Tips and tricks for getting good deals on books

Question

I buy lots of programming-related books. I usually go for used copies on Amazon, but I sometimes buy a book at B&N, because its convenient. I'd like everyone to share their secrets to getting good deals on books.

I imagine at some point someone will point out this thing called a library.

1. The libraries in my city aren't great, unless you want to learn about VB6 or Excel '97
2. I like to own my books, even if I get them used. Something about having them on the shelf ready for me to read again.

Also, free eBooks are great, but there are some great books that you can't get for free. Two books I'm getting soon are The Seasoned Schemer and The Ruby Way. I know their are free alternatives, but since these books are so highly regarded, I feel like I'm missing out on something if I don't get them.

So what websites, book-clubs, etc. do you take part in to save money on programming-related books?

Update: Excellent tips everyone! Thanks for all your answers.

Answer 1

abebooks is a good site for used books and Amazon.com almost always has the best prices and don't forget to check out their used book deals. If textbooks are your thing, you can try textbooks.com. There are also good sites for free online books.

Answer 2

hi, since you buy a lot of programming books and don't mind reading them in ebook format, then you might want to consider doing annual subscription to ebook library instead, their books are pretty current and you can have access to a lot of books plus you don't have to worry about the books getting outdated.

check out safari online.

the other good one that i found was this book24x7 which i used to have an annual subscription for $99 per year at my former company. And they have constant new book updates so sometimes i just read books that i won't normally pick up for fun,

Answer 3

If you have a local university, you may want to check their math or engineering library to see if they have books that you can check out. Many universities allow community members to borrow books as well as university students. This way you can preview the books and buy only those that you really feel will be worth it.

Answer 4

The simplest thing is to talk to your local librarian. Ask if they participate in any interlibrary loan programs. If you are an alumni of a university they most certainly participate with other universities, which means you can get almost any book published.

Answer 5

If you don't mind reading from you computer monitor:

http://books.google.com

http://www.esnips.com

There is also emule. Computer books get dated so fast. I usually preview a pdf version of the book then purchase from Amazon if it's worth having a copy on my bookshelf. Support the authors!

Answer 6

Are there any Half Price Books or other used books stores in your area?

I visit many used book stores frequently to see what new computer books have arrived.

Answer 7

I also like Nerd Books and have got some good deals there. Their service is fast too.

Answer 8

I always like to double check with Bookpool before placing an order for a technical book. Occasionally, you can find what you want for a significantly better price than what Amazon offers. They're fast and I've never had any trouble with an order from them.

Answer 9

It used to be helpful to look for computer books at amazon.co.uk. Five or six years ago when the US dollar was much stronger than it is now, computer books were so much less expensive that even with international shipping, it was cheaper to order new books there than to get them from amazon.com.

Obviously, with the dollar in the crapper, that's no longer true...but it's worth keeping in mind in case things swing back in a few years.

Answer 10

Borders often gives "members" (just ask for a card at a register) coupons with 25, 30 and even 40 percent off. I don't know if this is based on purchase history.

A $100 textbook is still pretty expensive at $60, but better than nothing.

Answer 11

First do your book research on Amazon because they have reviews, and suggest a multitude of related books etc...

Then, when you've chosen a book, buy it off Ebay...and I can guarantee you'll get it a whole lot cheaper

Answer 12

I use abebooks.com for used books, there are quite a few places that sell computer books in good condition for less than $5 apc (often less than $2).

Just make sure you are getting the edition of the book you expect. Check the ISBN number! Part of the reason they may be so inexpensive is that the book is an earlier edition and has been superceded.

Answer 13

Another approach might be to arrange to get review copies through the publisher. O'Reilly and Manning are keen on sending free copies of books to user groups in exchange for having them reviewed on a blog or user group site.

Answer 14

It's been touched on above but once you have the ISBN just dump it into Google and look at the options presented on the first few pages.

I can run through a list of options in the time it would take me to read a page or two and often save myself anything up to 60% of the price on a new book or get a decent 2nd-hand copy for so little I feel a bit dirty in 'stealing' them.

The number of people needing to clean out their home libraries for moves or career shifts and book shops clearing shelves for the next best seller can mean some great deals with very little effort.

The end of school semesters / years is a very good time if you don't mind second hand stuff. The student doesn't want to pay to ship them home and could use the cash and the market is slightly glutted so it's a buyer's market. Some of the books I get from ex-students makes me think either they are very very careful with their books or they never opened them. Sometimes the condition is better than what you'll find in the shelf copy in a book shop for a fraction of the price.

PS - The Ruby Way is one to have on your shelf. I agree.

Answer 15

In Germany I use Book Butler. They will query over a hundred retailers for the current prices and they know about shipping costs. I don't know how well this works in the states, but they do have an option to set your location to US and the price to dollars.

Might be worth a try.

Answer 16

Here's another website I just discovered: Compare Books. It seems to be pretty helpful and I found some of the books I was looking for for a few dollars cheaper.