You bring in your used stuff, fill up one of their bins and then browse while they decide how many pennies to give you for the things you've spent nearly an entire paycheck to purchase. It only took them about half an hour to add up my offerings and give me a little store credit. They kindly will give you cash or twice the cash amount in store credit.
Browsing through their shelved books is kind of like being in BAM. Very difficult to find anything. They have a separate scifi and fantasy section but you'll find lots of those books misfiled in with all the other books. There's a separate romance section but you'll find lots of romance books shelved with all those other books. There's a few shelves of what I think are mystery or suspense but you find some books from certain authors there and in with all those other books. All those other books are just about every genre of fiction you can imagine.
The prices are pretty good but it's best if you have a certain author in mind while you look around. Their used movie section is pretty good and I found two season of Stargate Atlantis pretty cheap. I remember now why I loved the early seasons of that show. My daughter found a few nonfiction books but nothing that she wanted. So we walked out with some store credit in our pockets and a few items of interest.
But I also felt a little guilty. I love bookstores but 2nd and Charles is a case of the 'big guys' moving into a role that has kept some smaller book dealers open, the used book market. Some of those little stores have so much character and the people running them are true book lovers. Going into that big impersonal store felt like a betrayal of them.
The best thing about 2nd and Charles is that it is in a big mall and there's an Auntie Anne's Pretzels right next to it.
What do you think about BAM moving into the used book market? Have you been to a 2nd and Charles yet? Love Auntie Anne's very fattening and delicious pretzels?
18 comments:
In my area, we don't have a lot of places that sell used books. I prefer to buy my books new anyway.
No, I haven't been to a 2nd and Charles.
Yes, I do love Auntie Anne's pretzels.
We don't have anything like that in our small town but we do have a locally owned bookstore and a library with a used bookshop. I give books to them because the profits go to support the library.
We have a BAM - I have trouble finding things on their shelves, too - and a B&N, plus one independent bookstore. I don't really buy used books, but if and when I do, I tend to get them from the Friends of the Library bookstore, so the money goes back to them.
I don't really have a problem with used book stores, per se', but I'm not a huge fan of BAM, in general.
I went on a job interview with them and the only thing the interviewer kept harping on was 'selling "savings" cards and magazine subscriptions'. It really soured me on the store, for the most part.
Interesting info, Mark. My college daughter wanted to get a job at BAM. They do always try to sell me magazines.
I always attend the library used books sales too, Madeline and MSHatch.
Yeah, Patrick, for Auntie Anne's.
I would be dangerous in a place like that. We don't have BAMs. I am with your other readers in that I LOVE our library's used book store. Thanks for stopping by this morning!
I'm surprised more of them haven't started used bookstores.
Stargate Atlantis was one of the best shows ever - good choice!
We don't have a 2nd & Charles but we do have a Half Priced Books which works the same way. I do use it occasionally to turn my old books into credit to buy someone else's old books.
I've not heard of this store. We have a small, independent store in town and then our library has an annual sale to raise money. I'm all about that sale. Not only a good cause, but I've picked up some great books!
Yippee for more people supporting their libraries by attending their used book sales.
I just knew you would be a Stargate Atlantis fan.
I must be out of the loop, because I am not familiar with BAM. I did have a used bookstore that I liked where we used to live, but I don't know of one since we moved. I just donated a lot of my books to the local library.
I'm thinking of doing this with my local bookstore. I have too many books I won't be reading again.
I have a book addiction...just the smell of old hardbound bindings makes me smile. We have a Half Priced Books which carries old and new--and accepts records/discs/books in trade. I love that you used the phrase "books we decided to put up for adoption," exactly why my heart aches to let them go. :) However, as I "adopt" often, I should be better about it.
I haven't visited a real book store in while. A shame so many big companies are pushing out the little guys, but it look like used bookstores are still doing some business. I'd hate to go to a bookstore - new or used - and have it so disorgnized.
.........dhole
I've never heard of these stores either.
I love to browse around REAL book stores and there are a few charming thrift stores that do sell used books. I am a thrift store junkie so I don't mind rummaging around.
Actually I like our library's used book section - it helps fund programs, and I'm always donating books to it (and finding treasures).
Mm, Auntie Anne's cinnamon pretzels. Now I'm hungry! :)
I've only been in a small Books a Million and I wasn't impressed. But this was a tiny mall one.
I don't buy from bookstores much- I have a membership with a great library :)
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