I never purchased new release books (especially hardcover) because I thought the prices were outrageous. Nor did it make any sense for me financially considering how fast I go through books. My favorite haunts for books were Half Price Books and thrift stores, and I was willing to pay up to $10 for something I really wanted (say a good cookbook --cooking is a hobby of mine). Now that I've gone to ebooks, I find myself balking at spending more than $5. Maybe I'm just a cheapskate.
