15 reasons why I will always buy from Powell's Books (AKA. forget you Amazon!!!)
I just got an order from Powell's Books, and after three amazing sucessses in a row I am completely sold, forever. Several of you asked me why I am so thrilled with Powell's and so I decided to write a post about it all. There are so many more reasons than 15, but that is what I came up with right now.
Why I love Powell's Books and will never again buy from Amazon it humanly possible:
1.) All your books ship from the same location (amazon sends them all in separate shipments depending on which individual sellers you bought from).
2.)Powell's has a %100 satisfaction guarantee and you work directly with the main company so you don't have little minor disputes, they stand by their service all the way.
3.)When your box comes you feel like you are the queen (or king) of the world!
4.)Their boxes have POWELL'S imprinted on the side and it is a delight to see the mail person walking up to the door with that!
5.)The books are in incredible condition. They may be listed as used, but I have yet to get one that shows it at all! Those who buy back books are very choosy with what they buy back.
6.)I placed the order and while the box was being loaded I decided I wanted another book, I figured I would have to pay for shipping...but I didn't! Until the order is completely processed you have time to add books to your shipment!
7.) At Amazon I have never, ever been able to qualify for their free shipping on orders over $25! I can't seem to jump through the hoops well enough to ever actually end up getting it. Powell's is brilliant.You do have to order a minimum of $50, but then your shipping is free. I kept adding and adding to my order, free is really great.
8.)I am amazed at Powell's shipping fees. On amazon it usually ends up being about $3.99 or so per book (tell me if that isn't right and I will change it).Even if you don't order $50 worth of books at a time, the shipping fees are still way better than anywhere else, it is $2.99 per book + $.99 after the first book. Great price there! (Where Amazon usually ends up being $3.99+$3.99+$3.99 for each book you order)
9.) My books get to me SO much faster than using Amazon, it is not even comparable. I have always done the economy shipping with both Powell's, which says 4-9 days...but I am blessed to live so close to Powell's that it actually only takes one day. Yes, I get a confirmation email that my order has been shipped and three times now without fail the cute mail person is knocking on my door in less than 24 hours, with a beautiful brown on brown package for me! ONE DAY.
10.)It is local, for me at least...and even if it isn't local for you, it is a locally owned business, so I would always ethically speaking choose that over Borders,Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
11.)You can buy used (which is all that I buy) and that saves trees as well. This is the only way to go for me. I love books, but they must be used. Save a tree right!? (I am also really cheap and think it silly to ever have to pay full price for anything).
12.) They actually have responsive, human customer service and it makes my feel like a real human worthy of human contact every time I need to ask a question or get info. Yes, they actually pay someone and don't just use automated emails promising to get back with you witin 48 hours. This may not ever be something you'd notice, but if you ever have a question or concern it is like gold. I have used it twice now, and always hear back within a couple hours if it is during business hours.
13.) They have the most amazing book events. There are fewer and fewer places where authors can go and do book signings and talk to us bookie peeps. Powell's Books is sticking it out with the best of them and their calendar is packed with super special author folks who want to chat in person with their readers!
14.) You can sell them your books online! Even if you live outside of Oregon you can benefit from the virtual credit (or cash if you'd prefer). They pay for shipping!!!
15.) If you have ever been to Powell's Books, or seen my post, you know that another great reason to shop at Powell's is because it is the most outrageously cool bookstore ever, I don't know of a better one, one that is more into helping its customers and giving you all that you need in books. I think that is something any bookie should want to support.
Do you have another great reason to be a Powell's Books loyalist? Comment below and I will ad your reason to the count!!
2008
Here are my reads for 2008, I guess this year I completed 108 according to the count here 
I met my goal,sweet!
My favourites, the Happy Chicken award winners for 2008:
What I read in 2008:
B&b + ex libris
Here we are, (B) + (b) I was dinkin' around with my photo editor, and kinda liked the way this turned out What does ex libris mean? well wiki says:
Ex Libris is a Latin phrase, meaning literally, "from books." It is often used to indicate ownership of a book, as in from the books of... or from the library of'...'
I love it when people post pictures of their houses, mainly of their books in the context of their houses, so I decided to show you our living room It is lined in books!
This last time we moved I actually put them in alphabetical order by author, I love it, it makes things so easy and I like having a system. There is nothing worse than knowing you have a book that you really want to read, and you can't find where it is in the shelves!!!
Where are your books?? I'd love to see!!
My Year of Reading Dangerously Challenge:
CHALLENGE COMPLETE!!!!!
My Year of Reading Dangerously...seriously, what a title!? Who wouldn't want to join with that one! This one is for those of us who have been intimidates (scared) of reading certain books, authors, genres, and so on. There is an official list of books that you can read, or you can make up your own scary list! I joined this one, it looked like too much fun. There are 12 picks for this one...so it is a longer list of books. I chose many off of the actual list, because it is always more fun to read with others, and there are many that I am interested on the official list.
Sunday Salon- a little bit of this, a whole lotta something else.
This week has been a good reading week. I read a book that inspired me, and because of it have not read much else. It is The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule (click here for my review). The book is just too much, it is too full and just makes you want to create all sorts of things that you realize are possible.
This week I also finished The Waitress Was New (click here for my review). It was also really great. Just a true down-to-earth simple read that was deep into character development of a bartender who would have normally been overlooked. I loved it.
I haven't started the Farmer's daughter yet, but this week I'll read that one. Oh, and I bought tons of good books, and want to know if you have read them here is my stacks and stacks of lovin' post!
Okay well, honestly I am dying to get on the road here....not that I don't completely enjoy the company of the Sunday Salon, but it was my birthday yesterday and we have a babysitter for an evening out tonight. Also, my husband (B) who knows that I have been really wanting to get back into rockclimbing (I only boulder indoor, so don't worry about risk...just in case that is what you were thinking)...so for my B-dia he bought me a pass to the amazing Oregon State University indoor climbing wall. I used to climb there when I went to school, but since graduation (and two pregnancies) I have not been back): but now I have the chance and honestly it is one of those things that just thinking about it gets your adrenaline tingling. I went yesterday, but the new shoes I just got were excruciatingly tight (yes exactly as though I were binding my feet), I went for 3 minutes and had to leave, so the anticipation is even greater today. So because of all of this I am just having a really hard time concentrating on books right now...as in while I am trying to write this, all I can think about is putting the boys down for their naps and letting my hubby take over while I head over to climb. I think later today, or maybe tonight after I burn some of this adrenaline off I'll be able to post again...
I know you all like reading, since you are insane-o bookies..but what do you like to do for activity? I have heard of some people that listen to books on tape while the exercise as well, do you do that? It sounds fun, but what about clearing your mind from outside inputs for a while and focusing inward, not in a selfish way, but more of a revitalizing thing?
stacks and stacks of lovin'
I just can't contain myself. I got all these books at one store for $18 today! I figured you all would understand my delight. Have you read any of these? let me know...if you can/want.
These are from a different day. Here is a mix, one is from my amazing sis-in-law (The Inheritance of Loss) and the rest are my findings in one day at two different used book stores here in town. Have you read these?? Do you have any advice for me? Hand it on over!
yum, yum...I heart books.
Banned Book Challenge!
Fahrenheit 451: Freedom to Read is hosting the banned book challenge!! I decided to join this one too! The challenge is to read as many books as you can from the Pelham Public Library Banned Book list 2008(you choose the number now) and finish them by the end of June! Go check it out and let me know if you join so that I can see which books you a re choosing.
I chose to do four books between now and the end of June, I can always do more off of the banned book list, but here are some that I'd like to complete:
1.) As I Lay Dying
2.)?
3.) Love in the Time of Cholera
4.) The Scarlet Letter
NOTE: Completed books in RED.
