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Poll: Where Do You Buy Books?
- 09/20/08
- 105
It has taken years but I think I’ve finally managed to find a way of incorporating polls into blog posts. Those who visit the main page of the site will have already noticed a poll in the sidebar there. But I think I can now work it into a post as well. The most recent poll question asked simply “How many books do you anticipate reading in 2009?” The answer surprised me. Though I couldn’t quite arrive at an exact figure, it seems that, based on 600 votes, the average reader of this site will read (and presumably purchase) somewhere around twenty-five or thirty books in 2009. Though we sometimes hear of the decline of the printed word, that does not seem to be the case around these parts!
Today I would like to ask a follow-up question. And it is this: where do you buy your books? There was a time when I was a regular visitor at the local Christian bookstore. In fact, when I worked near to it, I would visit a couple of times a week to look at books and listen to the newest CDs. More recently, though, I’ve nearly stopped visiting altogether and now prefer to do my book and music shopping online. I doubt I visit the Christian bookstore more than twice a year. I’m wondering if my experience is common.
So there’s the question. Do note that if you are reading this via RSS, you’ll probably have to click through to the site to actually answer.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (105)
Still can’t beat amazon for overall selection, ratings, good shipping, etc. And with amazon prime you can’t go wrong. But I would like to hear of any good alternatives.
Still can’t beat amazon for overall selection, ratings, good shipping, etc. And with amazon prime you can’t go wrong. But I would like to hear of any good alternatives.
I’m with you (though I only wish I could get Prime up here in Canada). I sometimes feel a bit guilty for shopping there instead of supporting the little Christian guy, but you can’t top the convenience…
I actually buy where I get them at the best price.Christianbook.comI fish used.addall.com to find books @Amazonhalf.com alibris.comabe.com
Of course, I do buy from desiringgod.org , too :-)
I buy most of them at Goodwill and library sales.
The selection is limited but the price is right.
I have been ordering from ChristianBook for some time. I recently set up an affiliate account for my church at CBD and order my books through that. Others in the church use the affiliate links as well, and that has given us a fund that we use to provide Bibles and Christian reading material to those who cannot afford them. My local Christian bookstore was not conveniently located and not well organized. It closed recently, probably due to those issues in part. There are stores in other parts of the city, but CBD makes it so easy. :-p
I may be able to get them cheaper through someone like Amazon, but I find that I enjoy spreading my business among folks like Monergism, Westminster, Cumberland Valley, Reformation Heritage, Solid Ground , Grace and Truth , and so on.
I agree with Darrell. I buy a lot of books at Goodwill and library sales. If it’s something that I need and can’t find there, I buy from Amazon or our church library. Usually if I’m patient, I can get it used.
I answered Westminster, but it’s a combination of Westminster, Monergism, DesiringGod, and Amazon, and sometimes even Christianbook.com (CBD). I am usually buying more than one title at a time, so I try to get them from one place for that order. But that doesn’t always work. I am just so thankful for DesiringGod, Monergism, and Westminster. CBD is an old faithful for me (but not so great for reformed stuff or puritan stuff). The giant Amazon will always be a viable option…
Can’t beat AMAZON.COM for the prices! I use Westminster alot as well…
I live in Mexico, where English books are hard to come by. But recently I had a chance to visit Canada. I had built up a substantial wish list of books for myself and my kids.
I went to one or two large Christian bookstores (and one or two “regular” bookstores). Finally I went to a Christian bookstore that is somewhat legendary in the area for its size and selection.
You guessed it - I went through all my pages of book titles and ISBNs, and found almost nothing I was looking for.
Which begs the question - what are they selling at these Christian bookstores these days?
I almost always buy from either Amazon or CBD. Sometimes if I am feeling thrifty I will order off of Alibris.com. I usually only go to the local Christian bookstore to browse or pick up a title on the run. Independent booksellers are too expensive. Can’t beat the prices online and the selection…
I used to shop at Borders and Waldenbooks until they closed my Waldenbooks, so now I buy books either from Amazon or my campus bookstore (since school started, more the latter than the former, though, especially since they can beat Amazon’s prices).
How about www.logos.com? That is where I get the majority of my books. A good chuck of print books come from Amazon.
Westminster is wonderful. To me, it’s not about selection as much as it is the quality of the selection. I dislike that Christianbook seems to show little discernment in the titles they carry. Amazon is a big-box store so I don’t really hold that against them. I think westminster carries a great selection of true resources at a great price.I particularly like the price and selection of ESV Bibles they carry. Because they are an ESV-only store (with the exception of the Geneva Bible) I don’t have to sort through all of the translations I don’t like and can intead focus on size, durability, price, and so on. I can compare apples to apples.
I pretty much use Amazon because I live abroad, and many of the good books havent been translated into spanish (and westminster books dont ship abroad).
I always use www.campusi.com to search for the best prices which apparently is now: http://www.dealoz.com/
Peace
Though I usually use Amazon when I buy books, I rarely fork over money for a book unless I’ve already read it and deem it worthy of ownership. I usually check them out from the library or borrow books. I’m incredible cheap, I know.
Your local christian bookstore actually has books??? Mine mostly has wall art, nativity sets and coffee mugs.
I’ve been a long-time customer of Amazon. But, recently they increased the intl. shipping rate to our country. So, yesterday I printed-out and compared the intl. shipping rates from 6 leading bookstores.
I’ll post the results here for those of you who may be intl. These rates are the cheapest mail option offered by each co., excluding Priority Mail, U.P.S., FedEx, and Canada. Here they are ranked from cheapest to most expensive…
1. BooksAMillion.com: $4/order + $1.95/book2. Monergism.com: $10.99 + 30%3. ChristianBook.com: $10 - 35%4. Amazon.com: $3.99 - $6.99/order + $3.99 - $6.99/book5. BarnesAndNoble.com: $7.49/order + $5.49/book6. WTSBooks.com: No intl. shipping
Looks like I’ll give Booksamillion a try for my next order.
I get most of my books through Paperback Swap http://www.paperbackswap.com. You get a credit for each book of your own that you mail out to someone via Media Mail. Then you can buy a book with that credit for no additional cost. That means my average cost per book works out to $2 or so. Now, many books I would like I’m on the waiting list for, and that may take a couple years. But, usually, I’m willing to wait.
I have used Amazon the majority of times but have decided to use Monergism and Westminster more in the future , so that I can support a christian source. I rarely order through CBD because they have absolutely no discernment and I will not support them when they sell stuff like The Shack , T.D Jakes , Joyce Meyer , leadership mantra guru John Maxwell , well the list could go and on .
The local used bookstores are my primary sources (the Goodwill Bookstore being the primary primary since it’s on my way to work). Then it’s ebay and Christianbook.com for specific titles. If I can’t find what I looking for from those sources, then I will try Amazon.
The only mainstream Christian bookstore here in Tallahassee is Lifeway. We used to also have a Family Christian store but it closed down several years ago. Even though Tallahassee is the Capital of Florida, it is lacking in a lot of commercial retailers that most other cities have.
Amazon.
I used to buy books from DiscerningReader.com (when it was a book seller). And when things went downhill and they went out of business, I considered utilizing Solid Ground Christian Books. However with SGCB, I had real troubles getting them to respond to my inquiries, so I pretty much gave up with smaller Christian book sellers and stuck with Amazon (at least for online orders). So its Amazon and the occasional purchase at a conference ;)
Amazon is cheap, has just about everything, ships quick, and offers free shipping for orders over a certain price. I’m pragmatic. Sorry small Christian book sellers, but I’m going to go with what works best overall. If you want my business, you’d have to be able to compete with Amazon in some way… I’ve never had to contact Amazon to ask about one of my orders, they always deliver for me.
With Christian sellers, I often (though not always) have had to follow up on things and what not. And, at that, some of the small Christian sellers haven’t been very diligent about being responsive (which is ABSOLUTELY necessary if they are ever to compete with Amazon, they have to offer very personal service). I’m not going to go through lots of hassles just to support the little guy.
I guess I could order from Monergism Books (I like their website), but then again, I’d rather just order from Amazon and get an extra book for what I’d pay for shipping with Monergism Books!
Ohh.. And I failed to mention Ebay! I’ll order used from there if the shipping + the bid price is considerably lower than what it would cost on amazon for a new book.
Last year my answer would’ve been Amazon, but I enjoy the one stop shopping of Westminster. Our local Christian bookstore is full of Joel Osteen and other best sellers. I’m always disappointed with the selection and the salesperson’s knowledge of what books are worth reading.
My really weak moments are usually at Border’s bargain section which is conveniently located next to the “germ court” at our local mall. There is nothing better than a huge hardback full of pictures and semi-useful facts for $6.99!
I’m surprised that so many people use Amazon. It is the cheapest and, in general, has the widest selection, but I thought many might be like me and choose to support Christian retailers like MonergismBooks, WTSBooks, and CVBBS because they are Christian businesses who care about the quality of the books on their shelf. But its a personal choice with no clear Scriptural mandate. Something is also to be said for getting the best price and using the money to expand the kingdom in other ways. Anyway, just my thoughts.
“These rates are the cheapest mail option offered by each co., excluding Priority Mail, U.P.S., FedEx”
Correction: Please delete “excluding Priority Mail, U.P.S., FedEx”. Those rates are the cheapest option each co. offers regardless of the shipper.
My Sources:1. Cumberland Valley Bible Book Service.(http://www.cvbbs.com/).2. Amazon3. Monergism
Local “christian” bookstore is Family, and lets face it, very little christian material in there.
I buy from the store which has the lowest prices at the time i need the book, which lately has been mostly, but not exclusively, Amazon. But in the last year I’ve also bought books from www.christianbook.comwww.abebooks.com (for used books)www.cvbbs.comwww.banneroftruth.orgwww.heritagebooks.orgwww.scripturetruth.comwww.solid-ground-books.comwww.wtsbooks.comand last, but not least, ebay.
There aren’t any good local Christian bookstores, so my book shopping is 99%+ online. The ones which would call themselves Christian bookstores mostly carry knick knacks, fiction and pop psychology, but very little of any substance.
chapters.ca > amazon.ca … but it’s nice to support the local Christian bookseller at least half the time.
Tim
I work for a small family bookstore in Fincastle, Virginia and that is where I buy almost all my books. Our business is called Scripture Truth Book Co. Here’s the link:
http://www.scripturetruth.com/_store/default.asp
Scripture Truth been in business since 1956 selling many, many Bibles along with Christian books and yes we sell your book on The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment too! Mr. Brodsky started the business and it’s now owned by his children and grandchildren. He graduated from Moody Bible College back in the 1930’s went into the Army, fought in WWII and started selling books in the 1950’s. I understand he originally pulled around a little red wagon going from house to house making deliveries!
Mr. “B” went home to be with the Lord last year. He was 87. He was one of the most godly and generous men I ever knew, and he is greatly missed! He was an avid reader and a tremendous spiritual resource.
I’m not a family member (there are 8 people all together in the company) but Mr. Brodsky was very much like a grandpa to me. His life and bookstore has impacted many for the Kingdom of God and I am glad to work for such a company that seeks to honor the Lord before making a buck.
Thanks for letting me share this.
Sincerely,Chris Griffith
CVBBS has the best prices hands down on almost all reformed, especially Banner, books that I’ve bought in the last year, I’m suprised they didn’t make the list.
I buy all my books at the bookstore on our church and seminary campus. I used to stop in couple times a week, and then they hired me as a clerk. Now I’m the store buyer, and I’ve taken my book buying habit to a whole new level. :-)
What’s more, I met my wife in our bookstore!
Beat that Amazon!
Grace Books Internationalwww.gbibooks.com
Local bookstore because I am in France. And we NEED our local bookstore to survive. Online stores for what I can’t find locally.
I go to Grace Community church for my books. I do not attend there, but love, love the selection. Matthew (above) or his wife have probably helped me there!
Why not buy from a brother at Monergism Books…besides, Phil Johnson has identified Monergism has one of the best all things reformed websites ever…
I buy a lot from my local christian bookstore. Unlike many they have a large academic selection, and also have a good range of bibles. I do also enjoy charity stores and second hand book stores, but theres not many good ones where i’m living now. I used to use http://www.bookschristian.com/ which often had decent prices but got fed up with the awful customer service. We had all sorts of things go wrong- having our credit card overcharged, leaving items out that we’d ordered and the slowest shipping i’ve encountered anywhere.
Amazon: 80% of the timeBN/Borders: 10%Local Store: 10%
Since I live in Grand Rapids, I used to be the mailman for Kregel used books, sometimes I bought them there. But more and more the type of books I want are no longer in print and I am findingthem at
books.google.com
Let me give an example…. Suppose you want to find a copy of the Princeton Review from 1832.
Not many places sell this, or the price is exorbitant. So, I have to search online.
I don’t shop at www.heritagebooks.org - I show up in person, so I don’t have to pay shipping. Another advantage of being in Grand Rapids!
I have pretty much stopped going to the local “Christian” bookstore due to the serius lack of discernment vs. profits. Some books I would even question their orthodoxy. Almost all of my shopping in online from (in order of use):1. Westminster- www.wtsbooks.com2. Cumberland Valley Baptist Bible Bookstore- www.cvbbs.com3. Solid Ground- www.solid-ground-books.com
For Homeschool books, it is hard to beat CBD- www.christianbook.com
Others I normally check are:
www.banneroftruth.orgwww.heritagebooks.orgwww.scripturetruth.comwww.amazon.com
I buy new books through Amazon (or Christianbook.com if it is a set of books). But in the past couple of years I’ve been buying lots of books at McKay’s Used Books in Knoxville, Tn. They don’t have an online store, so anyone who wants to go needs to pay me 25 dollars and a meal and I’ll take you on the tour.
I am blessed to have a resource center @ our church to buy books. The price is typically very reasonable.
I buy most of my books either from my church’s bookshop, The Tabernacle Bookshop or from eBay.
I use to go to Lifeway. I was a little disappointed last time I was in there though, because they were selling books by T.D.Jakes and Jentezen(sp) Franklin. Monergism.com is now option 1 for me.
Over the last year or so I’ve moved to buying most of my books used through Abebooks and most recently I always search through Bookfinder.com.
Being outside the North American continent, shipping costs are a concern for me so whenever possible I try to get my books from an online retailer here in Singapore called e-Tulip (www.etulip.org).
I’ve stopped going to Christian bookstores here mostly because the choices have been bad, with most catering to an audience that seems to be more interested in what Joel Osteen is teaching rather than Biblical truths.
I actually stopped buying books. Since I go to a Christian college and live close to a huge public library, all books are now borrowed and returned. Hello hundreds of dollars of savings!
But I would get them from Amazon, half-price books, and directly from the publisher before.
I used to always shop locally we had several Christian bookstores in my area, but they never seemed to have what I was looking for….like others have noted mainly “Jesus Junk” and the Jakes - Osteen - Meyer group. They have all gone out of business and other than one that is a lot farther away no choice but to go on-line, so Amazon (free shipping w/$25.00) or CBD. Will check out some of the other sites mentioned.
Like many other people have stated, amazon has the cheapest prices so I usually shop there. Also, I really dislike the commercialization of christianity that i find in many christian bookstores.