Powells City Of Books
Must see/do at Powell's City of Books: Powell's City of Books is set into various sections, including the Rare Book Room. Open during select hours and by appointment only, the Rare Book Room has an extensive selection of antique books and references, set in beautiful dark wood shelving, antique furniture, warm lighting and works of art.
From humble storefront beginnings in 1971, Powell’s has grown into a Portland landmark and one of the world’s great bookstores. Covering an entire city block, Powell’s City of Books contains more than 1.5 million books in 3,500 different sections. Get a cup of joe at the in-store coffee shop (where you’re welcome to peruse up to three books), take a ride on the three-door elevator (one of only a handful in the country!), grab a map to navigate the nine color-coded rooms, and lose yourself in the largest used and new bookstore on Earth.Open 9 a.m.-11 p.m., 365 days a year.
Truely a great bookstore! – Still hanging on to this uncomfortable encounter years later? Must have been a bad day for both of you.
I have had so many wonderful experiences at Powells City of Books that I can't even count them. I have both bought and sold books over the years and have never experienced anything like what you have described above. Maybe everyone there does not walk around with a false smile on their face but once engaged I have found everyone to be helpful. At times they may not have known everything about the millions of books on their shelves but who in their right mind would expect them to? They must have hundreds of people working there and the odds of coming across someone who is also having a bad day is pretty good. Like energy attracts like energy I for one never expect a sales person to be responsible for how I feel after our encounter.
I think Eleanor Roosevelt put it best when she said, 'No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.' SNIDE, SNOTTY, DISRESPECTFUL AND NASTY – Say you clean out your house and decide to sell your books to Powells. Not a good idea unless you want to give away the only valuable books and take the rest home as well as endure a total lack of respect.We gave away 75 boxes of books rather than put up with the stuff we had to endure a couple years ago, and in fact have never crossed Powells doors again.Why? We had cleaned out a large number of books from our then vast collection of literary, language and unusual books. We took about 6 boxes down and were interested that they scanned every one and took approx. 1/6 of the group.
We donated the rest to the Goodwill.The next day we returned with more books, the rest of our downsizing and were accused of being book scouts. It was a very nasty encounter. We took all with us and never returned again.I have heard that a lot of the big bookstores have closed. We used to be regular customers, averaging purchases of 5-8 books a month. Now we never go anywhere where people make you feel bad.I agree totally with the review that tells about the anti-establishment attitude. Only thing is we are pretty anti-establishment, at least not wearing suits or expensive clothes, and they treat people like us just as badly as they did that person.I give Powells a deserved one star.
Anti-Establishment- A dream come true for rebellious types – I adore people from all walks of life. People that are different and that can share their thoughts/opinions/life experiences.However, when entering Powell's books you aren't greeted with a warm, friendly welcome. You instantly feel uneasy and sized up.
If you don't fall into the anti-establishment, we loathe successful people, than this place isn't for you.Clearly the employees are rejects from life itself. Instead of embracing others who may be different, they shun everything that is not like them. While this review is intended for the bookstore itself, we had to make a comment about the employees, since they are the ones that leave lasting impressions. They make no apology for rudeness, snide remarks, vulgar stares and glares, lack of store knowledge, and many other issues they seem to possess proudly.When making a quick stop to the cafe, I soon realized they too have the trademark Powell's attitude. Four people were 'trying' to do one person's job.
The line was out the door and long. People were leaving in droves because the service was so poor. Why does it take four people to take an order, retrieve the order, ring the order up and move on to the next customer in line? It's insanity.On to the actual book store, the review is empty.
Powell's large rooms, cluttered book isles, poorly designed walk areas and inefficient customer service desks make this retailer that much more unbearable. It's hot and stuffy throughout.
The bathrooms make a gas station seem luxurious. That is how filthy they were.Not Surprisingly we didn't have the mind set to leisurely browse the large square footage building. We had enough of the bad attitude and smell we encountered. I suppose if you aren't bothered by horrendous employees and their behaviour and the street beggars standing outside of the store, you'll do just fine.I'll stick with Borders and go back to a more normal life. At least one where I don't feel ashamed of being a successful human. Consider what you are looking for – Here’s the deal I love Powel’s but I can always afford to get my books there.
I would not order because they have lost my orders before. I also have a hard time dealing with the employees. When you ask them for help looking for a book you find they really don’t read much. They are also rude. I read a lot. My daughter loves to pull books of the bookshelves, so when the bottom shelf is full I sell them. Powel’s is not the place to do this.
$2 for a $25 dollar book and they are rude. Gta 5 mods crazy4android download free. I went up to the counter to exchange and the buy was aggressive verging on hostile. I end up for 15 books with $7 cash or $15 in store credits. He treated me like I was desperate for the money instead of desperate to keep my house to be clean. Minus the prices, lost orders, and employees you can spend days there looking at the books.
It is great if you know what you want and can do a one stop shop. Don't order your school books at Powell's! – You can't trust Powell's online orders! If you are a student, or ordering a book for a present, don't use Powell's online. Even if they confirm your order, if the book runner discovers the book has already been sold, THEY DON'T TELL YOU! Powell's instead waits for days and days until the rest of your order has arrived before sending you anything at all.
This is apparently a matter of policy. This means those textbooks you're waiting for, may very well not be coming, despite you're getting a confirmation order. According to the employee I spoke with, this happens at least once out of every 20 online orders. That is ridiculous! A really fun place and a great slection – OK, so I have been reading the reviews about how the staff is rude; to be honest I have been going there for years. I have only come across friendly people there.Though as someone who does work retail I have noticed over the years their is a growing trend that customers think they should be treated like royalty.
Before you think it no I do not work at Powell's. To me, as long as someone is not rude to my face I have never cared.
I don't know maybe I'm weird I go to a store to buy something not bond with wage slaves. Sorry for the long rant, I just can't stand people who think that a store should think it's such a great honor that you spend your money there. Arrogant, Nasty Employees – This place is a haven for haughty, hateful hipsters. They work here. You know: the arrogant, mean-spirited overflow from Reed College in the southest quadrant of the city.If you like books, this is a great place to visit.
But the problem is the attitude of the employees. It completely overshadows the rest of the experience and makes it completely uncomfortable. They do everything they can to make you feel inferior, all so they can feed their insatiable, wanna-be-French-sophisticates, egos.If you like the experience of sneering, pretentious nastiness AND books, all in the same store, shop here. But if you're an actual, self-respecting human being who just wants books AND to come away still feeling halfway decent about yourself, go visit Borders or Barnes & Noble instead. Great selection, Overpriced – Powell's touts itself as a used bookstore. In reality, maybe 1 in 50 books are used and the used books cost the same as the new books.
The selection is great, and it is a blast to peruse the shelves for hours on end. But if you want to find a bargain, find it elsewhere. I usually find the books I want by going to Powell's then go online to buy them. In short this place is priced for tourists with fat wallets.I have to say, I miss musty used bookstores with shelves and shelves of roughly organized books for a good bargain. If you're ever in Eugene, go to Smith Family Bookstore.
Powell's City Of Books
That place is book love. Portland Loves Powells – I think it really says something when a business is a huge tourist attraction AND locals still love it. For example, no one I know who lives in Portland proper goes anywhere near Saturday Market.
Yes, Powells a business and has a reasonable (4 times is bad? Do you really want to know the mark ups on your shampoo, your pens or your car?) mark up.
Powell's City Of Books Cafe Menu
Plus, what a resource. An enormous book store where you can find or order virtually everything, sit and read all day long, and research things that the library may not have in stock. It does have its downsides but I'm not complaining. Conceited and Snotty – I'll get straight to the point: Powell's is vast and quite the Wonderland of books. It markets itself brilliantly as a place of rich tradition and character.With that said, on the whole they really are a conceited and snotty lot, and even outwardly cruel to customers if their hatefully egotistical mood turns sadistic for sheer amusement or whatever.
They seem to regard many of their customers as dirty little vermin to be scowlingly 'endured'. I really don't like the place, and prefer to buy my books at one of the major chains like Borders or Barnes & Noble.Nope. I don't much like them at all. Book Sellers Beware!! – Best selection on the planet? Cool place to browse?
Do you get a fair price for the books you sell them? Um, not so much. I personally watched the book buyer price just. one. of my stacks of books at $185.
She gave me $45 for them. For those of you not paying attention, basically that means that they're charging you 4 times what they're paying for those books. I'd call that substantial mark-up. They know they've got you trapped since you can donate books to lots of places, but don't have many options for selling them.
So they low ball you. Their prices have never seemed all that extraordinary to me, and now I know why. The best bookstore on the planet! – Powell's has all the elements of a great, nay, awesome bookstore: knowledgeable and friendly staff, a vast selection of new and used books (so you can find almost anything you're looking for or didn't know you were looking for - at the right price) in almost any topic you can imagine.
All that, and a coffeeshop too. On any given day, Powell's bustles with readers and booklovers of all ages. Need a cookbook? Want to find an obscure monograph on a favorite artist?
Want to check out the latest bestseller you read about in the Times? Looking for that out-of-print sci-fi novel? Or how about a children's book about Chinese New Year? Chances are, you'll find it at Powell's or be directed to it on their shelves by one of their very helpful staff. I adore this place - my only regret is that it only exists in Portland. But hey, I can always use another excuse to return to PDX.
The worst service I've ever gotten in my life. – Now don't get me wrong, I love books. I don't love paying over $110.00 for books that I have to buy for school and being treated badly by staff. Keep in mind it's money coming out of my own pocket. I almost said forget it and went somewhere else.
I have never in my life been spoken to the way I have at this store. The selection was huge, but very poorly organized. The 'Info,' center is not as it is described. The employee did not want to give me any info. She just replied in a shrewd manner to 'read the signs.' I suggest Powell's Books reads the signs posted on this page and get rid of it's rude employees. If it was my business I would want satisfied long term customers not customers irritated by unhappy staff members.
Powell S City Of Books Map
With four floors and more than a million titles, this store has one of the biggest book selections in town. – In ShortBilled as the nation's largest independent bookstore, Powell's occupies an entire city block and requires a map to navigate. Though Powell's size and reputation draws tourists by the busload, it's the monthly exhibitions, regular readings and comfortable atmosphere that keep locals coming back.
Nine color-coded rooms, 3,500 specific sections and more than a million new and used titles virtually ensure that shoppers find what they're after. Selection Great, Service Not so Great – If you're looking for books in Portland this is the place to go, the selection is unmatched. If you're looking for staff who treat you respectfully or say 'excuse me' when they walk in front of you or start stocking shelves directly in front of you while you're browsing, this is not the place to go. Also, I have twice been turned down when trying to sell books because the bookseller hinted strongly that they were suspicious about where I got my books.
No one came out and said 'we think you stole these books', but I got a very suspicious vibe from the book buyer. No idea, other that I keep my books in excellent condition and many of them looked new.
God forbid I take care of my stuff. Next time I sell, I'll trash the books a little first. Wonderful For the Most Part. – I have to say that their selection is amazing! I do think that certain areas of the store need to be added to greatly (i.e.
Divinatory books). The atmosphere is wonderful for spending a whole day checking out books and poping into the coffee shop and getting a quick (or slow) reguvinating fix. Most of the staff are great with their customer service. The only real grip that I would have is that they really rip a person off if you go to sell books to them. I personally would rather go to a smaller local bookstore to sell my books to. Everything you'd ever want to read – Powell's is so big I bring guests from out of town to see it like an attraction.
Just amazing the selection and sheer volume of books. I love the fact they offer new & used on the same shelf and the cafe inside. I've spent many an hour lost in Powell's, sometimes I've complained it is too big! The staff is very helpful if you need to find your way around. My advice, have a plan of attack- know what your looking for - at least the general subject matter. Otherwise you'll be lost for hours and get a little overwhelmed with the selection and buy nothing! Great place, I think my dad wants to live there.
My only complaints would be parking and that they have a terrible magazine selection. Small and not nearly complete in any genre. Can't be perfect.