I've been buying scifi books from thrift stores for a decade or more.
But in the last couple years, there's been a near complete collapse in it. The racks of scifi have abruptly dwindled to a handful of lonely books. The entire book section has dramatically shrunk as well. This is across thrift stores, not just one.
Is it:
1. nobody buys physical books anymore
2. nobody donates physical books anymore
3. donations seem to be driven by estate sales. Maybe the book lovers have already all died out and their estates are liquidated
I don't know. But I'm glad I bought the books when I could.
It's partially number one but definitely this for me, insofar as thrift stores go. The two thrift stores around me that take books are Goodwill and the Salvation Army and I won't donate anything to them any more.
My book donations go to the neighborhood independent bookstore for them to price and resell and keep their employees paid.
The large chain bookstore near me still has several shelves of science fiction, new release and perennial favorites, so I think at least some are still being made and sold. Hopefully you can find what you seek.
I think there's a fourth option - those little kiosks (like the Little Free Library ones) have started to spring up everywhere so it's a lot easier to just leave one's read books there.
But in the last couple years, there's been a near complete collapse in it. The racks of scifi have abruptly dwindled to a handful of lonely books. The entire book section has dramatically shrunk as well. This is across thrift stores, not just one.
Is it:
1. nobody buys physical books anymore
2. nobody donates physical books anymore
3. donations seem to be driven by estate sales. Maybe the book lovers have already all died out and their estates are liquidated
I don't know. But I'm glad I bought the books when I could.