Hi,

With the good rate of exchange from the GB£ to €, you might expect the price of (new) books (including astro books) to be better. However you would be wrong, if you them purchased in Dublin.

I looked in Hodgis-Figgis and Waterstones. Both are offering rates only a little better than 1.50 euro for a pound. The rate should be nearer 1.25 euro for a pound.

I asked recently in Waterstones and they said they were using last years rate. I wonder if the rate of the euro had dropped instead of getting better, would they still be using last years rate for (new) books,

John

My experience has me purchasing online, as even with postage (not withstanding the better selection), the price is still below off-the-shelf prices in Ireland, unfortunately. Wasn't there a move to remove the VAT on books?

Wasn't there a move to remove the VAT on books?

eh there has been no VAT on books since the 80's.

I buy almost all my books on amazon now. I recently ordered a copy of the S&T pocket sky guide-only €5 new. I find most of the bookshops stock very few specialist books now.

I've bought one book online. It took about 10 weeks to get here from England. The company were out of stock at the time i purchased it but they didnt tell me that. They had to order it in but would only do so when they had enough books on order to make it worth their while.

I found out all of this through some very strong emails i sent to them and the replies i got back.

I wont be ordering books online again.

I'll search high and low for a book and if i dont find it i will order it in a store i have used in the past and was happy with the service.

For me..................buying anything is not really about the cost...it's about the service.

Oh if you are buying books from amazon please feel free to use the amazon search box on the SDAS site www.southdublinastronomy.org. We get a small commission that way.

Details at affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk/gp/associates/join if other clubs are interested in setting it up.

Personally I use amazon and play.com. Waterstones and HF are ok if you just are after one book that they have in stock when you factor in postage & the delay in getting it. Borders in Blanchardstown is also good and has a decent science section.

Likewise, I buy the majority of my books on line through amazon.com simply due to factors such as much better value for money, even with shipping added on, and a vast choice of books. Also, got some really hard to find books through Amazon auctions at really low prices. Been a customer since 1999, never had any complaints about their service so far.

However there are some bargains to be had in Dublin if one spends a little time trawling through Eason’s, Chapters, Hodgis-Figgis and Waterstones etc. I have purchased four books over the last number of weeks on astronomy that were selling below half price, but as I said, you need time to look around (It’s also refreshing to get some exercise during lunch hour looking for bargain books I guess).

Thanks for the link Albert.

Clear skies
Mike

Hi all,

I also tend to go for buying on-line. Often it's because I stumble across a reference to an interesting book which is now out of print or hard to get through a book-store. Also, some of the recent purchases have been expensive so I'd dread to think of the euro equivalent through a book-store (e.g. "Meteor Showers and Their Parent Comets" by Peter Jenniskens which was around $85 on Amazon).

The two search engines I always use are www.bookfinder.com and used.addall.com ... both trawl a number of the online booksellers and allow you pick the best option. I also never order off any seller with a rating on Amazon below 97% (exception is Powell's in Portland, Oregon who have always been very reliable).

All the best,

John

I usually purchase all my books online through Amazon - not been dissapointed yet, and their suggestions for books which may interest you is handy sometimes if you're just browsing for something interesting.

I occasionally purchase books in Easons, but have found recently that I have more science/astronomy related books on my own bookshelf than they currently stock and its only accasionally that they have something new that I haven't already read. I'll stick to my online purchases methinks.

I asked recently in Waterstones and they said they were using last years rate. I wonder if the rate of the euro had dropped instead of getting better, would they still be using last years rate for (new) books,

very good point John