Alternatives to Amazon?
I've been buying books from Amazon since they've existed. I'm not sure how many days they existed before I purchased a book, but it wasn't many. I was living in a small town, and the closest bookstore was well on an hour away, and no way did they have books on topics I was interested in. Buying books from Amazon was a complete no-brainer.
However, the world has changed an awful lot since then, and I'm wondering now whether I would be better served purchasing books from other bookstores. My question to you, interweb, is what bookstores would you recommend? And in recommending them, can you explain why I would like them?
I recently purchase a book through lulu, which is an on-demand self publisher. That was fantastic, and I got a book I love that would never garner enough attention to be published through regular channels. I have also made at least one order from alibris, which was a reasonable place to find used books. I've probably had more success with our local used bookstores, however. I know there are places that specialize in technical books, but don't know who they are. Often I have luck purchasing directly from the publisher.
I think I'm looking for specialized booksellers, or for general bookstores with social missions. Really anything that is an alternative to Amazon without being another Amazon. I'd consider anything that doesn't self-profess to be the "Wal-Mart of the Internet." Suggestions?
However, the world has changed an awful lot since then, and I'm wondering now whether I would be better served purchasing books from other bookstores. My question to you, interweb, is what bookstores would you recommend? And in recommending them, can you explain why I would like them?
I recently purchase a book through lulu, which is an on-demand self publisher. That was fantastic, and I got a book I love that would never garner enough attention to be published through regular channels. I have also made at least one order from alibris, which was a reasonable place to find used books. I've probably had more success with our local used bookstores, however. I know there are places that specialize in technical books, but don't know who they are. Often I have luck purchasing directly from the publisher.
I think I'm looking for specialized booksellers, or for general bookstores with social missions. Really anything that is an alternative to Amazon without being another Amazon. I'd consider anything that doesn't self-profess to be the "Wal-Mart of the Internet." Suggestions?