Although books can be pricey, you don’t always have to spend a fortune to buy them. AbeBooks, Book Outlet, Amazon, ThriftBooks and Better World Books are among the cheapest places to buy used books.
As a bookworm myself, let me share some of my go-to places to buy secondhand books in Canada, both online and offline.
Key Takeaways
- Some of the best places to buy used books for the lowest prices are AbeBooks, Book Outlet and ThriftBooks, where you can find discounts of up to 90% on selected titles.
- Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji allow you to meet up with sellers in person and inspect the books before making a purchase.
- Yard sales and thrift stores can be the best places to find the cheapest books since you can negotiate prices lower than what you can get at other shops offering used books.
Where To Buy Cheap Used Books In Canada Online
| Source of Cheap Used Books | Features |
| AbeBooks | An international online marketplace for used books, fine arts and collectibles; provides used books from 50 different countries; offers free shipping to customers in Canada |
| Book Outlet | Largest bargain bookstore in Canada; prices are much lower than many other sources; offers discounts of up to 90% on select books; has a Discount Aisle for low-priced items; offers Book Outlet Rewards to earn points that you can redeem towards a future order |
| Amazon | An online source for cheap used books sold by authorized third-party vendors who adhere to the site’s seller guidelines and return policy |
| ThriftBooks | A platform dedicated exclusively to selling affordable secondhand books in various formats, conditions and languages; |
| Better World Books | A for-profit organization that sells books and donates to the needy for every purchase a customer makes |
| Facebook Marketplace | An online marketplace where in-person transactions can be facilitated; allows you to examine your item thoroughly before paying for it |
| Kijiji | A platform where you can schedule a meeting with a seller before buying used books to ensure their quality is acceptable and to negotiate a better price |
| eBay | An international online selling platform offering secondhand books from hundreds of sellers willing to negotiate the best prices |
1. AbeBooks
AbeBooks is an international online marketplace specifically catered for books, fine arts and collectibles.
Through this platform, you can easily buy used books listed from 50 different countries, giving you a wide variety of options and increasing your chances of finding the books you need.
Buying used books from this website is pretty simple. Just search for the books you want, check them out, and wait for them to be delivered to your doorstep. Unfortunately, though, not all sellers offer free shipping, so you may need to account for additional fees.
2. Book Outlet
Book Outlet is Canada’s largest bargain bookstore that has been operating since 1994.
While this retailer exclusively offers new books, its listing prices are much lower than you can find elsewhere. Hence, I can’t avoid mentioning every time I’m asked where to buy cheap used books in Canada.
Book Outlet offers discounts of up to 90% on selected titles and provides free shipping on orders $45 or more. However, be informed that the books purchased from this store may not always be in their best shape as they’re often from overstock.
3. Amazon
One of the best places to buy cheap used books online in Canada is none other than Amazon, one of the biggest online retailers worldwide.
I’ve found some of the best prices for used textbooks from this platform but heads up: the buying process is not that straightforward.
To buy used books from Amazon, you’ll need to find the product page of the specific book you want.
After that, you must click the small “Other options” text located below the “Hardcover” or “Softcover” buttons, whichever you prefer. And only then will you have the option to choose from the available secondhand copies of the book.
4. ThriftBooks
As a selling platform that was established to specifically sell secondhand books, ThriftBooks is undoubtedly one of the cheapest places to buy used books online.
This website has over 640,000 positive reviews and is home to a vast collection of millions of secondhand books available in various formats, conditions, and 4 languages.
While ThriftBooks offers very affordable copies, their warehouses are located in the US. As a result, the processing time for orders often takes 10 to 12 days in total when you order from Canada.
5. Better World Books
Founded in 2003, Better World Books is a for-profit but socially conscious business. For every purchase made by customers, this store donates a book to those in need, reaching the milestone of donating over 32 million books in total over the past 2 decades.
Buying from this platform isn’t too different from purchasing on Amazon or Book Outlet. Just check out the books you enjoy and wait for them to be delivered to your doorstep.
You can enjoy free shipping on orders over $15, but note that the delivery time may take between 10 to 21 days.
Related: Best Places To Sell Used Textbooks
6. Facebook Marketplace
When it comes to buying secondhand items near you, the Facebook Marketplace will almost always be a reliable option.
On this platform, not only can you view the actual images of the copies for sale, but you can also verify the identity of sellers through their Facebook profiles. These features ensure you won’t fall for fishy arrangements or fake representations of the book’s actual condition.
My favourite aspect of Facebook Marketplace is that it facilitates in-person transactions. So, you can skip over the shipping fees and have the opportunity to double-check the items yourself before paying.
7. Kijiji
Another one of my go-to websites for buying used books without worrying about shipping is Kijiji. With over 16 million users, this platform is home to thousands of affordable secondhand books, many of which may be available within your own city.
When buying items from Kijiji, simply look up the books you wish to buy, then contact the seller directly through Kijiji’s website or using other methods mentioned in the seller’s post.
The downside is you will likely need to schedule a meeting with the seller at an agreed location. However, on a positive note, you can use the in-person meetup as an opportunity to negotiate the price.
8. eBay
Of course, eBay, the popular international selling platform for secondhand items, also ranks among the best places to buy used books online.
Here, you can find secondhand books not just from Canada but also from other countries, increasing your chances of finding and negotiating the best prices for your books.
Keep in mind that on eBay, some books are sold at a fixed price, while others are auctioned. Always compare prices to ensure you’re not overpaying for your used books, and don’t forget to take shipping fees into account.
Other Places To Buy Cheap Used Books
9. Yard Sales
Yard sales, or garage sales, often have the best bundle deals for secondhand books.
Since most of them are held by sellers looking to declutter their space, there’s a very high chance that you can negotiate the books’ prices at these selling events and get the most reads for as little money as possible.
The slight downside is, of course, that there’s no guarantee that the books you’ll find at garage sales will suit your preferences or needs.
10. Thrift Stores
If you enjoy browsing through shelves filled with affordable secondhand books, you should absolutely not miss visiting thrift stores.
As you probably already know, these retailers offer incredibly low prices and provide plenty of discounts on specific days of the week or during special occasions.
Just keep in mind that the conditions of books you find in thrift stores may not always be like-new. Manage your expectations and inspect each book before checking them out.
Related: Best Thrift Stores in Ontario
11. Your Local Library
If there’s anything better than finishing a book you bought for cheap, that would be finishing a book you read for free.
Hence, as the last entry of this list, I highly recommend visiting a local library near you so you can rent the books you need instead of buying them.
Most libraries will allow you to rent books for two to three weeks, giving you plenty of time to finish them before your loan period expires. Unfortunately, though, renting may not be your best option if you plan to build your own book collection.
FAQs
ThriftBooks is not owned by Amazon. While the founders of this platform started selling secondhand books by listing them on Amazon, currently, they operate ThriftBooks as an independent business without any formal connections to Amazon.
One of the largest used bookstores in Canada is Russell Books, a family-owned bookstore located in British Columbia. In 1961, it was only a 300-square-foot store, but today, it boasts an impressive retail space spanning 18,000 square feet.
Yes, ThriftBooks is a legitimate website. This company was founded in 2003 and was one of the very first sellers of used books on Amazon. The website has over 640,000 positive reviews online, proving that it’s indeed a reliable and legit secondhand bookseller.
The company “Indigo Books and Music,” more commonly known as “Indigo,” can be considered the Canadian equivalent of Barnes and Noble. Both of these retailers are the biggest bookstore chains in their respective countries and allow customers to enjoy a library-like atmosphere while browsing through shelves.
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