First, I will have to agree that smartphones and tablet have replaced print books only partially. Even though they are telling time and again that print books will go extinct, I don't think that will ever happen. For instance, I cannot use cookbooks or photography books from my Android tablet. I want to have such books in their usual, aka print format.
Second, buying paper books (well, electronic ones too!) is not cheap. Luckily, we can get some savings when we buy books online. Here are three options to books for less expensive when you purchase them online.
Amazon Canada
No one can compare themselves with Amazon.ca when it comes to choice and volume. You can find virtually any book on Amazon.ca. From that perspective Amazon.ca has established itself as the largest book store ever!
Being big and working online have their own benefits: you don't have to pay all those costs that regular brick-and-mortar stores incur. Therefore, you can afford shaving off a couple of dollars to offer some savings to readers.
For instance, these 2 fresh cookbooks are priced reasonably on Amazon.ca.
The Oh She Glows Cookbook: Vegan Recipes To Glow From The Inside Out
Price on Amazon.ca: $14.67
Price in store: $29.00
Salad Samurai: 100 Cutting-Edge, Ultra-Hearty, Easy-to-Make Salads You Don't Have to Be Vegan to Love
Price on Amazon.ca: $16.61
Price in store: $24.99
Another advantage you get with Amazon.ca is the free shipping option when you buy for $25 and more. That's actually very important especially if you live in remote areas.
On the flip side, don't go for everything featured and sold on Amazon with the thought that these are the least expensive in the country. Check more online book stores to compare prices. Check out the other 2 options from below.
By the way, Amazon Canada has a warehouse in the GTO area. Some books may be sent from Vancouver, depending on your location within Canada.
Indigo
Indigo has done a great job of transforming itself from a doomed chain of bookstores into a fresh and speedy company responsive to market changes and consumers' needs.
The selection of books in their online store is impressive, but the price may be somewhat higher than, say, Amazon. It's normal, because the online store should sell at the same prices that Indigo's regular stores sell.
The definite benefit of Chapters.Indigo.ca is that you can browse through all deals and sale items and, sometimes, fall on real finds. Check the list of books on sale. Some books are so cheap you want to buy them straight away. No wonder why some books are sold out quickly when they go on sale.
Indigo operates from the Great Toronto area.
Book Outlet
Well, Book Outlet positions itself as a place with Read-iculously Low Prices on books. Yes, the cost of books here is the lowest in Canada. Look at these deals in the scratch & dent section of the site. Amazingly low prices!
Why are they books so cheap? Most probably, this site buys out batches of books published a while ago from various book stores and publishing houses. Why would book stores sell books for cheap to Book Outlet? Well, to free up space for new books.
Don't think that all books on Book Outlet are old and worthless. Time-sensitive books may be obsolete, but such pieces as cookbooks, recipe books, craft books, children's book don't age! So go ahead and browse through the deals and scratch & dent sections to find your next book for cheap.
On the flip side, Book Outlet does not offer free shipping. These shipping rates apply in Canada:
$3.99 for shipping and $0.95 cents per item (CAD dollars)
Examples:
- $4.94 for a one item order
- $5.89 for a two item order
- $6.84 for a three item order
- $7.79 for a four item order
Book Outlet may not always have the exact book you need. But it may have an alternative to it.
Book Outlet operates from the Niagara region, Ontario.
By the way, Scratch & Dent (30% off now!) does not mean that books are so badly damaged. It may literally a small scratch invisible to an unarmed eye. I bought 4 or 5 times from them and could not find any scratches on the books. :)
Hopefully, you have 3 options now. Do your homework (compare the prices!) before proceeding to buy. Happy savings!