Sources for used books?

**nuisance26** · 06-19-2010, 09:41 AM

~I know about used bookstores, Half.com, library sales and the book sections of yard sales and thrift stores but what about other sources? Do you buy books at auction or educational fairs? How about swaps or Freecycle? Are there other good online resources?
I'm about to buy a bunch of stuff for this year's homeschool curriculum so I'd love to hear all your tips!~

**imagine** · 06-19-2010, 09:57 AM

One of my friends really liked She joined three of four years ago.

Paper back swap . com

Here is a "video" slide show on how it works.

How to Swap Used Books: PaperbackSwap.com

Basically it is a book trading club and you just pay postage.

**jodihernandez** · 06-19-2010, 10:22 AM

I too use paperbackswap.com and Love it. all you pay is shipping when someone requests a book from you. I only use it for newer more expensive books though because the older ones can be found cheaply elsewere.

**frugalwarrior2** · 06-19-2010, 10:25 AM

Textbooks half.com has been our savior but Chegg.com rents textbooks too.
We got tons of reading (some factual) books at Big Lots last week for 2/$1.00. They had erin coler fantasy books and a great book w/ avalanche facts and stories.

Our Borders has a used section.
And Kings downtown has 3 floor filled (former glove factory) w/ any book you could imagine.

I love getting books at Garage sales -reading them thru 2 or 3 people in the house. donating them for a double tax credit (Michigan tax advantage) to the library and knowing they sell them to buy more books I can read!!!!

**JessieMom** · 06-19-2010, 10:34 AM

For my son's textbooks, I use AddALL book search and price comparison to find the least expensive price - it's a price comparison site & pulls prices from half.com, amazon, albris (that might be spelled wrong) and a bunch of others. It has some places in there that give prices for renting as well as buying.

**dcompton** · 06-19-2010, 03:32 PM

I use Amazon sellers for some used books. The shipping is $4, so that has to be factored in, but there are sometimes really good prices on expensive books or out of print books for pennies. I don't buy a lot of books, but if it's something I really want I can sometimes get great deals there.

Abe.com is also a good used book source that works like Amazon - the shipping is per book because it is a collection of different sellers. I have not used it, but some of the college students I work with do.

**Contrary Housewife** · 06-19-2010, 03:35 PM

I get a lot of used books through Amazon, too. And from time to time on Ebay, but books there tend to be more expensive. I don't know if it is just our area, but used books stores just aren't what they used to be. Maybe because everyone is selling online now.

**thesightofoneself** · 06-19-2010, 03:52 PM

i perfer to use ebay.com, free shiping section, its a bidding war,i must admit

**Josephhgoins** · 06-19-2010, 08:39 PM

When I just want another book and don't care for a specific author or title, I hit used books stores or most lately the Babitat for Humanity store where hard backs are $1 and paper backs are .50.

When it is a specific title I want I hit Amazon and see if I can find it used. I have been able to get several titles there for really good prices. I also use Ebay when I think I deserve a treat and want to buy several books at one time. (usually I buy a lot from one seller to get a deal on shipping)