
:smack: I cant believe I forgot [Daedalus.com](http://Daedalus.com)! I have sent them sooooooooooo much money in the last year. They have the BEST S&H cost in the world. $4.95 period… long as you are in the US. Many of the clubs make you pay over 60 or so for free S&H. I like Daedulus’ policy. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/12 "2003-09-03T16:23:38Z")
**Krisfer** , [EdwardRHamilton.com](http://EdwardRHamilton.com) has that beat: $3.50 per order S&H. But you can’t exactly order online; you have to print out the order form and mail it in. ---
**Author:** ![daere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@daere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daere)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/13 "2003-09-04T22:07:47Z")
I also love [bestbookbuys.com](http://www.bestwebbuys.com/books/). Like [bookfinder.com](http://bookfinder.com), it surveys the price over a few web retailers – and it also gives shipping & handling. I like it because sometimes the price of a book is low, but the s&h are exorbitant. I also love used books, so I use the aforementioned Powells, abebooks, alibris, etc. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/14 "2003-09-04T23:23:16Z")
I love Amazon, esp. since they began the SuperSaver shipping. Ingenious, too, because I always buy more until I reach that platform. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c2a13f/32.png) [@The\_Man\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_Who)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-book-retailers/198625/15 "2003-09-05T00:57:27Z")
I was under the impression that [www.hamiltonbooks.com](http://www.hamiltonbooks.com) was the website of Edward R. Hamilton. -Myron