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Clarification On Buying Used Books
Jul. 20th, 2010 11:45 amI mentioned in my previous post that if you want to support your favorite writers don't buy used. A friend here at the cube farm said I was being hypocritical as I am a big fan of Half Price Books. So let me clarify my position on used vs new.
I love used bookstores like HPB. I've found many a wonderful gem there that I couldn't find anywhere else be it big box retailers, independent bookstore or amazon.com. I have so many books on my TBR shelves that I seldom keep books once I've finished them. Instead I sell them to HPB so that someone else can hopefully get the same enjoyment from them that I have.
But I do have a philosophy when it comes to buying books. I buy the latest offerings from my favorite writers new, trying to support my local bookstore if possible. I know I'm going to buy these books and I want my copy to count towards the writer's sales figures so that he/she can keep writing the stories I love. For older work from these same authors, especially if out of print, I have no problem buying used if that's where I find it. But I try as much as possible to make my purchase count towards their bottom line whenever possible.
I use HPB to find those volumes I can't get anywhere but amazon marketplace. If I find something that's been on my list for months and years, that is out of print or only available used through online retailers, then I snatch it up. I also peruse the stacks to find new writers to read and love. I've found some of my favorite new writers at HPB; I've also found some real duds but luckily the treasures tend to win out. Once they make my "must have" list I buy new.
I hope that clarifies things a bit. I hate being called a hypocrite.
I love used bookstores like HPB. I've found many a wonderful gem there that I couldn't find anywhere else be it big box retailers, independent bookstore or amazon.com. I have so many books on my TBR shelves that I seldom keep books once I've finished them. Instead I sell them to HPB so that someone else can hopefully get the same enjoyment from them that I have.
But I do have a philosophy when it comes to buying books. I buy the latest offerings from my favorite writers new, trying to support my local bookstore if possible. I know I'm going to buy these books and I want my copy to count towards the writer's sales figures so that he/she can keep writing the stories I love. For older work from these same authors, especially if out of print, I have no problem buying used if that's where I find it. But I try as much as possible to make my purchase count towards their bottom line whenever possible.
I use HPB to find those volumes I can't get anywhere but amazon marketplace. If I find something that's been on my list for months and years, that is out of print or only available used through online retailers, then I snatch it up. I also peruse the stacks to find new writers to read and love. I've found some of my favorite new writers at HPB; I've also found some real duds but luckily the treasures tend to win out. Once they make my "must have" list I buy new.
I hope that clarifies things a bit. I hate being called a hypocrite.
