Have you ever thought about how much stuff you buy on Amazon when you shop on the Internet? Amazon, the world's largest retailer, sells just about everything these days, whether it's a new book, a video game console, or something very specific like lawn mower parts

For all its convenience, Amazon is hardly a perfect company Its workplace practices were repeatedly criticized, especially during the coronavirus pandemic Furthermore, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has more money than he personally could ever spend

If you are ready to look beyond Amazon, there are plenty of retailers to choose from Books, in particular, are available at multiple locations online as well as at local bookstores If you are looking for a book and want to get it somewhere other than Amazon, these are your best options

Barnes and Noble, one of the largest specialty bookstores in the United States, has more physical stores than any other bookstore That means there may be a physical store you can go to right now - assuming your local COVID-19 regulations allow in-person shopping

Even Barnes & Noble allows you to buy online and pick up at your local store if they have the book you want in stock Home delivery is also an option, although not all are eligible for free delivery They also sell e-books, which can be downloaded directly to a cell phone or Nook e-reader

The "world's largest independent bookstore" is based in Portland, Oregon, so locals can go to one of their physical stores around the city and pick up their books immediately without waiting for delivery The rest of us can order online from Powell's, whether new, used, or e-books

But what makes Powell's stand out is that they often carry signed books as well These are not ordinary signed prints, but unique editions with limited quantities

If you are looking for textbooks and other educational materials, you know how expensive they can be Valore Books is a specialty bookstore that aims to sell textbooks at the lowest possible prices, thus saving you money on these materials Valore also sells used textbooks and will buy back used textbooks

Blackwells, a British retailer that started out selling educational books when it first opened, is a common sight on college campuses throughout the UK

The biggest draw is that Blackwells ships to other countries, including the United States, often with no shipping charges Just be aware that most of this retailer's inventory seems to be shipped from the UK, so you may have to wait a while

BetterWorldBooks is a bookstore that is also a charity dedicated to improving literacy around the world This means that buying books, whether used or new, or both, makes a difference in people's lives Of course, since it's a charity, you can donate, but if you just want a new paperback, BetterWorldBooks has a pretty varied catalog Shipping is free, too

Allbris, an online bookstore with independent sellers from around the world, allows you to buy books without having to go to a major chain store Allbris allows customers to do business with independent booksellers around the world without having to use major chain stores Alibris rates all sellers and publishes their locations, so if you are looking for something, you can try to find someone nearby This makes shipping faster and cheaper

The pandemic is especially tough on small businesses, but there are ways to support local independent bookstores without going out and risking exposure to COVID-19 Bookshoporg is one such site, where you can order books online just like any other place, but profits A portion of the profits go to indie sellers who are affected by the increased reliance on online shopping

Another British retailer, Wordery, offers free worldwide shipping and a wide variety of books at great prices The only downside is that, like Blackwells, Wordery ships from the UK, so you have to wait a while for your order to arrive But if you are not in a hurry, it is well worth checking out

While it may seem surprising to see a large retailer on this list, Target deserves a special mention; you can find a wide range of books on sale, especially new releases and popular titles, by visiting Target's website Target does not have its own Prime, but if you buy enough, you can have it delivered to your door for free You can also pick up your books at your local store the next time you are in the neighborhood

If you like to buy used books (and why wouldn't you?), check out Thrift Books, which aims to ensure that old books don't get thrown away and end up in good hands Shipping is free if you spend $10 or more within the US, and Thrift Books' prices are usually pretty low While you won't get a brand new, freshly published book, it's a great way to add to your library on the cheap