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Post by ropardoe on Dec 20, 2016 16:33:43 GMT
ABE is great; so is Amazon.ca to a lesser extent. Sometimes they have books for $0.01 + $6.49 shipping. I used to ask my library for inter-library loans, but when it started to take more than 3 months, often then to be told they still couldn't get it, for some reason, I gave up. Here, Amazon UK has a fair few books and DVDs at £0.01 + postage, these being usually from third party sellers and for used items. ABE is a great place but I quite often find they are no cheaper than Amazon and I always check both. Ebay, in my experience, has been pricier than Amazon and ABE for books and DVDs, but it is worth checking all three as Ebay can sometimes turn up sales of multiple books/DVDs at decent prices. Here, we are able to request items from libraries within our particular county. I do that quite often and so long as the item isn't currently on loan, takes around 1 week or so. Failing that, our libraries can obtain items from the libraries of other counties, but that takes longer. I appreciate, though, that our counties are small compared to Canadian provinces, so no two libraries here are really that far apart. Is it the same in Canada? I mean, can you request items from any library in, say, Manitoba, if you happened to live there? The Amazon 1p plus postage thing is brilliant - my significant other is a member of a local SF book club, and more often than not (if he's not able to get the book from the library for free) he finds the discussion books that way. I also agree about requesting books (and DVDs) from the library. I have the forthcoming Phil Rickman Merrily Watkins book (out next month) on pre-order from the library at the moment. Costs me £1. Unfortunately, although Cheshire Libraries is getting six copies, I appear to be eighth of eight on the pre-order list. It's encouraging to see that Phil Rickman is so popular, but it does mean I probably shan't see my ordered copy till February! Apparently the book ( All of a Winter's Night) is centred around Kilpeck church - right in the middle of M.R. James territory in Herefordshire (internal evidence suggests that Mr Baxter's cottage in "A View from a Hill" is in Kilpeck). Further to the postage situation: my total postage bill for Ghosts & Scholars each issue is a good deal more than the printing costs (postage within the UK isn't too bad but anywhere outside and it's utterly ridiculous). |
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Post by Swampirella on Dec 20, 2016 16:38:20 GMT
Forgot to mention ebooks. I have some ebooks but greatly prefer a print book if it is available at a reasonable cost. For some reason, if I buy a Kindle book I don't get the same feeling of actually owning the book that I have from a physical book. I still have books that I bought 30 or 40 years ago and doubtless they will be here when I am in that big library in the sky, but who can say about the longevity of ebooks? Software and platforms can change and I have no idea if those ebooks I have now will still be accessible to me in 30 or 40 years time. I agree with you, but still have about 3,500 books on Amazon (since Dec. 2013) , mostly offered free as a promotion. I put copies of ones I really like in my clouddrive, just in case I can't access my Amazon cloud for some reason. For the first time, I have all my books organized on 4 shelves, but still have some filling one drawer. Where would I put 3,000+ others?  |
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Post by andydecker on Dec 20, 2016 18:33:32 GMT
Here, Amazon UK has a fair few books and DVDs at £0.01 + postage, these being usually from third party sellers and for used items. ABE is a great place but I quite often find they are no cheaper than Amazon and I always check both. Ebay, in my experience, has been pricier than Amazon and ABE for books and DVDs, but it is worth checking all three as Ebay can sometimes turn up sales of multiple books/DVDs at decent prices. Here, we are able to request items from libraries within our particular county. I do that quite often and so long as the item isn't currently on loan, takes around 1 week or so. Failing that, our libraries can obtain items from the libraries of other counties, but that takes longer. I appreciate, though, that our counties are small compared to Canadian provinces, so no two libraries here are really that far apart. Is it the same in Canada? I mean, can you request items from any library in, say, Manitoba, if you happened to live there? Further to the postage situation: my total postage bill for Ghosts & Scholars each issue is a good deal more than the printing costs (postage within the UK isn't too bad but anywhere outside and it's utterly ridiculous). I used to order so many books abroad, even in the US. But the postage situation has got out of control. In most cases postage is double or more the price a book. It is a pity. |
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Post by ripper on Dec 20, 2016 20:26:37 GMT
Here, Amazon UK has a fair few books and DVDs at £0.01 + postage, these being usually from third party sellers and for used items. ABE is a great place but I quite often find they are no cheaper than Amazon and I always check both. Ebay, in my experience, has been pricier than Amazon and ABE for books and DVDs, but it is worth checking all three as Ebay can sometimes turn up sales of multiple books/DVDs at decent prices. Here, we are able to request items from libraries within our particular county. I do that quite often and so long as the item isn't currently on loan, takes around 1 week or so. Failing that, our libraries can obtain items from the libraries of other counties, but that takes longer. I appreciate, though, that our counties are small compared to Canadian provinces, so no two libraries here are really that far apart. Is it the same in Canada? I mean, can you request items from any library in, say, Manitoba, if you happened to live there? I check Ebay too, just in case, but any book I want is usually 4x the price of Amazon or ABE. Our library can potentially get a book from anywhere in the country; which as I wrote can often take months and months and months. I guess the carrier's feet get tired  I think here in the UK the libraries within a particular county have a van or maybe several vans that transport books between libraries, but I would imagine that for loans from other counties' libraries the postal service is used. I can imagine that in Canada, given its vast size, loans from another province would be problematical and require the postal service to operate, and possibly also within a province as well as distances between towns/cities could still be large compared to distances in the UK. Gosh, that's a seriously large collection of ebooks you have, Miss Scarlet  . That is the really big advantage that ebooks have over print books: space requirements. I think my collection is about 40 or so at the moment bought over about 3 years. Another aspect of Kindle books in particular is that I am not free to transfer/convert a Kindle book to a format more convenient and have to use either a Kindle device or Kindle reading app to read it. |
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Post by ripper on Dec 20, 2016 20:48:10 GMT
Here, Amazon UK has a fair few books and DVDs at £0.01 + postage, these being usually from third party sellers and for used items. ABE is a great place but I quite often find they are no cheaper than Amazon and I always check both. Ebay, in my experience, has been pricier than Amazon and ABE for books and DVDs, but it is worth checking all three as Ebay can sometimes turn up sales of multiple books/DVDs at decent prices. Here, we are able to request items from libraries within our particular county. I do that quite often and so long as the item isn't currently on loan, takes around 1 week or so. Failing that, our libraries can obtain items from the libraries of other counties, but that takes longer. I appreciate, though, that our counties are small compared to Canadian provinces, so no two libraries here are really that far apart. Is it the same in Canada? I mean, can you request items from any library in, say, Manitoba, if you happened to live there? The Amazon 1p plus postage thing is brilliant - my significant other is a member of a local SF book club, and more often than not (if he's not able to get the book from the library for free) he finds the discussion books that way. I also agree about requesting books (and DVDs) from the library. I have the forthcoming Phil Rickman Merrily Watkins book (out next month) on pre-order from the library at the moment. Costs me £1. Unfortunately, although Cheshire Libraries is getting six copies, I appear to be eighth of eight on the pre-order list. It's encouraging to see that Phil Rickman is so popular, but it does mean I probably shan't see my ordered copy till February! Apparently the book ( All of a Winter's Night) is centred around Kilpeck church - right in the middle of M.R. James territory in Herefordshire (internal evidence suggests that Mr Baxter's cottage in "A View from a Hill" is in Kilpeck). Further to the postage situation: my total postage bill for Ghosts & Scholars each issue is a good deal more than the printing costs (postage within the UK isn't too bad but anywhere outside and it's utterly ridiculous). I don't often rent DVDs from our library as the stock isn't too good and I can often find one from Amazon for 1p + £1.26 postage, while I think our library service charges £2 for a week's rental. As always there are exceptions and I have rented a number of Dr Who DVDs from the library as I wasn't particularly bothered about owning them and couldn't find copies anywhere near the rental cost. Also, they charge the same price irrespective of the number of DVDs in a set, so boxed sets to rent are good value, though you only have a week to view them. |
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Post by ripper on Dec 20, 2016 20:57:47 GMT
Further to the postage situation: my total postage bill for Ghosts & Scholars each issue is a good deal more than the printing costs (postage within the UK isn't too bad but anywhere outside and it's utterly ridiculous). I used to order so many books abroad, even in the US. But the postage situation has got out of control. In most cases postage is double or more the price a book. It is a pity. Agreed, Andy, and it seems to be getting worse. I often find books on ABE for maybe a couple of pounds or less only to see a postage cost of £8 or higher. Amazon's fixed cost postage often gives it the edge when ordering books from the US, even if the book itself may be a little more expensive. For this reason, I have noticed that my purchases of books from the US via ABE has declined greatly over the last decade. |
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Post by Swampirella on Dec 20, 2016 21:43:59 GMT
I check Ebay too, just in case, but any book I want is usually 4x the price of Amazon or ABE. Our library can potentially get a book from anywhere in the country; which as I wrote can often take months and months and months. I guess the carrier's feet get tired I think here in the UK the libraries within a particular county have a van or maybe several vans that transport books between libraries, but I would imagine that for loans from other counties' libraries the postal service is used. I can imagine that in Canada, given its vast size, loans from another province would be problematical and require the postal service to operate, and possibly also within a province as well as distances between towns/cities could still be large compared to distances in the UK. Gosh, that's a seriously large collection of ebooks you have, Miss Scarlet . That is the really big advantage that ebooks have over print books: space requirements. I think my collection is about 40 or so at the moment bought over about 3 years. Another aspect of Kindle books in particular is that I am not free to transfer/convert a Kindle book to a format more convenient and have to use either a Kindle device or Kindle reading app to read it. I have the impression that there's some kind of special delivery service between libraries, at least within the province. But I could be wrong. Personally, I can't think of a format more convenient than a Kindle. I don't have a smartphone, not sure if I'd want to do a lot of reading on one. Ereaders are certainly a lot better than the 500pg hardback library books I used to cart around in my purse wherever I went. |
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Post by bobby on Dec 21, 2016 0:44:34 GMT
Very interesting to hear Rosemary's and Miss Scarlet's thoughts on book prices and what they are prepared to pay for a book. I take a slightly different path by not having a limit for a book, but rather a monthly budget that I allocate for books and dvds--my two main purchase items. I stick to that budget but have a bit of leeway in that if I spend, say, £5 less than my budget allows, then that £5 is added to next month's budget, but the converse is also true. I also never buy a new DVD or mass market book, as prices for used are usually so much lower. For small press offerings, where print runs are low and prices higher, then I have to make a judgement on how much I really want the book, taking into account that it might mean not having much of a budget next month if I have to borrow from it. It's not ideal but it helps me keep track on how much I spend on books and DVDs. I agree on book postage rates. They can vary so widely. Amazon has a fixed rate of £2.80 for books and £1.26 for DVDs, irrespective of where they are posted from, so it isn't too bad if the item is coming from overseas. ABE is a good source for books, but postage rates vary quite a bit, especially for items from overseas, as is the case with Ebay. ABE is great; so is Amazon.ca to a lesser extent. Sometimes they have books for $0.01 + $6.49 shipping. I used to ask my library for inter-library loans, but when it started to take more than 3 months, often then to be told they still couldn't get it, for some reason, I gave up. Do you know about Biblio.com? Similar to AbeBooks.com, with many of the same sellers listing there. (Though not as many sellers/listings as AbeBooks.com.) But one difference is that Biblio.com occasionally offers coupon codes. Since this is the month of Christmas, they've actually had 3 coupon codes so far this month. One was for $2, $5 or $10 off an order (depending on the size of the order), one was for 15% off an order, and one was for 16% off an order. For new books, Barnes & Noble also offers coupon codes, usually at least twice a month. Most can be used online and at their "brick and mortar" stores, though occasionally a code is only good for one or the other. The usual amount is 20% off one item, but they tend to be more generous between Black Friday and the end of the year, usually 25% or 30% off one item. |
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Post by Swampirella on Dec 21, 2016 1:22:44 GMT
ABE is great; so is Amazon.ca to a lesser extent. Sometimes they have books for $0.01 + $6.49 shipping. I used to ask my library for inter-library loans, but when it started to take more than 3 months, often then to be told they still couldn't get it, for some reason, I gave up. Do you know about Biblio.com? Similar to AbeBooks.com, with many of the same sellers listing there. (Though not as many sellers/listings as AbeBooks.com.) But one difference is that Biblio.com occasionally offers coupon codes. Since this is the month of Christmas, they've actually had 3 coupon codes so far this month. One was for $2, $5 or $10 off an order (depending on the size of the order), one was for 15% off an order, and one was for 16% off an order. For new books, Barnes & Noble also offers coupon codes, usually at least twice a month. Most can be used online and at their "brick and mortar" stores, though occasionally a code is only good for one or the other. The usual amount is 20% off one item, but they tend to be more generous between Black Friday and the end of the year, usually 25% or 30% off one item. Thanks for taking the time to point these out, Bobby. Unfortunately Biblio's prices are higher than other places, especially their shipping costs. I may have ordered 1 book from them, I'm not sure now. B&N is also quite a bit higher priced than Amazon.ca and of course in US$. Amazon.com has cheap books but don't always ship to Canada and charges US$12. The only place I order from in US$ is ABE; I rarely feel like paying more than CAD$15 for a book incl. s/h, especially as I get more Kindle books and short stories for free than I can handle. |
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Post by ripper on Dec 21, 2016 9:29:42 GMT
I think here in the UK the libraries within a particular county have a van or maybe several vans that transport books between libraries, but I would imagine that for loans from other counties' libraries the postal service is used. I can imagine that in Canada, given its vast size, loans from another province would be problematical and require the postal service to operate, and possibly also within a province as well as distances between towns/cities could still be large compared to distances in the UK. Gosh, that's a seriously large collection of ebooks you have, Miss Scarlet . That is the really big advantage that ebooks have over print books: space requirements. I think my collection is about 40 or so at the moment bought over about 3 years. Another aspect of Kindle books in particular is that I am not free to transfer/convert a Kindle book to a format more convenient and have to use either a Kindle device or Kindle reading app to read it. I have the impression that there's some kind of special delivery service between libraries, at least within the province. But I could be wrong. Personally, I can't think of a format more convenient than a Kindle. I don't have a smartphone, not sure if I'd want to do a lot of reading on one. Ereaders are certainly a lot better than the 500pg hardback library books I used to cart around in my purse wherever I went. Sorry, I meant that I would like the ability to change the Kindle book format to pdf, txt or something else, but Amazon don't allow that to be done. Some other ebook vendors supply books in pdf epub or similar and I find it more convenient as I can use whatever software I choose to read the book, whereas with Kindle files I am limited to either a Kindle or the Kindle reading app for PC. |
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Post by andydecker on Dec 21, 2016 20:02:34 GMT
I buy a lot Kindle books as I enjoy the bigger print. But I think exactly like you. Ebooks are prettied up files. I can understand that publishers are beginning to charge the same prices for the Ebook as for a hardcover, as Warhammer for instance does. But the idea of paying 19.99 Euros for a Kindle is absoluty ridiculous. Thank you, but no.
A negative byproduct of the ebook is that there never will be cheaper second hand issues. Or reprints. Future generations will never have to develop interest or discover old books. This is the most sad aspect of this.
And frankly, seeing those godawful Kindle editions with their soul-destroying artwork it is kind of a relief that they will sink into obscurity.
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Post by dem bones on Dec 21, 2016 20:08:00 GMT
A negative byproduct of the ebook is that there never will be cheaper second hand issues. Or reprints. Future generations will never have to develop interest or discover old books. This is the most sad aspect of this.
And frankly, seeing those godawful Kindle editions with their soul-destroying artwork it is kind of a relief that they will sink into obscurity.
Post of the year.  |
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Post by bobby on Dec 24, 2016 15:32:23 GMT
Do you know about Biblio.com? Similar to AbeBooks.com, with many of the same sellers listing there. (Though not as many sellers/listings as AbeBooks.com.) But one difference is that Biblio.com occasionally offers coupon codes. Since this is the month of Christmas, they've actually had 3 coupon codes so far this month. One was for $2, $5 or $10 off an order (depending on the size of the order), one was for 15% off an order, and one was for 16% off an order. For new books, Barnes & Noble also offers coupon codes, usually at least twice a month. Most can be used online and at their "brick and mortar" stores, though occasionally a code is only good for one or the other. The usual amount is 20% off one item, but they tend to be more generous between Black Friday and the end of the year, usually 25% or 30% off one item. Thanks for taking the time to point these out, Bobby. Unfortunately Biblio's prices are higher than other places, especially their shipping costs. I may have ordered 1 book from them, I'm not sure now. B&N is also quite a bit higher priced than Amazon.ca and of course in US$. Amazon.com has cheap books but don't always ship to Canada and charges US$12. The only place I order from in US$ is ABE; I rarely feel like paying more than CAD$15 for a book incl. s/h, especially as I get more Kindle books and short stories for free than I can handle. I never noticed a difference in prices for the same copy of a book listed on AbeBooks.com and Biblio.com. (Though lately I've been buying biographies of actresses more than horror fiction.) I did notice, with one seller's copy of The Men Who Murdered Marilyn that's listed on both sites, that while the book's price is the same, the AbeBooks.com listing has free shipping, while the Biblio.com listing has a shipping fee of $3.50. So even with the recent coupon codes from Biblio.com it would still be cheaper to buy it through AbeBooks.com. And my mom has a Barnes & Noble "membership", which means that she gets free shipping on online orders (and also 10% off purchases at their ""brick and mortar" stores). But I don't know how much the annual fee for this is. |
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Post by Swampirella on Dec 24, 2016 18:30:20 GMT
Thanks for taking the time to point these out, Bobby. Unfortunately Biblio's prices are higher than other places, especially their shipping costs. I may have ordered 1 book from them, I'm not sure now. B&N is also quite a bit higher priced than Amazon.ca and of course in US$. Amazon.com has cheap books but don't always ship to Canada and charges US$12. The only place I order from in US$ is ABE; I rarely feel like paying more than CAD$15 for a book incl. s/h, especially as I get more Kindle books and short stories for free than I can handle. I never noticed a difference in prices for the same copy of a book listed on AbeBooks.com and Biblio.com. (Though lately I've been buying biographies of actresses more than horror fiction.) I did notice, with one seller's copy of The Men Who Murdered Marilyn that's listed on both sites, that while the book's price is the same, the AbeBooks.com listing has free shipping, while the Biblio.com listing has a shipping fee of $3.50. So even with the recent coupon codes from Biblio.com it would still be cheaper to buy it through AbeBooks.com. And my mom has a Barnes & Noble "membership", which means that she gets free shipping on online orders (and also 10% off purchases at their ""brick and mortar" stores). But I don't know how much the annual fee for this is. Usually the book I want can't be found on Biblio, unfortunately. Call me a cynic, but I assume that paying a membership to save money at BN or Amazon etc. = pretty much paying the same as usual |
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. That is the really big advantage that ebooks have over print books: space requirements. I think my collection is about 40 or so at the moment bought over about 3 years. Another aspect of Kindle books in particular is that I am not free to transfer/convert a Kindle book to a format more convenient and have to use either a Kindle device or Kindle reading app to read it.
