So, you've been stuck at home almost all the time for two weeks now with no end in sight, knowing that those nasty coronaviruses are hovering outside your front door, waiting to pounce if you step outside. Obvious time-killers like playing cards, watching online porn, and fuming about Trump have begun to pall. You feel like something fresh to read, and with a $1,200 government check coming in the near future, you'd like to spend some money to help jump-start our stalled economy. But you're afraid to brave the viruses for a trip to the bookstore, and you don't want to send your dollars to Amazon, which is already far too big and about which you've heard too many stories about less-than-stellar treatment of employees.
A few weeks ago I posted a link to
Bookshop.org, which enables you to buy books online while still supporting small bookstores. Here's their
about page, and here's
a longer discussion of how it works. 10% of every sale goes into a pool which is donated to affiliated bookstores, and they can get more revenue by selling their own books there. There's also a
local store locator for those who prefer to go out and do their own shopping when things get back to normal.
The site is still "in beta", but I ordered a couple of books there yesterday without any problems. It's worth checking out.
8 Comments:
Yes!
Well, yes, I'b been cooped up and I don't really want to go out with this nasty virus going around. It may be time to get to reading a little. I need to incorporate 'reading hours' in my quarantine routine.
Great idea to buy directly from small bookstores. Especially now that they may be in trouble with all this social distancing.
XOXO
Intellectual that I am, I have not read any books in March so far. But I did read one comic book, which for the first time, I bought as a digital download to maintain my social distancing.
I'm still not sure how BookShop helps local book stores. It looks like you can just set up a site and order books through Ingram. I guess you could stock a store through Ingram. So how does BookShop fit into this? I'll have to investigate some more.
Hmmm - I haven't even considered online porn as a distraction.
I am finding this kind of thing is becoming more prevalent. People are finding interesting ways to keep entertained or improved and I expect the end result will make us all a little better. At least that is my hope.
Another good source for books is https://www.betterworldbooks.com/. They have a "literacy partner program" and their statement is: "Every time you purchase a book on betterworldbooks.com, we donate a book to someone in need."
Shipping is free for most books.
Sixpence: There are a variety of options for ordering from smaller bookstores, but most people just reflexively think of Amazon.
Debra: Comic books count.
Mike: Well, as it says, for every sale 10% is donated to affiliated bookstores, and they can make more money by selling their books there. That's how it helps them.
Lady M: Me neither, really, but some guys.....
Jono: It will certainly make us adapt better to being on our own.
Nan: Thanks for the tip.
Sounds like such a great idea! It's just too bad they're shipping/selling in Canada yet :(
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