How to Buy Books Online

You can save a bundle shopping for books online, and you can usually find anything you need, including rare or out-of-print books. But remember that book-selling sites provide invaluable information, so take the time to browse.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Internet Access
• Computers

1. Click a Related Site, enter the word "books" into a search engine such as Yahoo or Alta Vista, or click on the box for "books" in the shopping list below and choose the "shop online" option.
2. Browse for books by title, author, subject, best-seller list or other method. If you know the exact book you are looking for, enter the name in the Keyword Search field.
3. Take time to explore the site for critiques, reviews and customers' comments.
4. Choose the edition you want - for example, paperback or hardcover.
5. Check the price of the book, often a significant savings over retail.
6. Note shipping costs and sales tax (if applicable). Add these costs to the cost of the book to get your total price.
7. Order a book by clicking to add it to your online shopping cart.
8. Continue browsing until you have added everything you want to your shopping cart. Proceed to "checkout."
9. Fill out shipping and billing information and supply your credit card number; choose the type of shipping based on how soon you want delivery.
10. Submit your order.

Tips & Warnings

• Most online bookstores also offer music, videos, and books on tape. Some also offer toys, games and electronics, as well as online auctions.
• Register at your favorite online bookstores. Using your book-buying history, the site will recommend books you might like or notify you when new books by your favorite authors are available.
• Be sure to check the return policy in case the book you receive isn't what you want.