Thalia vs Amazon
Thalia and Amazon are two of the biggest booksellers in Germany. But where do you get the best deal?
In Germany, new books have fixed prices (Buchpreisbindung), so new titles cost the same at Thalia and Amazon. With used books, marketplace offers and shipping costs, however, there are clear differences that make a price comparison worthwhile.
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Thalia vs Amazon: Overview
| Thalia | Amazon | |
|---|---|---|
| New books (price) | Fixed retail price | Fixed retail price |
| Used books | Small selection | Large marketplace |
| Free shipping from | €30 | €49 (or Prime) |
| Standard shipping | €2.95 | €3.99 |
| Delivery time | 2–4 business days | 1–2 business days (Prime) |
| Store pickup | Yes, free | No |
| Loyalty program | Thalia Premium Card | Amazon Prime |
| E-book format | ePub (Tolino) | Kindle (AZW) |
| Returns | 14 days | 30 days |
Pros
Thalia
- Personal service in stores
- Supports local bookshops
- Free store pickup
- Tolino: open ePub format
Amazon
- Often cheaper prices on used books
- Prime next-day delivery
- Kindle ecosystem with Unlimited
- 30-day right of return
Cons
Thalia
- Higher prices on some titles
- Slower delivery
- Smaller used-book market
Amazon
- No local service
- Kindle format not usable on other readers
- Prime subscription needed for fast delivery
Verdict
New books cost the same everywhere thanks to fixed book pricing — the difference lies in shipping costs, used offers and ecosystem. With Bookprice.net you compare both sources and always find the best total price.
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