New or Used?

[Berengaria]

I usually buy new books because they are online. Because I live in the wilds of northern Vancouver Island, there are no book stores and little in the way of used books. I often am too impatient to wait for them to publish in paperback!
There are a lot of used books available through Amazon marketplace, so if it's an older book ...like some of the suggestions from this website, I will order from them. When I am finished a book, I pass it on to some of the ladies I work with or to the regional library, so that it can be put in circulation for others. I must say that a lot of my money is spent on books!

[Ash]

If the author of said book is one of my 'buy sight unseen' then I buy new hardback, tho because I use coupons of frequent reader cards, never buy at full price. If I can wait a bit, I buy them when they come out in paper, or hope I can find them used hard back sooner. I usually prefer the latter, because usually a hard back at a used bookstore is going to be cheaper than a new paperback.

[laktor]

I find it difficult to get new books from the library since there are always a lot of holds on them, so it would be awhile before I could get my hands on one. Then I would only have 3 weeks to read it and I couldn't renew it due to all of the holds. For an 800+ page book, I'd need more time. Also, libraries here usually don't manage to get new books until 2 or 3 weeks after they appear in stores.

[MLE (Emily Cotton)]

When I buy a book, I'm buying the content, not the packaging. If I can save money, I can put that dollar in a place where it will change somebody's life. So unless it is very inconvenient or the copy is mass-market paperback (print too small) I get the cheapest option.

[chuck]

Prefer used hardbacks...the over sized paperbacks, and the condition of the paperback is where I draw the line.....these days with the iffy economy...Frugality is a the new lifestyle......

[Michy]

[quote=""chuck""]Frugality is a the new lifestyle......[/quote]

Absolutely -- which is why I've gone back to getting books from the library. I've been "burned" enough from buying books by new-to-me authors that I ended up not liking (and hence not keeping), that I've returned to my old habit of only buying books that are a relatively safe bet. That is, by an author I know and really love. And in that case I buy new, with the expectation that I'll keep the book.

[sweetpotatoboy]

I buy both new and used. It depends on the situtation/reason for buying.

I buy new if the appeal of the book is partly to do with how it looks and feels. And also if it's a book by a favourite author who I always buy new. Also, if the book is heavily discounted, I'll buy it new if it doesn't work out much dearer than a used copy. And that way, I know the author gets royalties.

I'll buy used if: (i) that's the only way to get it, eg. it's out of print; (ii) I happen to prefer the look of an older edition; (iii) I can't justify the cost of a newer edition when used is a lot cheaper.

Much of what I'm reading these days is book-group selections that I haven't necessarily picked myself. Therefore, I have no idea if it's something that will appeal to me and that I will therefore want to spend much money and/or keep in my library. As a result, I will try to borrow it from my library; if I can't get it that way, I will buy the cheapest copy possible as long as it's in a decent reading condition.

[aceuggy]

Thank you for your input. I have decided that I will mostly buy new. I doubt I will be in the market for old or rare books, probably just books that are readily available either in my local bookshop or Amazon. The first book that I have purchased since joining this forum is A Song For Arbonne by G.G.Kay which I bought used. The condition is very good and quite readable, but there is just something about a new book that lends itself to the overall enjoyment of reading, so that's the way to go for me.

[rockygirl]

I buy both. If I'm buying from amazon, I usually look for a good/excellent copy first, then if I can't find one, I'll buy new. A lot of new books are remaindered, and usually cheaper that way, so I often look for remaindered books, which are new, but generally marked.

I love when I can get a great copy of a book for under a quarter. I just picked up a beautiful copy of The Glory Cloak for 17 cents.

That being said, there's a trick to buying used books, and you need to understand standard used book sellers' definitions to get the best deals.

Also, if I have a good experience with a particular dealer on alibris or amazon, I tend to go to that dealer again, even if they're just a little more expensive.

[Nefret]

Usually, if I really liked the author, I buy new. If I'm just looking for something different to read... I buy used.