Buying discount books is an excellent way to stock your bookshelves at reduced cost.
The publishing industry is an important part of the American economy. According to the Association of American Book Publishers, profits totaled nearly $24 billion in 2009. Both individuals and institutions often need to purchase books in great quantities. A college professor may require copies of assigned reading to be available to students. School districts need to have books to distribute to students. Purchasing wholesale books allows buyers to save money on the cost of each individual book.
Instructions
1. Buy from wholesalers. Wholesalers buy items in large quantities and sell them to retailers and the public. If you need to buy books in large quantities at low cost, a wholesaler can work with you to find the books you need. Some wholesalers offer a wide variety of books for sale. Other wholesalers specialize in a specific type of book such as textbooks or mass-market nonfiction paperbacks.
A wholesaler may have limited quantities of specific book titles. Look closely before you buy. Many wholesale book vendors have both websites and physical stores. Buying from the physical location can be more cost effective if you live near a wholesale book vendor because you don't have to pay for shipping costs.
2. Buy used books. A used book does not always mean a book in poor condition. A book may be labeled used for many reasons. Some books are labeled used after they have been on the shelves a brief time and returned to sellers because they did not sell quickly enough. Other books may be missing a cover or have a small mark on the outside of the books.
Amazon requires booksellers to grade their used books based on the condition of the book. Books labeled like new may have defects that are barely discernable to the naked eye.
3. Buy directly from publishers. Many publishers offer big discounts on individual books if you buy large numbers of a specific title. If you have a specific book in mind, find out the book's publisher. You can do this by looking through the first pages of the book or looking up the book online. Look up the book publisher's website and see if discounts are offered. If not, contact the publishing house directly. Ask if you can get a discount if you buy a specific number of books.
4. Order books from print-on-demand publishers. If you have a book that you want printed in large quantities, you can work with print-on-demand publishers. A print-on-demand publisher will work with you to create a book of your own. You can then order as many copies as you need at a discounted price. Print-on-demand publishers are ideal for a company that needs company-specific materials such as employee handbooks printed quickly and cheaply. The company will bind the book for you.
