I find Amazon's shipping costs prohibitive. Maybe I'm just cheap, but I really don't want to spend more than about five bucks, total, for a book that I could read from the library for free.


So why, then, do I have thousands of books in this house? My theory is that they breed, something like wire coat hangers.

Try the free shipping company I mentioned earlier Agony!It certainly is a saving .

I find that I don't read as much as I would like, mainly because I am an emotional reader. I have to read what I feel like tonight, which may well not be what I have felt like reading for the last three nights. As such, something that I get from the library usually ends up sitting for most of the time, while I wait to be in the mood to read it, and usually ends up accruing more in overdue fees than it would have cost me to buy it.

Also, living in New Zealand, the cost of buying from overseas can be prohibitive. I frequently see what look to be excellent buys on Amazon Marketplaces, but US$6.58 per book shipping (GBP3.58 for .co.uk) is frequently more than the book is worth, and I have to think twice. If anyone can recommend a reasonably priced online second-hand book store with reasonable shipping to New Zealand (or even just allowing me to combine multiple items without the shipping skyrocketing) then I am very keen to hear about them!

I just received(in record time) a book that I had ordered at the free postage site that I keep mentioning. I am thrilled with it and it turned out much cheaper than it ever would from Amazon. The site is called "the Book Depository" and is just super.Try that one, Markboynz and see what you think

I get my books from all sorts of places - occasionally I borrow from the public library but I prefer to buy books so I can read them when I feel like it and not feel pressured to get a book read within two weeks because it is due back at the library.

I buy books new from local booksellers - my favourite is Borders. No trip to the city is undertaken without stopping at Borders. When I was in America last year, a significant amount of time was spent at Barnes and Noble, and I did have to pay excess luggage because of the books.

I mostly buy secondhand and I have a very good relationship with the lady who owns the local secondhand bookshop. We've become friendly enough to start going to things like lectures by authors, and booksignings, together. She knows what I like to read and keeps her eye out for books for me.

I buy from garage sales too and near where I work there is a charity that has perpetual garage sale in one corner of their office building. It's not very well known, which is good because I pop in there from time to time and I can often pick up the latest bestsellers for just a couple of dollars.

I get lots of books as gifts too as my family are all book nuts. We buy books for each other on most gift-giving occasions.

I only buy secondhand books if they are in really good condition and when I have read them, I ask myself whether I am likely to want to read it, or use it, again at some point in the future. if the answer is yes, I'll keep it. Otherwise, it gets traded in at the secondhand bookshop. If they won't take it, it gets donated to the charity shop.

I haven't bought books online because I don't trust the Internet with issues like security and credit cards.

I used to keep all my books but it became physically impossible due to lack of space. My house is overflowing with books and I really am trying to get rid of them but I think Agony's right - they breed.

I get books from secondhand shops often, too. I have gotten some rather nice, lightly used books from e-bay also. I am not that picky about buying a book that has been dog-eared here and there, or has someone's name written under the front cover. (I've been known to do that myself.) As long as it isn't missing the cover or any pages, and hasn't gotten wet or whatever, I don't mind buying used books. If it is a book that I have been waiting for or is needed to complete a series of books that I own, I will buy it new. For that kind of thing, I usually go to Borders. It might not be the cheapest place, but I love going there.

Amazon,Ebay.Books A Million ( I buy all my stephen King books brand new )yard sales, library sales, thrift stores. I am into Henry the VII time frame so I bought one from Ebay, found one on Thomas More at a yard sale for 50 cents like new. I don't care for books on tape or CD. I for some odd reason like the feel of the book in my hands.t my preference. I do have some books on tape and CD but they are for my collection. The best one on CD is SK's The Mist. You need the over the ear headphones as it is in 3-D sound. It is like you are there. The BEST book on CD ever.