Nick Fewings via Unsplash.
Why Avoid Amazon?
Publishers, authors, and booksellers have been concerned about the concentrated power of Amazon over the book industry for years. They sell more books than any other retail outlet, controlling at least 60 percent of the physical book sales market. And since recommendations are made by scripts and coding, not by actual people, certain books and authors are favored based on the website’s algorithm. Money spent on the site goes toward advertising and the pockets of ultra-wealthy owners, not to the below-livable-wage warehouse crew and drivers.
Is there a way to avoid Amazon and shop at stores where you and your money matters?
And it’s so easy!
Where can I buy Used books Online that’s not Amazon?
It can be tricky to avoid Amazon and its subsidiaries. Abebooks, Iberlibro, and Bookfinder are all part of the Amazon conglomerate, as was the recently closed BookDepository, whose motto was “All Books Available to All” and touted free international shipping, but shut its doors in April 2023 as part of Amazon’s cost-cutting measures.
But don’t fear – there are other options!
First, of course, you have BIBLIO! We put the inventories of over 7,500 independent bookstores at your fingertips. New, used, out-of-print, and rare. We even have many international booksellers if you want to buy books from other countries or would like specialty foreign language items. Have a niece in the UK who would fancy a fine copy of Peter Rabbit? Order one from a London dealer and have it shipped in a jiffy!
A few of our partners, like ThriftBooks and BetterWorldBooks, have sites you can buy directly from, and you can find their inventories on BIBLIO as well!
The ABAA, or Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America, has an online shop where you can browse and buy items curated by their distinguished members.
Another online option is Alibris, an independent book, music, and movie marketplace.
If you can shop in person instead of online, local libraries and thrift shops are excellent options for used books at very reasonable prices, and the money raised there goes to good causes.
How can I buy new books online (not on Amazon)?
You can avoid shipping fees and time by visiting your local bookstore, where regional tastes and knowledge abound. Plus, the money goes directly back into your local community. Bookstores often offer culturally enriching events for adults and partner with schools to improve literacy and give kids fun learning experiences.
BIBLIO is not just for used, rare and out-of-print books, many independent sellers provide new books on BIBLIO as well.
Another option for new trade books is Bookshop.org. Started in 2020, Bookshop.org is a B-Corp that donates 80% of its profit margin to independent bookstores. You can find any new release on the site, and it ships directly to you through their distributor, while proceeds go to your chosen local bookstore.
Powell’s Books, the World’s Largest Independent Bookstore, also sells books online through their website.
If you’re wondering how to buy from other independent bookstores online, go to the American Booksellers Association’s (ABA) e-commerce platform for independent bookstores. Their member directory hosts dozens of bookstores across the United States that will ship directly from their stores.
Book Tracking and Reviews
If you track your books or look up reviews on Goodreads, you may have noticed it links straight to Amazon and Audible. That’s because since 2015, Amazon has owned the site. They also have a 40% share in the cataloging site LibraryThing.
But there are independent alternatives!
The StoryGraph offers tracking and recommendations. It’s free, you can import your GoodReads information, and it is Black and female-owned. Booksloth is another app that can help you discover books and connect with other readers. For book cataloging, check out Libib, which offers cloud cataloging for your collection.
Buying books matters, and we at BIBLIO genuinely appreciate your support. Making conscious shopping decisions impacts the lives of other booklovers like booksellers and authors, creating a more inspired world for all!
More information:
- Every Book Lover Should Fear This Graph
- The FTC Has a $10.6 Billion Flaw in Its Case Against Amazon
- 21 Best Goodreads Alternatives for Ethical Book Tracking
Amy C. Manikowski is a writer living in Asheville, NC.
