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Table Topic:
5 Tips To Book Outlet Like A Boss
Abstract:
Learn how to optimize your shopping habits on Book Outlet.
Disclaimer: This post is not endorsed by Book Outlet and I’m not responsible or liable for you accidentally checking out your cart with an exorbitant amount of goodies if you do test some of these tips.
Thoughts:
At first, I wanted to call these “hacks” but they’re really simple things I’ve come across that you can use to optimize your shopping habits on the discount store. I should preface this post to tell you that these tips work as of now (March 2016) and continuous improvements may change things in time.
I’ve essentially turned discount book shopping into a science.
Except not really.
1. Knowing The Schedule
Ever thought: “damn, I wish I saw that book on sale”?
As a self-proclaimed valued customer of Book Outlet (meaning: I basically check the site very day), I’m here to inform you with 99% certainty that products are re-stocked–and appears on the site–at or around 12:45 a.m. EST. Why this arbitrary time? Couldn’t tell you. Just take my word for it.
Note: this doesn’t mean there aren’t inventory changes made throughout the day (re push promotion). It’s just that the standard batch release is reflected on their “New Arrivals” during this time.
Unless.
2. The Special Days in the Schedule
While I mentioned above that items can be seen every morning, the exception is Monday, which I’ve typically only seen non-fiction, compact-CD, and miscellaneous releases.
Tuesdays are typically the start of the “50/50” sales; 50 listed titles at [a possible additional] 50% discount (e.g. currently “Biography/Autobiography”) at 10 a.m. — I could be wrong with the timing on this though but my e-mails don’t seem to lie to me.
3. Checking The True Inventory Quantity
(“Faux Checkout” Approach)
Are you unsure if you want to buy your item now or later? Worried about the true quantities left?
When you add an item to your cart, the quantities displayed “x in stock” represents the total stock of inventory available — note: this value doesn’t reflect other customers putting the same item in their cart.
For quantities displaying “100+ in stock“, it doesn’t really provide a good indicator as to how much is truly available. And if the price isn’t right, you might be wondering if you could wait on it to see if the price drops to wait to purchase it. Because really, a large quantity left unsold beckons the need to lower the price, right?
It’s all a mind game, really.
The Faux Checkout Approach. (Click to open larger image) Step 1: Add item with "100+ in stock" quantity to chart. Step 2: Click on "Checkout" >> "Proceed to Checkout" Step 2.1: Input information then click "Proceed to Order Verification" (note: you are not charged if you click on this) Step 3: Verify quantity left in stock (note: do not click checkout until you're ready to check out)
4. Checking The True Inventory Quantity
(“Previous Buyer” Approach)
If someone you know has recently bought an item, they go to their “Past Orders” page (located at the bottom of the site) and click on their order number which they purchased said product. It will display the total quantities remaining of that product.
Note: the item purchased is unique in that “Scratch and Dent” and “[Default] Bargain Books” are identified as different items (e.g. if your friend bought a S&D, the amount in stock reflected will only display the same S&D items).
Bonus: books can be restocked and may not yet be reflected until the next day rolls over and can be checked using this method. You just need a friend who has bought it previously.
5. Verifying The Cheapest Shipping Rate
I’m not sure what it looks like on the US/.com side (frankly because I’m too lazy to create a .com account) but on the Canadian checkout, know that the default is “Canada Post Regular Parcel” which may not reflect the cheapest option.
I’ve noticed in various iterations that the break-even is 7 books before the Xpresspost costs less than the default. Otherwise the Regular Parcel, I found, is usually cheaper.
Afterthought Prompts:
So tell me:
1) How has your experience been with Book Outlet, if you’ve bought from them before in-store or online?
2) If you’re an avid shopper on Book Outlet, do you have some tips and tricks to share?
As always, think aloud.
Cheers,
Joey
connect: afterthoughtAn // twitter | anotherafterthought // goodreads
Post Inspiration:
I’m on team Hoard All The Books because I’ve spent thousands hundreds on Book Outlet and have probably only read ~20% of what I bought. Either way, I hope this post helps you spend more money.
I’m such an enabler.
Also waiting to be endorsed by Book Outlet.
thoughts and afterthoughts. 
I do not need encouragement to spend more money on books. That said, I am going to go find out whether or not this website covers the UK now…
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They do ship to the uk but the shipping costs basically work out to the books costing the same they would if you went and bought them at Waterstones, it sucks
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Great tips! I have an account and wish list on there but I haven’t ordered any books from it yet. I’m waiting to do a really large haul this summer so this will come in handy for sure!
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Noooooooo. I’m trying to stay OFF Book Outlet. I haven’t looked at it all month and I’m dying inside. I’ve even been deleting the emails before even opening them LOL. Now I have the biggest urge to go look at books on there right now, sigh. This is an addiction.
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I just ordered stuff on Bookoutlet yesterday ironically. Oh my gosh, I totally knew about the “Faux Checkout,” haha. I don’t know if I should feel happy or bad about that. It’s good I was getting the benefits of knowing how many of the coveted item was really in stock but sometimes that prompted me to order things faster if I saw the number changing drastically fast. And if you were curious about how the shipping thing looks for U.S. residents… Most of the time the default shipping they have set up is the cheapest among the other options in the dropdown menu. 😛
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Huh. I never knew there was a strategy to Book Outlet-ting. Normally, I just click, click, checkout. Done. 😀
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I would love to be a Book Outlet boss like yourself but the shipping to Australia is crazy high! Like $50+ sometimes it even works out more expensive then the books you were going to buy. But that is super exciting they have the hardcover of Vicious for $8!! It’s like $40 on book depository 😦
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I will definitely try out book outlet! Usually I stick with thrift books which seems to give similar deals and shipping but I wouldn’t mind expanding my horizons!
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I’ve never shopped at Book Outlet before mostly because they don’t ship to my country but I’m dying to! This is so awesome and I’m definitely going to keep these in mind 😃
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Hi! I’m a new book blogger and I followed you blog. Would you mind checking mine out and follow me back? It would mean a lot to me. Thank you! (http://thepandabookblog.wordpress.com)
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I’ve never bought anything from Book Outlet (GASP!). Maybe I need to check it out. I’m all over Kindle deals, though.
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I’m on a Book Outlet ban. When I first discovered the site, I used to place one or two orders every single week. Now, I have over 60 unread Book Outlet books on my shelf. T_T
Their sales are amazing, though.
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I see so many people talking on Twitter about their Book Outlet hauls, but I’ve never actually shopped there before! I’ll have to save this post for the future XD Thanks for sharing your wisdom ;D
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
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Nice post on the science of book shopping 😉 Heard a lot about the Book Outlet but I don’t think they ship to the UK, so I mostly shop on Amazon and Wordery. I rarely buy books at a bookshop now because I like a good bargain 😀 Its a great idea that they have a Faux Checkout!
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SAVING THIS POST BC MAN – I’ve been wanting to use BookOutlet for ages now, and being in Australia – the shipping costs are crazy high sometimes, so I gotta get some nice deals! THANKS FOR SHARING, JOEY! ❤
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Great post! I’m checking their site, 10times a day?! Prices are so addicting. I cant find that prices in here. I made my first order in bookoutlet 2 weeks ago. Ive been eyeing this online store since last year but I cant purchase because they dont ship to where I live. But that didnt stop me. Haha!
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I’ve only ever ordered from BookOutlet once, and while it was a good experience in terms of navigating their website and receiving my books in a timely manner, I just can’t get over how they are sometimes slightly worn/dented/etc. (and I didn’t buy from the “Scratch and Dent” section). It’s something so small yet that really irritates me, so I’m wary of ordering again for fear that all of their books come with at least some mild imperfections.
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This is really useful! I only started shopping at the Book Outlet recently, and have only done two orders. I like it but find it a bit overwhelming and sometimes hard to navigate, so this could come in handy!
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I love Book Outlet! It never occurred to me to check the other shipping options when I buy – I’ll have to check that out next time!
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I haven’t used this before. I’m just addicted to physical bookstores. However, given how much money I’ve spent in the last two years building up my classroom library, and how many more titles I feel we NEED to have in here, I may have to start. Thanks for the tips on how to get the most out of it!
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