Strand Book Store, New York

Strand Books is awesome. It is the best place I know to get out-of-print books at a reasonable price (I scooped up some Evelyn Waugh that I had been looking for for years). The only problem is that you are sure to buy more than you planned!

WE TRAVELLED FROM AUSTRALIA AND VISITED YOUR SHOP. BY THE TIME WE LEFT WE LOOKED LIKE TOM HANKS IN CASTAWAY AFTER 4 YEARS. AWESOME EXPERIENCE.

The Strand is the quintessential triumph of marketing over product. Annoying bohemian hipsters in Strand T-shirts will tell you that this is a great place:an independent book store with great selection. If what you want is an overpriced used hardcover edition of a popular novel by a major author, this is your place. But as used and rare book stores go, this one stinks. I've never found anything even remotely rare or interesting here. Add to the less than stellar selection that the place is always mobbed, that the shelves are arranged in such a way that most books are out of reach, and that the staff display an absolute contempt for their customers and you get a pretty fair approximation of the place. Anything The Strand has you can get for half their price on the internet, minus all the hassle.

The Strand is famous! While on a trip outside of New York carrying books for reading in airports and on planes, a fellow traveller pointed to my sturdy Strand bag and commented on the great time he had living in New York (as an intern) and going to the Strand for books. The Strand is very comprehensive; difficult to find authors and topics can be found here. The vast turnover promises a new selection of books at the best prices in New York each visit. And, convenient nooks and crannies allow places to read and review at leisure.

It seems like the staff members at the Selling desk are known for their rudeness. I have friends who has had similar experiences going in there to sell their books and have absolutely been shocked by how terrible they are to customers who approach the desk with pleasant manners. I knew of their unkindness but didn't make it a problem until last week I went in to inquire about selling some of the rare books I had and Richard d. absolutely treated the whole experience as if I had caused him a huge inconvenience for just coming there. He was literally slamming down my books to the desk while scanning, causing the valuable books to damage and then he for some odd reason started yelling at me whether I wanted to sell or not when I said "I would come back." Fine, thinking it was my mistake for not literally saying "NO," I said "Sir, that is a no" without really suggesting any negative tone. I simply said no. Immediately giving me the nastiest face, he asked that I take all of my books and "leave immediately," and that when I came back I couldn't sell these books again. He quipped about all the people waiting in line to sell their books and at this point I was a little confused when he said I couldn't even come back on a different day. I asked him if there was some kind of policy to this simply in wanting know what I should be aware of and that I asked him for an explanation as he was only stating I couldn't but wouldn't explain on why, and he stared at me with his mouth shut. Very weird and unpleasant. I told him if I ever came back none of that would be a problem because I would obviously be at the end of the line until my turn came and the wait wouldn't be a bother to me. By this point he had the face of someone wanting to scream at me and start venting. I was not only confused at his extreme mannerism but obviously very, very upset that I had such experience at the lovely Strand. I don't think I ever want to go there again. I don't think I even want to go there to buy books; I don't know why a great place like Strand ruin their reputation with such terrible staffs they hire. It's really a shame.

I have the same experience when I try to sell my used books. Neil is one of the most unpleasant people I have ever met. Never a "hello" or "how are you". Don't come on Saturday mornings to sell your books as he is usually behind the desk. Also, they don't give you fair value for the books. You're better off going to Barnes and Nobles down the street as the prices are better. Strand's book selection is also disorganized. But their reviews in the basement are a good value at 50 percent off.

This place was amazing, don't normally like book shops but this place had so many bargains. I got a signed first edition of Terry Pratchett's Thief of Time for $4.95. If you're going to visit a book shop in new york visit this one.

I like browsing this store and finding bargains. I also like taking in books for sale. I have always had 'pleasant' interactions there. Today, I brought in a lot of books for sell and Neil, was the rudest to me a store employee--in ANY store--has ever been to me. NEIL had a huge pile of my books he wouldn't even scan in and I inquired how he was making his decisions. They were hard covers, good conditions and the paperbacks were of good quality as well. The normal procedure is to scan the book and see if they need it. NEIL snapped at me that this was his job and he knew how to do it. Whoa, I was only asking how you made that determination! He continued to rant about how he didn't have to take my books if he didn't want to and that I had no idea how to do his job. Well, no, I don't. That's why I was inquiring. I let him know that I thought he was being quite rude to me for no reason when all I had done was ask a honest question. Every time I've sold books here, it's never been like this. I told NEIL I would let all of my friends know how poor the customer service is here. NEIL replied that he can say whatever he wants and he doesn't care what I think and that I probably didn't have any friends. WOW. Even a co-worker, a large black woman reprimanded him for that and said sharply, "NEIL!" I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THE STRAND and I have hundreds of friends.

My first visit to New York City included two trips to The Strand. My first trip didn't give me enough time to sort through the stacks -- but as a book lover I returned, took off my coat and settled in for an afternoon of pure joy. The prices are good, the selection endless and my purchases were only limited by how much I could carry home to California on an airplane!