Buying Second Hand Books Online

Posted by Susan Whelan Mar 14, 2009

For me, bookstores are dangerous places. I wander in to buy one book and come out with an armful. I have absolutely no impulse control when surrounded by books. I honestly could move in to my local Borders store.

To avoid sending my bank account into cardiac arrest, I tend to shop for books online where I can avoid some of the more serious temptations a real-life bookstore offers.

Visiting Second Hand Bookstores

I also love to visit my local second hand bookshops. All those shelves crowded with books. You just never know what you might find hidden on a top shelf or behind a stack of discarded cheap paperbacks. I love holding a book and knowing that it has a history and I love the musty smell of second hand bookstores. Yep, booklovers are strange, strange people.

Buying Second Hand Books on the Internet

While nothing can replace the serendipitous thrill of finding the book you’ve always wanted after an hour of rummaging at a second hand bookstore, sometimes it can be frustrating to spend hours searching for a particular title.

While many online bookstores, including Amazon and Fishpond, have the option of listing second hand books, there are two hub sites that allow booksellers to list their inventory in a communal registry. Readers can then compare the price, condition and shipping costs of a book they are interested in to get the best possible price.

AbeBooks

Abebooks has long been a central marketplace for anyone looking for used books. The search function is comprehensive with four primary search fields (title, author, keyword and ISBN) and several additional search refinements including location, features and bookseller rating. Results can be organised in a variety of ways including by price.

There is a currency converter included with each entry and shipping costs are clearly listed next to the purchase price. Listings are from second hand bookstores around the globe, ensuring that no matter what title you are searching for, the chances of finding it are extremely high.

Half

Half is an eBay company listing books, textbooks, music, movies, games and game systems. Purchases are outright, rather than by auction, and sellers have the same ratings system as for general eBay sellers.

Bargain Book Buys

Whether purchased online or in store, second hand books offer value for money and a way of indulging in buying books without breaking the bank. A visit to a local used books store can be a fun way of spending a rainy Saturday afternoon. Don’t forget that most stores are also interested in purchasing second hand books, so take along any books that you no longer need and trade them in.