How do you buy and select your books?

[shadowkat]

[Note: this is a general poll - if you don't perfectly fit into a category, who does? Just pick the one that fits you best. And if you feel it doesn't say what you want about your habits - leave a response detailing them. It's no different than doing those quiz memes.]

Curious how others online get their books. I get mine by browsing in bookstores. I rarely if ever order books online - because getting deliveries is so problematic. And I like to check out the book first, see if it's something I want. I like to discover them in bookstores. Also don't like libraries - I love my books too hard partly and I don't like deadlines.
That's me. Curious to see how others operate.


[Poll #1023668]

Comments

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I think this would have been more representative of my actual habits with ticky boxes, or less binary choices.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

But I didn't want a thorough comprehensive representation of your actual habits - if I did I'd have done a *meme* not a poll. This was a quick poll done on the fly to determine what people *generally* do.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Generally, I split between three or four different tactics. *g*

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Ah.

but that would require planning, time, and well bigger screen. Doing this at work to appease boredom more than anything else.

And curiousity - really wanted to know how many people picked up books via browsing or ordered them. How many bought or just borrowed/checked out.
Amazed at how many bought their books - since most of the people I know in RL tend to check them out at the library or borrow them. I'm the oddity insisting on buying.

I refuse to go out of my way to get a book anymore though. Won't spend above a certain price, won't special order, and won't hunt all over for it.
Reasons are fairly simple: I have too many at home that I haven't read yet to justify buying more - so when I do buy more, they tend to be impulse buys or the continuation of something I've fallen head over heels in love with (then I'll hunt). I've put myself on a strict book budget.
Also while I did libraries in Kansas City, I avoid them in NY City - chaotic, impossible to find stuff, and my allergies flare up. Last time, was five years ago to do research. Nasty experience.