Strand Book Store Inc

07/11/08

awful, overrated book store with lousy service

by britishjon at Citysearch

Like several other reviewers here, I joined Citysearch specifically to bash The Strand. The place is a total triumph of advertising over product. Anyone in a dumb Strand T-shirt (or hoodie, or hat, or shorts) will tell you that this is a great independent book store, but the fact of the matter is that it's got a very unimpressive selection that's presided over by some of the rudest people I've ever encountered in retail. I guarantee that whatever you can find at The Strand you can find cheaper on the Amazon Marketplace, shipping included.

The people who work at The Strand comport themselves as if they were the high priests of a sacred temple, but the truth of the matter is that they're in customer service. And if they can't provide pleasant service and a good, low-priced selection of books, what's the point?

• Pros: lots and lots of used hardcovers of major novels by major authors
• Cons: overpriced, terrible customer service, dank and inaccessible bookshelves, you name it

07/07/08

Dirty place, cheap price

by superreview at Citysearch

I've always bought my books at Strands, just because they are dollars cheaper than other bookstores I've encountered in New York. Unlike the others, I have yet to encounter the rudeness of their employees, probably because I have never bothered to sell my used books here, and after reading the numerous review, have no intention to. The only thing that bothers me about this bookstore is how unorganized it is : dusty books are stacked on top of each other, some books are not in alphabetical order/not in their best condition, and it's hard to navigate through the store, it's like a puzzle within itself (you go left, and then right, and then left again, and it would take you an hour to go back to the entrance. I'm exaggerating, but you get my point).

For me, their prices kind of make up for everything, even though I personally wouldn't spend more than 30 minutes there!

• Pros: Great prices, broad range of books
• Cons: Dusty, unorganized, dungeon like store

05/04/08

Check Strand online website before your visit if you have a book or author in mind

by DL2 at Citysearch

Strand books has a great website -- www.StrandBooks (plus a dot com).

If you know what book you want, check its availability online before you go to the store -- you'll find the store that has it and the section in which it is shelved (or save yourself a trip!). The author search also works well.

I print out the information and take it with me. Oddly, I have found the staff is incredibly helpful if you have the basic info -- and WILL help you find the object of your desire if it is not shelved where it is supposed to be.

DL2