What’s your best UK alternative, folks ? - ThreadSky

thehistoryguy.bsky.social • 73 days ago

What’s your best UK alternative, folks ?

Next month it will be *seven* years since I last bought a book on Amazon and *six* since I bought anything else at all.

Join me. It is liberating.

Comments

jonnyslats.bsky.social•73 days ago

Absolutely 100pc guilty of patronising Amazon right up until today, often against my better judgment. But we should all stop. Now.

braniganlife.bsky.social•73 days ago

This lovely secondhand book shop in Alton especially if you are a Jane Austen fan.

pollycomfort.bsky.social•73 days ago

Robert Dyas for all those household things . Fantastic range ..kitchenware, garden , diy. Also online . Helpful staff as well .

deborahjoy.bsky.social•73 days ago

A bookshop. I recommend @samreadbookseller.bsky.social in Grasmere, Cumbria.

chirose.bsky.social•72 days ago

I have begun using https://onbuy.com for non book goods. I mainly use my library for books. Will be moving my own books to draft2digital over the next few months.

juliachapman.bsky.social•73 days ago

Haven't used Amazon since 2015 because of their approach to (not) paying tax. Indie bookshops are always a better alternative.

historian1997.bsky.social•73 days ago

https://Wordery.com

tintacpingfoo.bsky.social•73 days ago

My real, local bookshop that can order in obscure stuff for me. Or Waterstones if you must.

rhianw.bsky.social•73 days ago

My local community bookshop, world of books, charity shops, https://bookshop.org
Anyone but Bezos

davelauchlan.bsky.social•73 days ago

For books ? https://Bookshop.org
(Or buy direct from author or publisher)
For audio books? https://libro.fm

Also a reminder that authors received 11p per library loan if you borrow their book from your local library. I know an author and they said that money comes in very handy!

thisiskatel.bsky.social•72 days ago

There's one book I've borrowed so many times that I reckon the author's been paid like I bought it twice!

javlar14.bsky.social•73 days ago

lottieplot9.bsky.social•73 days ago

Better World Books for second hand.

so3brocktree.bsky.social•73 days ago

The Bookshop. They work with smaller bookshops across the country, and have great curated recommendations. https://uk.bookshop.org/

pastandotherplaces.bsky.social•73 days ago

Mostly libraries or actual book shops. Better World Books is an option. 📚
https://www.betterworldbooks.com/

mcgraw.bsky.social•73 days ago

Abe books and another website i can't remember for 2nd hand books. Local 2nd book store is lovely, Leakys of Inverness.

daleturley.bsky.social•73 days ago

I use World Of Books. Buy 3 get the 4th free on many books.

katdharrison.bsky.social•73 days ago

Love WOB.

loonwatch.bsky.social•73 days ago

I quite like Spain.

jamesots.com•73 days ago

Glad I'm not the only one who read it like that. I reckon NZ would be a better UK alternative. It's a small island with rain and sheep and they speak a close approximation of English. Swap them over and you might not notice for a few days, though being upside down might take some getting used to.

taffneydave.bsky.social•72 days ago

A lot of books I wish to read are only available on Amazon.

laticsexile.bsky.social•71 days ago

I’d rather read something else in that case, but do whatever your conscience allows.
If all the big corps paid proper corporation tax in the UK we wouldn’t need to cut our overseas aid budget so hard.

taffneydave.bsky.social•71 days ago

Sadly I don't always have that option to buy elsewhere, I would prefer that I did.

pibasedlifeform.bsky.social•73 days ago

Another vote for https://bookshop.org here

mesnilman.bsky.social•73 days ago

My local indy bookshop. Order any book I want. And I live in France, but have all my English language books supplied through them. The staff are happy - I assume the pay is correct. And the bookshop pays its taxes.

Over 10 years off Amazon now.

mrstrellis.bsky.social•73 days ago

For tricky to find old academic texts https://wob.com can be great. For newer books, support your friendly @biggreenbooks.bsky.social. There’s plenty other independents on Bluesky too, and is there anything nicer than time spent in a physical bookshop?

dotee2025.bsky.social•73 days ago

World of Books. Free postage and very fast.

meg55.bsky.social•73 days ago

I bought a Kobo reader and borrow e-books from the local library.

hfmatters.bsky.social•73 days ago

https://www.hive.co.uk/

makeitblue.bsky.social•73 days ago

I second this. They're great

christorm.bsky.social•73 days ago

Your library?

christine-lee.bsky.social•73 days ago

I've been using World of Books for second hand books rather than Amazon. But no doubt someone will tell me they're unethical bastards as well!

jamesbarr.bsky.social•73 days ago

They actually pay a small royalty to authors via the ALCS. It is not much but it is an interesting gesture.

archaeomanda.bsky.social•73 days ago

I haven't bought anything from Amazon for years so I don't even really think about other places as alternatives, really. I tend to buy from Abe books, Better World Books, Waterstones, the gift shop at the Baltic Museum in Gateshead, sometimes eBay.

alkas1.bsky.social•73 days ago

https://uk.bookshop.org/
Support your local bookshop

rhianwilliams.bsky.social•73 days ago

My local bookshop Yr Hen Bost

philippeauclair.bsky.social•73 days ago

https://Bookshop.org for me.

thejohnmatthews.bsky.social•73 days ago

I stopped using it - though I do use it for searches where you discover things that are a degree of separation away… if I find something I fancy I google it and buy it from an indie.

It’d much more satisfying knowing he helped.

archaeomanda.bsky.social•73 days ago

I only ever really use Amazon for the reviews these days. The search function is awful in any case, I can never find what I'm looking for.

aslear.bsky.social•73 days ago

@stanfordstravel.bsky.social in Covent Garden - always!
🙌📚📖🗺️🌎

falconer59.bsky.social•73 days ago

I use Waterstones

marytozer.bsky.social•73 days ago

I haven't used Amazon for around 10 years now. I found Argos are a great alternative, they sell similar things and do 'same day' delivery in many places! Or click and collect if you hate waiting in the house for parcels. They're my go-to these days for random cables and little bits and pieces.

katdharrison.bsky.social•73 days ago

Support your local bookshop or World of Books who are brilliant for second hand books in good condition.

jllaynesmith.bsky.social•73 days ago

Hive, as previously mentioned (donation to local bookshop in Reading International Solidarity Centre). And it's surprising how often the books I want turn out to be at https://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk/books/category/books

welshborat.bsky.social•73 days ago

Waterstones, Foyles, Heffers, local independents.

welshborat.bsky.social•73 days ago

That👇

jrh43.bsky.social•73 days ago

Hatchards or https://Bookshop.org

Or eBay for second hand

budley23.bsky.social•73 days ago

Call me strange, but I go to local bookshops or Waterstones

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