There are many areas of my life where I am privileged. One is disposable income. I can afford to buy the things I want, usually without much thought to the price. I would love to support smaller, independent book sellers, but there are times when the price and convenience of Amazon is very hard to resist.
Case in point. I learned about a new book, “Notes for Cellists: A Guide to the Repertoire” by Miranda Wilson" today. The original link the book was to the Juilliard Store. I also looked for it on Bookshop.org, and on Amazon.
Juilliard Store - $ 34.95 for the book. Least expensive shipping: $ 22.95. Total cost $ 57.14. Yes 71% of the purchase price to ship a paperback book.
Bookshop.org - $ 40.19 for the book. Shipping is $ 3.99, and tax is $ 3.68, for a total of $ 47.86. 4-10 days for delivery.
Amazon.com - $ 28.38. Shipping - free(-ish). Arrives in two days. Amazon’s search results had another book that looked interesting, “Digital Grace Notes: One Cellist’s Journey” by Greg Fiocca, for $12.99. I’m getting both books from Amazon for $ 45.16.
I am buying more and more books via Bookshop.org these days, but being able to get two spur-of-the-moment books for less than one costs elsewhere was impossible to resist today.
(Amazon shipping is $138 per year. Or, $138 shipping for the first purchase of the year, then the rest are free.)