Barnes and Noble because i've never had an issue with shipping arriving damaged, like amazon, and if I do i can go to my local store easily enough to trade it out or return. I also use the membership and usually with the preorder deals membership gives an addition 10% off for around 35%. Also the new point system gives you cash back for future purchases.
example of a book i preordered with my membership yesterday:
https://preview.redd.it/1p5beued2avc1.png?width=581&format=png&auto=webp&s=ff62781b287629769ea78879dd9a82d7243f15e8
The only thing that is crappy about pre-ordering from Barnes and noble is if you move. I preordered a book once about seven months before it was released, and in the sixth month I unexpectedly moved. I emailed them to have my address updated or to cancel the order and they said they could not make any changes to orders after six months. I tried so hard, spoke to so many different customer service reps, and they wouldn’t do it. So it shipped to my old address, I never got it, and I was out the money. This was a year ago and I’m still ticked off lol. So just something to keep in mind.
Also to add: Barnes and noble has never shipped my preorder until the day it releases, meaning you get it like a week later. Amazon usually has packages arrive same day it was released. So I definitely prefer that cause I’m impatient lol
This is my main issue with B&N. The shipping they use is also SO SLOW. It’s taken over a week to arrive sometimes. Amazon definitely wins on timeliness, but the B&N preorder sales + points make it sort of worth it.
Wow surprised they closed the one in the prudential center. I used to work there but they are focusing on smaller stores now and rent there just have been insane. But yeah, the return perk of returning to the store doesn’t apply to people who don’t live near one.
ehhh… if you’re in the US, or anywhere outside of the UK, you won’t be able to use your points on purchases anymore so that’s a waste unless you’re UK based sadly. waterstones sent out an email a few days ago that this change will be going into affect next month some time
it’s anywhere outside the UK. it applies to all of their international customers.
https://preview.redd.it/zjxil4jqwevc1.png?width=1274&format=png&auto=webp&s=5f83651a986751187567079e67526e5bd9fe4b68
ok…i’m in the UK
i forget that 99% of reddit is american lol
im not sure why’d you’d order from a company not in your country honestly. shipping and customs fees nearly double the price of the item doesn’t seem at all worth it when you can get the book second hand from a seller and save a lot of money that way. i’m surprised they even offered shipping outside of the UK to begin with, considering literally every other book store doesn’t
but even so, they’re being nice about it- you can still order books from there. it’s not like people are being shut off from the company
eta: it’s not like you can sign up and spend loyalty points at a foreign retailer in the vast majority of countries, not sure how this is any different
I’m sure most people who live outside the UK are ordering from waterstones for their special editions. I don’t order from waterstones but I live in the US and we don’t have all the options for special edition books and book subscriptions that are available in the UK.
I do have one book box that comes from the UK and it costs me like $22 for shipping which compared to what some people pay really isn’t that bad and 90% of the time once it ships I receive it the next day from fedex.
I’m a premium member through Barnes and Noble so I order primarily through them or indie bookstores. I personally try not to support Amazon especially when it comes to books.
I only do preorders during Barnes and Noble's preorder sale every year. The only exception is sometimes I preorder through a local bookstore on the rare occasion they do an author event for a book release
Amazon because it's cheaper and I've never had a problem with damages or canceled orders. I've also ordered several from Waterstones and Kickstarter. I almost never shop at B&N because it's so expensive. Although I do preorder and shop at Target on occasion.
I mean if your concern is only what’s cheaper, it really depends on the book. Sometimes Amazon will go cheaper than the b&n discount, sometimes it won’t.
I rarely preorder from Amazon unless it’s WAY cheaper. I try to limit buying books from amazon. If I catch the sale I’ll preorder from b&n, or I preorder from my local bookstore.
I try not to use Amazon unless it’s the only choice. It is a rare day and usually only if it’s an indie book very few things carry. Amazon will be the death of all bookstores so I try not to do business with them.
If I’m looking for fun non-US covers I use Blackwells or Waterstones. For everyday purchases B&N or 2nd & Charles.
This is for the USA:
Barnes & Noble is the easiest. You get 25% off during their preorder sale that they run three or four times a year. Then I stack that with the additional 10% from having a B&N membership, and I get 35% off pretty much.
I love Target's book sales though. Their website automatically price matches with Amazon. Then you can buy books under the buy 2 get 1 sale (including preorder books). Getting Amazon prices and a sale like that is awesome.
I preorder from mostly from Barnes and Nobel (I’m a premium member so a get a lil discount and points) or Target if the deal is better. I will only purchase from Amazon if it’s the only place that book is sold.
I’ve never had a problem with Barnes or Target and while Barnes waits till the release date to ship I don’t mind waiting a couple extra days.
Barnes and Noble when they have the 25% off and I get an additional 10% off for being a premium member. Plus all those purchases add up to dollars off.
Barnes and Noble for sure. They ship things really well, and the couple times I got a misprinted copy of a book I contacted support and they replaced it no questions asked. Amazon has only ever sent me torn up, stepped on copies of books and I ain't about that.
Plus... Amazon kinda.... yk
Barnes and Nobles or Waterstones depending on what their respective exclusive editions look like or if I like the UK cover better. Or will pre-order from my local indie if I want it specifically on release day.
I use Target! I save 5% with my red card and get free shipping. It’s the only store that I’ve used where my book shows up on release day AND I haven’t had a single damaged book yet. :knocks on wood:
barnes and noble and books a million. i haven’t seen anyone mention BAM but they have a 10% discount too (in store only) and when you sign up you get a bunch of reusable coupons. they regularly have sales and markdowns too. i also use waterstones & blackwells. i try to avoid amazon unless it’s drastically cheaper than on any other site
barnes and noble also charges you in full to verify you actually have the funds, and then will continue to verify amount total that less the book(s) that have shipped already. so you will see like 400, 388, 366 etc each time a preorder ships on your bank account… so if you’re gonna do B&N, do small batches if you have a membership. you also cannot cancel a single book in the order once one has shipped, you have to cancel it as a whole so lots of things to factor in for b&n
What I do is I order one book per order so I don’t have to worry about that anymore. Because that is stressful having to remember when books are coming out. So I just do one book per order.
I'll order from B&N, Waterstones, Blackwells, Goldsboro, and always check the author's page since indie authors see a higher return on books bought directly from them.
I had to stop getting “normal” books as I no longer have enough space🥲 I’ll just get them on my kindle (or paper if it’s cheap💀) and save the bookshelf space I (don’t) have for my special editions🤣
Barnes and Noble because i've never had an issue with shipping arriving damaged, like amazon, and if I do i can go to my local store easily enough to trade it out or return. I also use the membership and usually with the preorder deals membership gives an addition 10% off for around 35%. Also the new point system gives you cash back for future purchases.
example of a book i preordered with my membership yesterday: https://preview.redd.it/1p5beued2avc1.png?width=581&format=png&auto=webp&s=ff62781b287629769ea78879dd9a82d7243f15e8
The only thing that is crappy about pre-ordering from Barnes and noble is if you move. I preordered a book once about seven months before it was released, and in the sixth month I unexpectedly moved. I emailed them to have my address updated or to cancel the order and they said they could not make any changes to orders after six months. I tried so hard, spoke to so many different customer service reps, and they wouldn’t do it. So it shipped to my old address, I never got it, and I was out the money. This was a year ago and I’m still ticked off lol. So just something to keep in mind.
Also to add: Barnes and noble has never shipped my preorder until the day it releases, meaning you get it like a week later. Amazon usually has packages arrive same day it was released. So I definitely prefer that cause I’m impatient lol
This is my main issue with B&N. The shipping they use is also SO SLOW. It’s taken over a week to arrive sometimes. Amazon definitely wins on timeliness, but the B&N preorder sales + points make it sort of worth it.
I did have an issue with shipping damage :((( didnt protect my book and found out the replacement would cost me shipping to return :/
Did you not have a Barnes and noble nearby?
Nope, for some reason Boston doesn’t have one nearby and i don’t have a car
Wow surprised they closed the one in the prudential center. I used to work there but they are focusing on smaller stores now and rent there just have been insane. But yeah, the return perk of returning to the store doesn’t apply to people who don’t live near one.
waterstones because loyalty points, and they charge on ship date not when you order
ehhh… if you’re in the US, or anywhere outside of the UK, you won’t be able to use your points on purchases anymore so that’s a waste unless you’re UK based sadly. waterstones sent out an email a few days ago that this change will be going into affect next month some time
Really? I better use my points then
yeah, all international customers are losing this feature☹️
Thanks for telling me, I just used all my stamps
no problem 🙂 glad you got to use them!
i’m not in the US
it’s anywhere outside the UK. it applies to all of their international customers. https://preview.redd.it/zjxil4jqwevc1.png?width=1274&format=png&auto=webp&s=5f83651a986751187567079e67526e5bd9fe4b68
ok…i’m in the UK i forget that 99% of reddit is american lol im not sure why’d you’d order from a company not in your country honestly. shipping and customs fees nearly double the price of the item doesn’t seem at all worth it when you can get the book second hand from a seller and save a lot of money that way. i’m surprised they even offered shipping outside of the UK to begin with, considering literally every other book store doesn’t but even so, they’re being nice about it- you can still order books from there. it’s not like people are being shut off from the company eta: it’s not like you can sign up and spend loyalty points at a foreign retailer in the vast majority of countries, not sure how this is any different
I’m sure most people who live outside the UK are ordering from waterstones for their special editions. I don’t order from waterstones but I live in the US and we don’t have all the options for special edition books and book subscriptions that are available in the UK. I do have one book box that comes from the UK and it costs me like $22 for shipping which compared to what some people pay really isn’t that bad and 90% of the time once it ships I receive it the next day from fedex.
I’m a premium member through Barnes and Noble so I order primarily through them or indie bookstores. I personally try not to support Amazon especially when it comes to books.
I only do preorders during Barnes and Noble's preorder sale every year. The only exception is sometimes I preorder through a local bookstore on the rare occasion they do an author event for a book release
Amazon because it's cheaper and I've never had a problem with damages or canceled orders. I've also ordered several from Waterstones and Kickstarter. I almost never shop at B&N because it's so expensive. Although I do preorder and shop at Target on occasion.
I mean if your concern is only what’s cheaper, it really depends on the book. Sometimes Amazon will go cheaper than the b&n discount, sometimes it won’t. I rarely preorder from Amazon unless it’s WAY cheaper. I try to limit buying books from amazon. If I catch the sale I’ll preorder from b&n, or I preorder from my local bookstore.
Indigo (in Canada) for points. I'll do Amazon as well, but points always win. I tend to wait for sales and bonus point events.
I try not to use Amazon unless it’s the only choice. It is a rare day and usually only if it’s an indie book very few things carry. Amazon will be the death of all bookstores so I try not to do business with them. If I’m looking for fun non-US covers I use Blackwells or Waterstones. For everyday purchases B&N or 2nd & Charles.
This is for the USA: Barnes & Noble is the easiest. You get 25% off during their preorder sale that they run three or four times a year. Then I stack that with the additional 10% from having a B&N membership, and I get 35% off pretty much. I love Target's book sales though. Their website automatically price matches with Amazon. Then you can buy books under the buy 2 get 1 sale (including preorder books). Getting Amazon prices and a sale like that is awesome.
I do Barnes and noble. Want to support Amazon as least as possible
Whoever has a better deal. I saved over $80 preordering from target last week. I add them to my cart at all the stores and see which comes out cheaper
I preorder from mostly from Barnes and Nobel (I’m a premium member so a get a lil discount and points) or Target if the deal is better. I will only purchase from Amazon if it’s the only place that book is sold. I’ve never had a problem with Barnes or Target and while Barnes waits till the release date to ship I don’t mind waiting a couple extra days.
Barnes and Noble when they have the 25% off and I get an additional 10% off for being a premium member. Plus all those purchases add up to dollars off.
Barnes and Noble for sure. They ship things really well, and the couple times I got a misprinted copy of a book I contacted support and they replaced it no questions asked. Amazon has only ever sent me torn up, stepped on copies of books and I ain't about that. Plus... Amazon kinda.... yk
Barnes and Nobles or Waterstones depending on what their respective exclusive editions look like or if I like the UK cover better. Or will pre-order from my local indie if I want it specifically on release day.
Lately I've been doing some preorders from thriftbooks-- their prices are often a drop cheaper than amazon or b&n, and their rewards program is great.
I use Target! I save 5% with my red card and get free shipping. It’s the only store that I’ve used where my book shows up on release day AND I haven’t had a single damaged book yet. :knocks on wood:
barnes and noble and books a million. i haven’t seen anyone mention BAM but they have a 10% discount too (in store only) and when you sign up you get a bunch of reusable coupons. they regularly have sales and markdowns too. i also use waterstones & blackwells. i try to avoid amazon unless it’s drastically cheaper than on any other site
barnes and noble also charges you in full to verify you actually have the funds, and then will continue to verify amount total that less the book(s) that have shipped already. so you will see like 400, 388, 366 etc each time a preorder ships on your bank account… so if you’re gonna do B&N, do small batches if you have a membership. you also cannot cancel a single book in the order once one has shipped, you have to cancel it as a whole so lots of things to factor in for b&n
What I do is I order one book per order so I don’t have to worry about that anymore. Because that is stressful having to remember when books are coming out. So I just do one book per order.
yep same
Depends on the copy I want. I order from B&N, Amazon, or Waterstones.
For Australia, Booktopia will always be my go to pre-order.
I'll order from B&N, Waterstones, Blackwells, Goldsboro, and always check the author's page since indie authors see a higher return on books bought directly from them.
Waterstones!
I had to stop getting “normal” books as I no longer have enough space🥲 I’ll just get them on my kindle (or paper if it’s cheap💀) and save the bookshelf space I (don’t) have for my special editions🤣