Share

The 7 cheapest ways to buy books

accreditation

A while back, I wrote a column about the rising price of books in relation to the weak rand. 

We also chatted to Jeremy Boraine, publishing director at Jonathan Ball publishers, whose perspective on book selling in South Africa covered a multitude of reasons why books are so pricey at the moment (which included the issue of UK import and export prices and bookstore mark-ups because of VAT).

But I’ve also discussed ways to afford books, which included tips on utilising your local libraries, going to second hand bookstores and shopping book sales, etc.  
However, shopping books online is perhaps my current favourite activity.

And I know, there’s nothing like walking into a bookstore and browsing through aisles and aisles of books, but there are some fantastic deals out there! In fact, at the risk of being called a traitor to the physical book buying movement, I’ve found some of the best and cheapest places to buy books, online. What’s more is that, sometimes, you can even get books for free! Yup.

So, in the spirit of sharing, here are my top online book destinations:

Raru.co.za

This local and online retailer may not have been around for as long as Takealot.com or Loot.co.za, but it has quickly become my favourite in terms of their epic and competitively low prices as well as their excellent service delivery.  I’ve done a good number of price comparisons, and in my experience, have always ended up buying cheaper from Raru.

The great thing about their formatting, is when you click on a book you’re interested in buying: you can switch between hardcover, paperback and trade paperback - depending on whichever one is the cheapest option.

Visit them at www.raru.co.za, for books and so much more.

Bookbub

Another one of my favourites. This technically isn’t an online bookstore, it is a site that gathers and collects a list of books (specifically e-books) that are on sale (or free!) and lists them according to genre preference.

The site lists the book that’s on sale as well as the various different platforms where they are available on sale. I should add though that while the books are on sale, they won’t necessarily be available in all regions because of rights and territory legality issues. So be aware that there are chances that the book you click on could be priced slightly higher or at its full price.

Also, if you buy books from Amazon.com, you do pay an extra amount because of Amazon’s Whispernet surcharge. Make sure you sign up for the daily newsletters so that you never miss out on a book deal.

Visit www.bookbub.com for more information.

The Gutenberg Project

If you’re looking for some free reads, The Gutenberg Project is the perfect place to browse.

With a collection of over 50 000 books (a good portion of them classics), the online database gives you the option to either read the book online or to download the book in whichever format you prefer.

The Book Depository

While they might be a little pricier than Raru, what counts in its favour is that it has free shipping available to more than 100 countries – South Africa included.

Check out their website on www.bookdepository.com.

Amazon’s Kindle daily deal

For all you Kindle users, Amazon offers regular deals from $3.99 (R55,21) or less. There are some good books you can find on here – and some of the releases are popular books that have featured on bestseller lists.

Again, a reminder that some of the deals could be slightly more because of the surcharge, but it’s still a good deal cheaper than the normal retail price the books go for.

Reader’s Warehouse

Because I don’t live in an area that’s even remotely near to my local Reader’s Warehouse, their online store is practically heaven sent.

With constant deals (which often include book bundle buys), regular markdowns on book prices and epic book bundle boxes that usually cost a fortune elsewhere, there’s something for everyone.

Visit www.readerswarehouse.com for more epic deals.

Takealot.com

If you follow them on social media, Twitter specifically, you can take part in their regular competitions where you can win items from your wish list. While I do think they can be a lot pricier than other retailers, the deals they offer on a regular basis often compensate for it. Look out for their daily deals.

Visit www.takealot.com now.

Where are the best places you buy your books from? We’re always on the hunt for places to buy books cheaply, so we’d love to add your recommendations to our list.

Here are this month’s top 10 reads:

Iron Cast by Destiny Soria
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Baby Doll by Hollie Overton
One Night in Italy by Lucy Diamond
The Safest Place You Know by Mark Winkler
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Justice Served: The trial and conviction of Bob Hewitt
A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi
Grey Magic by J.T. Lawrence

Happy reading everyone,

Until next time,

Yours in books and bargain buys

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE