I bought Russell T Davies’s book The Writer’s Tale from Amazon UK a few weeks ago, then went to Borders here and saw it available locally. I was disappointed, until I checked the price.
In Borders, it was AU$80 or so. In Amazon it was £14.28, which translates to AU$30.00, (plus shipping - divided up, as I purchased many items simultaneously - of AU$8.00), that is a considerable saving of less than half the local price.
You might try hitting the thrift shops that get donations. The one I shop at most the time sells PBs for 10¢ to 25¢, depending on demand, supply, and condition of the book. The selection isn’t the greatest, but it’s worth checking out.
I buy mostly used PBs for my library. Some authors merit buying new PBs, some new trade PBs, and I will buy a very few authors in new hardback. Cost is part of the factor, but I really don’t have enough SPACE to shelve hardbacks. And MMPBs are so very easy to tuck into my purse for those spare moments of time while I’m waiting for whatever reason.
Am I the only person that seems to notice that when an author goes from having paperbacks only for their books to hardcover releases, that it seems their writing starts going downhill? Sounds strange, I know - maybe with the popularity that goes with being able to publish hardcovers, there is a larger fanbase that they are trying to write to? I can’t explain it. Makes me a little worried about Patricia Briggs’ next Mercy Thompson book (first in hardcover).
I was JUST bitching about this…I had to go to Barnes and Noble to buy a couple of Christmas gifts, and normally I NEVER buy new books, even paperbacks, b/c I read too much for it to be affordable. I can’t pay $15 for a paperback when I go through 3 or 4 a week.
But I was there, and I splurged on three new paperbacks…none of which was less than $13 bucks…kind of a “Merry Christmas!” to myself…
And I only liked one of them. And I was so mad at myself for paying retail.
Normally I only buy books at Half-Price Books…I can get 5-10 books for under fifty bucks. People laugh at me when I say that if I ever won the lottery, one of the biggest joys would be going to a Borders or a Barnes & Noble and just scooping up every book that took my fancy, like candy. But truly that would be one of the best things about being rich…buying whatever books I wanted, regardless of whether they’re new or used, paper or hardcover.
This recent trend of having paperback books in a slightly larger format, for about double the price, has annoyed me for years. I noticed it about ten years ago, and it’s just gotten worse. Now it takes about two years for a new hardcover novel to graduate to the smaller paperback format. If it’s a favorite author of mine, I don’t want to wait that long!
I actually wrote an author a “fan letter,” which I’ve only done once, and mentioned that while I adore her books, I cannot afford them until they’re in paperback at my used book store.
She wrote me back and said she totally understood.
:smack:
Another thing that hasn’t been mentioned about the New Style Paperbacks (NSP) is the quality of the ink. I find that the ink they use has a tendency to smudge very easily and deter from the enjoyment of the books. As for book size, I prefer hardcovers, I have a better feeling of handling a book that way. But I am not exclusively a buyer of HC. If a book it my fancy, I will buv it in HC, PB, TP or NSP.
A related thread: Is there a name for this paperback format? - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board
And my post from that thread:
Strangely, I’ve had the opposite experience, that the little chunky old-style paperbacks seem to have more smeary ink, plus worse paper quality. Might just be the publishers in question.
65¢
alt+162 will give you the ¢ sign
Just writing “.65c” works, too. 
For all the frustrated Aussies out there I give you Booko.
It doesn’t have Borders but it’s pretty easy to grab the cheapest Booko price and compare it to Borders. Often the cheapest seller is The Book Depository, which is located in the UK and provides free international shipping.
For those who want a cheap book source and don’t mind used books, see if your local library has a book sale sometime. Ours has one run by the “Friends of the Library” every July. They accept donations, typically from estates, throughout the year, then organize all and hold a 3-day sale with ridiculously cheap prices.
On the last day, they have a “buck a bag” offer. Fill a grocery bag with as much as you can and it costs a buck for the whole lot. Of course, the really good books have been picked over by then, but you can’t argue about the price. Some romance novel lovers buy a year’s supply, then bring them all back the next year to exchange for a new batch.
I think that this is because some printers use soy inks. Better for the environment, but it just doesn’t have the staying power of petroleum based ink. My copies of Analog magazine have very smeary covers.
Give that man (woman?) a New! 
I think that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for!
The new style paperbacks (thinner left to right, talller) drive me up a wall. When they first came out I recall reading something about them before the title page explaining how they were more portable and more efficient and blah blah blah… And I tried it. I read a few books that size. They suck. Too thin left to right means that when I hold a thicker book the thinner side (either left or right, depending on how far I am into the book) arches so much that its tough to read unless I concentrate on creasing each page down or holding my thumb dead center bottom of the page to make something of a wavy “W” with the page.
I actually havn’t noticed them quite so much in the bookstores, but then again I really just havn’t been looking for it specifically. Anyone know if its going to become the standard or if it was the 8 track of books?
I find it frustrating that when a paperback series begins to gain popularity, the publisher begins releasing newer books in hardback.
I just went to find the latest book in the Kat Richardson “Greywalker” series at my local Barnes & Noble. Hardback only for $21.95. The first two were either only available as trade paperbacks, or I began reading after their hardback run was finished.
I found the same thing to be true about the Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresdens series and Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels.
I’m sure the idea is to get more money from loyal readers or make them wait a year for paperback release, but in my case I just go to the library and deny the publishers any of my cash.