Where do you all buy most of your books?

[Reciprocity]

Poll question: Where do you all buy most of your books?

I buy mine from Amazon.

[politicat]

1. A mix: mass market stuff - locally owned place. In print, but hard to find

I get at either Powell's.com or Barnes. Out of print I buy where ever I can get it, and I use a lot of out of print books so I buy from a lot of small oddities book dealers.

I'm picky about a lot of vendors, though. I won't buy from Republican donors so I almost never use Amazon.

[Lisa]

2. I know three used bookstore owners who are big-time progressives ...

One of them runs an all-mystery shop, and another is head of the local Democrats Abroad chapter. They've all been so nice to me that I feel guilty if I don't buy something when I'm in there!

I get new books (if I simply can't wait -- the upcoming Gore global warming one, for example) at one of the independent stores in town. The downtown store, more than 40 years old, is great about tracking down special orders. And I go online for stuff that is out of print and likely won't turn up in town (or if I haven't got time to wander around searching).

[intheflow]

3. I prefer used bookstores b/c they're independently owned & operated.

At least, I've never encountered a chain of used book stores (save Goodwill, not sure if that counts). But if I can't find what I'm looking for after 5 or 10 years, I'll get it from Amazon. Usually I find out what i'm looking for is out of print, so I end up buying used through Amazon. I'd have to say 60% of the books I own are used. The only reason it's not a higher percentage is that 5 years ago I sold almost evrything I owned to move accross the country and go to grad school, and now I have a lot of bought-new books because they were text books.

[LeftCoast]

4. I buy mostly new, but occasionally will stock up at the used book store

There's a great used book store in Mt. View on the SF Penninsula that I love to visit.

[LWolf]

5. Online.

I'll shop at the Barnes & Nobles 20 miles from me if I happen to be in the neighborhood. If I'm traveling out of my area and find good independent books stores, new and used, I'll happily browse and come home with stuff.

Generally, though, if I want books I'll sit down at the computer.

[Reader Rabbit]

6. Powell's

New and used, depending on what's on the shelf.

[Broken_Hero]

7. used book store

it takes a while to find a good one, but I have found two great ones...most hard backs go for five bucks, and most soft cover for a dollar or two.

[RiDuvessa]

8. Online.

I'm stationed overseas right now. The base exchange doesn't carry very many good Fantasy books, And all the used books are in Italian. Thank God for Amazon.