Discount books are found in a surprising variety of places – small, anonymous bookshops in the CBD, warehouse outlets and even large supermarket chains.
I first discovered them when the shop assistant in the large multinational book chain noticed the author of the book I was buying. She leans over and confidentially whispers, ‘So you’re a Dave Eggers fan then? My friend just texted and told me Dirt Cheap Books has a new shipment of McSweeney’s. You should get over there.’ There’s something delicious about getting a tip like this and particularly from an obviously disillusioned employee of the Big Guys, so I rushed over to take a look.
Dirt Cheap Books has branches all over Melbourne. I went to the one in Collingwood which is a big warehouse situated at the corner of Johnston and Hoddle Streets. It looks cheap, dirt cheap indeed and is a big, no frill, two storey building with piles of books. I was particularly impressed when I saw a book I had been about to buy full price, the biography of Phil Noyce, the Australian film director in there for less than half price.
A much smaller but perhaps more highbrow discount book shop is Fly By Night which has branches in the CBD and South Melbourne. I visit the Elizabeth Street one in the CBD regularly as you never know when they’ll have someone you want in. On my last visit, I picked up a Christine Mansfield cookbook and a book of AA Gill’s ascerbic columns.
Best value find came at probably the most surprising place, the large discount wholesaler Costco, a type of mega supermarket, in Docklands. (You need to be a member to shop here so make sure you sign up before you go or go with a friend who is a member). In the middle of the store are some large tables covered with books, mostly non-fiction such as cookbooks and biographies, but it was here I found the best collection of children’s books, including an Olivia the pig gift set containing one large hard cover book complete with a CD narration by Dame Edna and one small volume hard cover of another Olivia book, all for just $15. Outstanding value when you consider that an unpackaged hard cover volume of Olivia usually retails for $26.95.
Discount bookshops are like anywhere else you get discounts, you generally have to take the time to sift through piles and piles maybe not so good quality stuff to find what you want, but when you find a great book at a huge discount the great feeling you get of achievement makes it all worthwhile.
Do you have a great discount bookstore near you? Let us know your favourite in the comments section.
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