Powell's Books

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1.80
Based on 20 Reviews

5

10.00%

4

10.00%

3

0.00%

2

10.00%

1

70.00%
About Powell's Books

Powell's Books is the largest independent used and new bookstore in the world. We carry an extensive collection of out of print rare, and technical titles as well as many other new and used books in every field.

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Customer Pam
GB

Powell's did not pay me for the books I… Powell's did not pay me for the books I sent them for buyback. In fact, once the books were in the mail (using their label) I never heard from them again. I would recommend using one of the other buyback companies. This is not a business Powell's should be in. Had they been more expensive books, I would be furious.

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hay
GB

Just another book seller Instead of rating the quality of their books (acceptable, good, very good, like new) they just use the term 'standard' to cover everything. Previously, you could depend upon Powell books to do a superb job of packaging your books so that they'd arrive in pristine condition. The purchase I just got from them lacked sufficient protective material to keep the books from sliding and tumbling about, during their journey to me. There's nothing special about Powell books anymore. They're just another seller of books.

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Steven Michael Stroud
GB

Not the store it used to be! I’m saddened that this formerly indie bookstore has franchised, and it is nothing like it used to be 20 years ago. There selections are mostly new books, few vintage on their shelves. Further DON’T EVER TAKE YOUR USED BOOKS TO SELL THERE! You’ll get a better deal by putting them on eBay. They no longer redeem your old books for cash or credit, they only give in-store credit now, and the amount they offer on credit for your old books is insulting. I used to love shopping at Powells City of Books, but I won’t give them my business any longer. There are better indie bookstores out there that have quality books, quality service, and truly care about the customer.

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Mark
GB

Terrible business practices Terrible business practices. I recognize that in order to make money selling used books you need to get them for a decent price. However, this place is a gold mine. It's not just that they pay insultingly low prices for your books, it's that they're rude to you while they're doing it. They truly act like they're doing you a favor, and forget that without you selling back your books, they would be out of business. What's worse is that they have aggressively put every other mom-and-pop bookstore in the area out of business. Portland used to have a thriving used bookstore presence but Powell's has driven their competition completely out of existence. And they ripped off their customers with a contemptuous eye-roll while doing it. There are alternatives, albeit mostly online (Thanks in part to the business practices of companies like Powell's). I get that there is a thrill in hunting through thousands of books in order to find a diamond in the rough, but for ethical reasons, I will be going elsewhere in the future. Don't waste your time.

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Veronica
GB

Mad customer in Georgia!!! This was my first time ordering from this company and it will be my last. Sent me email saying my books had shipped on the 27 of November it's been three weeks and still no books. I want be ordering from this company ever again I've been tracking my books and the books are still sitting in same spot and haven't moved I don't know if I'm ever going to receive the books that I order.

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