McKay's Used Books and CDs, Chattanooga

This store (Chattanooga) is usually always busy, but they are very efficient with what they have to do. Yes, I usually have to wait some time for my items which I brought in to be looked at. If you spend a minute looking behind the counters, you will see how many other people are trying to do the same thing.......have their items looked at also. Most of the employees are professional & quick & try to be helpful when they can. I've found that the weekends are crammed full of people, but earlier in the week sometimes it's not so busy. The checkout lines can be long too, but again, many days, the store is full of people. Especially on the weekends, the lines may be long, but I get through them fairly quickly with a little patience. I'm sure if the retail store I worked in was this busy, it might get hard after some time. I love trying to find all the unique books here! You never know what you can find. I would recommend this store, just be patient!

The first thing I noticed on this visit is that it takes hours to process orders. While I understand they have only so many people to process orders, when you only bring in 2 or 3 things to sell, waiting a couple of hours only to find out that the store won't take the items is a letdown. Then when I went to check out the purchases I made, the cashier wouldn't even acknowledge me. She spent the entire time carrying on a conversation with another cashier and scarcely even watching what she was doing (which worried me since I was stocking my class library and had a lot of books). To make matters worse, right in plain sight, there were employees behind the counter ripping up perfectly good books and putting them into a cart to be thrown into a dumpster. Particularly painful to me personally was noticing that they were children's books. Okay, fine. Maybe the books weren't selling, but really? Trashing them? There are thrift stores all over the place that collect items to sell so the proceeds can benefit charities, not to mention organizations and charities that would LOVE books of any form and in any condition to use either in their own libraries or to give out to people in need. I go there still... only because it is the only used bookstore that has the books organized in a way that I can quickly find what I need for school when those books are in stock (ie, nonfictions arranged by subject, early readers clearly marked for my kids who still struggle with reading, etc) and I cannot afford to pay full price for the number of books I need for my class. Better believe that the moment I find another place to get used books, McKay's and I are parting ways. Especially if the place has better prices since some of the really good titles are not really much cheaper than new.

After reading this, I will not be returning. I was in the military for 4 years but I come from a family of retirees who retired from the service and whom fought in vietnam and korea. Shame on McKays.

What an apolling story. As a Tennessee Busines owner for over 15 years this was completely disghusting. Chuck and Michelle should be on the unemployment line. I as well as many of my friends are avid shoppers at the same McKays. We have been treate rudely from time to time in this location while other stores are very well mannered and helpful. Just to let you know Mr. Vet in your honor we will not be shopping at that store either anymore. At least one of the three were raised right and knows how to deal with the public. One professional out of three are terrible odds. I would like to apologize for their ignorance, you are very much appreciated for your service to our country. You should be able to park anywhere.

i like shopping at mckays in chattannooga its great even if they are higher than walmart on some things a person can get brand new things for a cheaper price than mckays sells it used the reason im leaving a review is WHATS THE POINT OF A WEB SITE IF YOU CANT LOOK UP ITEMS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE THEM ? SO GUESS WHAT I CALLED THE STORE 423-892-0067 TO HAVE THEM LOOK UP A C.D. FOR ME YOU DONT EVEN GET A REAL PERSON ITS A RECORDING TELLING YOU THEY CANT LOOK UP ITEMS OR GIVE PRICE'S OVER THE PHONE THIS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL SINCE THE PRICE OF GAS IS SO HIGH JUST DONT WANT TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY UP THERE IF THEY DONT HAVE WHAT IM LOOKING FOR

Well McKays was a great place to go to buy and sell books, CDs and DVDs, that is apparently until there was more money to be made perhaps on the backs on the flood victims or just the people who are struggling in this economy so bad that they have resorted to selling their belongings to buy food and pay shelter. Today i went to McKays in Nashville with a friend so she could sell of some books and movies and cds. I am one of the people who told her what a great experience i had last year when i sold mine, but what happened today was a disgrace. She had over 70 cds all in great condition, two full book series and a handful of DVDs. All in like new condition, almost all current music and books. Some of the stuff we priced on the shelves and the price being charged for some was over 5 dollars and some even 10.00. Just last fall the guy there told me they pay you half of what they are going to charge for it in the store. My friend got 30.00 cash! That was it, last year when i took my stuff over the first time, i got 600.00 in a check, their cash price the trade price would have been 1000.00. I had more stuff for sure but there is a limit as to who mush they will take from one person and deal with in one day, 3 bins, she had two, i had three. Boy oh boy times have changed when there is money to be made. Never again will i send anyone there for anything, there is no reason, if they are going to rip people off like that i would rather pay full price at a book store for a new one and give it to a friend or someone on the street when i am done with it. MCKAYS IN NASHVILLE IS NO LONGER A GREAT PLACE TO DEAL WITH.

First let me say that McKay’s Books in Knoxville WAS one of my favorite places.....that is until last Saturday. My family and I travel 2-2.5 hours to McKay’s from Kentucky. This past Saturday, when we got to McKay's, the Parking Lot was full, not to mention that there was absolutely no Handicap Parking available. Several customers were parking at the Pool store Next door. Seeing that there were 3 parking spaces on the side of the building, I parked there and put my handicap placard on the mirror. I also have a Handicap (HC) License Plate with the HC symbol and reads "Disabled Veteran". After returning from the store w/ $70 worth of purchases, an Employee, Michelle, say's "You can't park here". I said "The parking lot is full", while pointing at my license plate. She then states “You can't park here and your car WILL be towed." I said I'm handicapped and I spend alot of money here, I'm not walking from the bottom of the parking lot. BTW, what’s your name?" She says "Michelle and I'm going to get the Security Guard and you will be towed!" I said "Bring your boss back with you". In about 20 seconds, Drew shows up and says "Michelle says you wanted to see me, Is there a problem". I state what has happened to Drew and he says "Well, you do have a placard so I guess it is okay this time". In the meantime, Chuck shows up and says abruptly says "What's the problem", giving me that long stare. I state "Oh it takes two of you?" Drew says, "Well this is my Boss. (Drew was a nice guy and had the situation under control) I said well okay, and tell Chuck the story. I tell him that we travel to McKay’s from Kentucky and spend alot of money there and if it's that big of a problem, then I won't be back. He says "That's your choice" while shrugging his shoulders. I said "Never Mind the fact that this is how you treat people that have served your country and been injured to protect you." I point at my license plate and say "What's that say?" Chuck just shrugs his shoulders. I say, "Well I'll contact the owners and won't be back". Chuck says "Whatever". I realize that I parked in an employee parking space. I also know that there were 3 other spaces empty there. It is plain to me that Michelle and Chuck have no respect for Our Servicemen and women...the people that stand watch so they can sleep at night. Some of these people, such as me, are Handicapped/Disabled, protecting them. Needless to say, they know absolutely nothing about CUSTOMER SERVICE. With regards to the $3000/yr that we spend at McKay’s.....that money will spend just fine elsewhere.

Love the selection & the rate of return for used materials seems to still be pretty good despite economic woes.

I am writing from Ethiopia. I love reading books. On my third visit to the U.S.A. I spent five weeks in Chattanooga. Of all the places it was McKay's that I enjoyed in the summers of 2005 and 2006. I did buy a lot of books, CDs and VHS movies which I am now enjoying at home in Ethiopia (East Africa). Even now in front of me I have one of the CDs that I bought from McKay's only for a few cents. My fourth visit was again spent in Chattanooga again nothing equally enjoyable like McKay's. I have seen the Mckay's in Virginia too. It is also good. My fifth and sixth summers were spent in Nashville TN. Before my going there for the sixth time my daughter told me dady there is a new thing in town that you will enjoy and you know what the new thing was that a new McKay's was opened in Nashville and it was only a five minute drive from our place. I enjoyed the Nashville McKay's in April to June 2008. Whenever a subject about books or music is raised the one name I always mention here in Ethiopia is McKay's. I have liked everything about McKay's and there is no single thing that I can mention as to be hated. Whenever I think of what I miss in the U.S.A I very honestly assure you, it is indeed McKay's that I most miss. Tesfaye Haile Mariam

I hope the new location has more room (I am sure it does) but it will be farther away for me to get there so I will not be going as often, probably only a couple times a year after they move. The bargin books for 50 cents and $1.00 are super!