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Online bookstores?

Luciana

Skeptical Carioca
Luciana
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Messages
10,984
Location
Rio de Janeiro - RJ
I only know Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

I remember that the shipping and handling prices, to international orders, amounted to 10-15% of the total price of the books. But in the past year the price has doubled! I was about to order books at Amazon, a total of US$60. As I proceeded with the purchase, I found out I'd have to pay US$89!

With that amount, in my country's currency, I could buy 8 or 10 books, instead of the four I was about to order. Our currency is too devalued, I know, but those shipping and handling prices are just ridiculous.

I ran a simulation with the same bookd at B&N and the price was even higher than that of Amazon.

So, anyone has recommendations on online bookstores that ship internationally? I intend to keep trying and trying until I find more sensibe s&h fees. :)
 
Hi Luciana -

I was going to suggest WHSmith , a major high street bookseller in the UK, but sadly they also seem to have extortionate shipping costs - £4.99 for your basic parcel, then £2.99 for each item in the parcel. That is going to add up to a serious bill in no time.
 
I was about to buy a CD from Amazon the other day, and noticed that the shipping was suddenly way higher than it used to be. Scratch one purchase. They seem to be learning from the banks, make it look like the initial purchase is low, then sting you with the fees and charges.
 
You could give fetchbook a try. Just run a search on the book, then click "compare price" and it will show you a number of different online booksellers which carry the book, prices and all. There may be other services which do the same job better. Try googling book price compare or something like that and you'd probably find a bunch of less expensive booksellers. You'd have to do a little investagation on the shipping though.

I've only used Amazon once - someone had given me a gift certificate. I just found a load of books which, if your total purchase was more than $20, allowed for free shipping. That may just be for shipping in U.S. though - not sure.

Good luck.
 
Yep, this "free shipping" stuff only applies to the US. Most of the products at Amazon are not sold internationally, unfortunately. That makes their "gold box" quite stupid in my case, as they offer me stuff I couldn't possibly buy. :rolleyes:

I remember when shipping was $1.25 per book, now it's what, $2.95?? Outrageous!

Richard - that currency of yours is deadly to me. Nearly 5 to 1! :re:

lofgoernost - well, the thought that there might be search engines comparing prices of books hadn't occurred to me. Well, of course there must be many! The books I want should be found easily anywhere, so I'm sure your suggestions will be very helpful. Thanks. :)
 
This is no help to Luciana (Sorry :o ), but for those book lovers in the States:

Edward R. Hamilton sells closeouts, over-stocks, and remainders at huge discounts. For instance, they have Randi's Mask of Nostradamus (cover $24) for $3.95, and Joe Nickell's Entities (cover $33) for $7.95.

Shipping and handling charge is only $3.50 per order, regardless of how many books you buy.

Disclaimer: I have no interest at all in this company. I am only a very satisfied customer.
 
I may be wrong, but it's usually worth checking the other Amazon stores. Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.ca, specifically. Depending on the exchange rate, they can be a little cheaper.

I live in the UK, and often end up buying DVDs from amazon.ca, some books from amazon.co.uk, and other books from amazon.com. Different orders work out cheaper from different locations.

Apart from that, I'd say eBay, because that's generally one of the best places to buy anything (including the roman coin of Nero I'm using as my avatar, on eBay now bargain fans).
 
The google search and eBay are two brilliant bits of advice... could really help.
But if you're book shopping you have to stop by Prometheus.
Prometheus - It's a good thing.

Or check out the Prometheus Books UK Clearance.
Prometheus UK

Abe books may be better suited for old classics... but what else is there?
Abe Books

And of course there's Powell's... but I really just want to go back to Portland and browse through the store... no matter what the price, shopping Powell's online wouldn't be the same.
Powell's - The happiest place on earth
 
May I suggest reading the dictionary instead of various books. Once you read the dictionary, you read everything. ta dump dump! ;)
I avoid those pesky shipping charges by maintaining my personal level of illeteracy.
 
Luciana,

I have an idea.....

Since we non-Americans order books from Amazon and B&N, but don't like to pay the exorbitant shipping fees, why don't we simply have the books sent to our American co-skeptics and save the fees?

Then, we can simply carry them (the books, not the skeptics) home with us to our respective countries when we meet them (the skeptics, not the books) at TAM3.

Sure, they have to carry the books with them to Las Vegas, but I am sure that they will simply flock to do us this favor, us being such valued and cherished (OK, maybe not me) members of the skeptic commu...(bad choice of word)...society.

Hm....?
 
CFLarsen said:
Luciana,

I have an idea.....

Since we non-Americans order books from Amazon and B&N, but don't like to pay the exorbitant shipping fees, why don't we simply have the books sent to our American co-skeptics and save the fees?

Then, we can simply carry them (the books, not the skeptics) home with us to our respective countries when we meet them (the skeptics, not the books) at TAM3.

Sure, they have to carry the books with them to Las Vegas, but I am sure that they will simply flock to do us this favor, us being such valued and cherished (OK, maybe not me) members of the skeptic commu...(bad choice of word)...society.

Hm....?
Click to expand...

My friend Stuart and I will be attending and we live here in Phoenix. We drive up, so packing along some books would not be a problem. Let me or Stuart (bigshoestu) know if you want us to start receiving your books and we will bring them. :)
 
kevinsbikes said:
My friend Stuart and I will be attending and we live here in Phoenix. We drive up, so packing along some books would not be a problem. Let me or Stuart (bigshoestu) know if you want us to start receiving your books and we will bring them. :)
Click to expand...

Excellent! Thanks!
 
PerhapsMoe Faux would care to act as a repository in LV?

If she would just order away from Amazon.usa and give her's as the shipping address.

Bidda bang, bidda boom.

Alternatively, order a few weeks before and have them shipped to the hotel, or have them sent to general delivery and pick them up from the PO.
 
Is there a search site where one can find a book, if you do not know the title or author?
 
chance said:
Is there a search site where one can find a book, if you do not know the title or author?
Click to expand...

Blimey :D

Have you tried plugging what you remember about the book into Amazon's search thing?

Or, you could tell us here and see if anyone recognises it.
 
It's customs fees that are a rip. My company does a lot of international shipping (Canada to the US). $3.95 to ship a package and $12.00 customs brokerage fees.
 
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