Cheap used book in the NW?
October 25, 2010 3:04 PM
Cheap-as-dirt used books in the Northwest?
In the Eugene, Oregon area, St. Vincent de Paul sells used books for next to nothing: $1.25 for paperbacks, $2.50 for hardbacks, with a large selection spread among several locations. Do any other cities in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, northern California) have anything like this?
In the Eugene, Oregon area, St. Vincent de Paul sells used books for next to nothing: $1.25 for paperbacks, $2.50 for hardbacks, with a large selection spread among several locations. Do any other cities in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, northern California) have anything like this?
Some of the independent thrift stores in Portland behave like that (Community Warehouse on MLK springs to mind). Usually it's for a very specific category of books that they get so dirt-cheap, though (Harlequin romance, old thrillers, obsolete diet books).
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 3:06 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by ivan ivanych samovar at 3:06 PM on October 25, 2010
Many library systems (or "Friends of the Library" organizations) have incredibly cheap annual or semi-annual used book sales. You'll have to fight the scanner guys for the best books, but there's still usually a ton of great stuff for pretty cheap, at least in Portland.
You just missed the annual fall sale in Portland, but there'll be one in the spring as well-- I think they do the spring one in Gresham, usually. Looks like Olympia does it as well, and so does Seattle. Check your local library listings...
posted by dersins at 3:37 PM on October 25, 2010
You just missed the annual fall sale in Portland, but there'll be one in the spring as well-- I think they do the spring one in Gresham, usually. Looks like Olympia does it as well, and so does Seattle. Check your local library listings...
posted by dersins at 3:37 PM on October 25, 2010
William Temple Thrift Store in NW Portland certainly has cheap books. I can't vouch for the exact price. I expect that pretty much all thrift stores will have a few shelves of books. Are you looking for books worth reading, or books for making into some sort of art project? Because most will be of the latter quality, I bet :)
posted by misterbrandt at 4:10 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by misterbrandt at 4:10 PM on October 25, 2010
In Berkeley, I'd go to Urban Ore. This doesn't answer your question, I suspect -- too far south. But it seems like in general you want to go to places that only incidentally sell books, as opposed to places that would call themselves "used bookstores".
(And in El Cerrito, the next town north, there's the Bay Area free book exchange.)
posted by madcaptenor at 4:24 PM on October 25, 2010
(And in El Cerrito, the next town north, there's the Bay Area free book exchange.)
posted by madcaptenor at 4:24 PM on October 25, 2010
Also in Portland: Title Wave retired books from the Multnomah county library.
posted by lilnublet at 4:30 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by lilnublet at 4:30 PM on October 25, 2010
No scanners at the Friends of the Olympia library sales! (but the next one isn't until February.)
The Goodwill here always seems to have dirt-cheap books, not the best selection, but a lot of volume. Same as any thrift store, I imagine.
Half-Price Books (none in Oregon, but several in WA) usually has a good selection at good prices. Some used, some new (remaindered?); looks like they also do "books by the yard" if you're looking for art-project or decor fodder.
posted by epersonae at 4:31 PM on October 25, 2010
The Goodwill here always seems to have dirt-cheap books, not the best selection, but a lot of volume. Same as any thrift store, I imagine.
Half-Price Books (none in Oregon, but several in WA) usually has a good selection at good prices. Some used, some new (remaindered?); looks like they also do "books by the yard" if you're looking for art-project or decor fodder.
posted by epersonae at 4:31 PM on October 25, 2010
St. Vincent de Paul is good for this in Seattle-Tacoma too, if you didn't know that already. More obvious but good answers: Goodwill, Value Village. The King County libraries are often auctioning too.
posted by zvs at 4:34 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by zvs at 4:34 PM on October 25, 2010
oops posted too soon - I've had good luck with booksalefinder on the east coast - didn't check the west coast or any other locale YMMV
posted by jaimystery at 4:39 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by jaimystery at 4:39 PM on October 25, 2010
Just in case you ever find yourself in Friday Harbor, Serendipity is a very worthwhile place to visit and it may fit your requirements. . .piles of used books, reasonably priced.
posted by Danf at 5:10 PM on October 25, 2010
posted by Danf at 5:10 PM on October 25, 2010
Not as cheap as St. Vinny's or Goodwill, but Smith Family Bookstore has two locations in Eugene and sells lots of used books (with some new thrown in). The stores tend to be crowded (with books!) and somewhat disorganized, but for browsing piles of books in search of gems, it's great fun. If cheap is really important, look for older editions since they tend to price used books at half the original cost.
And yes, Eugene has an Annual Book Sale put on by Friends of the Library. Plus, there's a bonus Mystery Book Sale in January if you can't wait till April. ($1 for paperbacks, $1.50 for hardbacks!)
posted by dormouse at 10:25 AM on October 26, 2010
And yes, Eugene has an Annual Book Sale put on by Friends of the Library. Plus, there's a bonus Mystery Book Sale in January if you can't wait till April. ($1 for paperbacks, $1.50 for hardbacks!)
posted by dormouse at 10:25 AM on October 26, 2010
Seconding that Half-Price Books (several locations in Washington) might be worth a checking out. They have a pretty big Clearance section where most items (paperback, hardback, fiction, nonfiction) are $1-$2. At least, the Seattle location I frequent does. And if you're looking for books you'd actually like to own, rather than just bulk for a project, I usually find a few things I'd like to own in Clearance. FWIW.
posted by doift at 9:05 PM on October 30, 2010
posted by doift at 9:05 PM on October 30, 2010
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posted by neuron at 3:05 PM on October 25, 2010