Book Buzz – Search for Books

If, like us, you love books and want to support independent booksellers, you might want to take a look at a new way to search for both new and used books online. BookBuzz.org, a new search engine based in Victoria, B.C., allows users to search for affordably priced books available from various independent bookstores, booksellers and marketplaces, while intentionally excluding listings from mega-seller Amazon and its subsidiaries.

The site searches for books through a variety of websites, including Alibris, Biblio, Blackwell’s, BooksRun, eBay and the ChrisLands network of used booksellers, providing access to millions of books. The website displays both new and used copies, with prices inclusive of shipping. Search results are tailored to the user’s location in the United States, Canada, U.K., Australia, or New Zealand.

Here’s a quick look at various online sources, from the Book Buzz website’s Guide to Buying Used Books Online:

Book marketplaces – AbeBooks (owned by Amazon), Alibris and Biblio are three major online marketplaces based in North America that specialize in used books. Used bookshops and booksellers from around the world list books for sale on these sites. It is possible to support independent sellers by using these websites, but the marketplaces also earn revenue from your purchases.

General online marketplaces – Amazon and eBay sell everything, including used books. eBay is a pure marketplace and all its products come from third-party sellers. Amazon operates a marketplace for new and used items, which are merchandised alongside products from its own warehouses. Both websites insist on high standards from sellers.

Specialist used book retailers – Thriftbooks and Better World Books are specialist online used book retailers. They have large operations to find and sell used books at cheap prices. Aside from their own websites, their books are also listed on the major online marketplaces. These retailers specialize in cheap used books, but also offer numerous out-of-print books.

Independent bookstores – Powell’s in Portland, Oregon, and The Strand in New York are two of the biggest independent bookshops in the United States. There are thousands more that offer new or used books, or both like Powell’s and The Strand. We recommend supporting independent bookstores because they play an important role in local communities and provide personal service.

In the US, there is IndieBound, which promotes a network of independent bookstores. Bookshop.org is another shopping website (it offers new books sourced from a distributor) that supports independent bookstores — you select a bookstore to support, and they receive a portion of the purchase price.

Book Buzz also contains a useful compilation of book-business terminology in its Glossary.

Of course, as publishers we prefer that you buy our books new, and talk them up with your friends and family. Word of mouth is the best recommendation!