Powell's City of Books

02/24/2008 Posted by shhambo

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. That place is book love.

Pros: Great Selection

Cons: No Bargains Here

12/08/2007 Posted by kerrilyn

Although I hate driving downtown I love the Powell's on Burnside. They have their own parking garage and have the largest selection of books I have ever seen. Also, every year around the holidays I trade in my used books for Christmas presents (books, gift cards, gifts). They really do have something for everyone. I have found the staff very helpful.

Pros: I love the downtown store!

Cons: Hawthorne: someone always hits you up for money outside and line is in doorway.

09/25/2007 Posted by rutdog

Sure, I love the selection, but at the main store they are have always been rude and obnoxious. This is NOT representative of PDX. The Hawthorne store employees are much friendlier and helfpul than those at the main Burnside City of Books. So, leave Burnside for the tourists and locals stick with Hawthorne.

Pros: Selection

Cons: Bad Attitude

09/18/2007 Posted by rayegunn

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. 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.

Pros: Selection, Store Huge-ness, Helpful Staff, Great Events

Cons: Crowds!

09/04/2007 Posted by itchopek

whoever said that powell's book buyers low ball sellers surprised me because it's almost the same amount of money when you sell to any of the stores in portland that buy clothes. it's really not that bad. and the staff are extremely nice people. not egotistical or cold/cruel at all. whoever has had a bad experience was either having a bad day or expects people to kowtow at their presence.

Pros: lots of books, good for a rainy day activity if you're bored

Cons: it's really big

07/15/2007 Posted by vsc1524

I concur, there is something about this place that breeds hatred amongst the staff toward customers. Many are just plain rude, others are unhelpful. It sort, of reminds me of what might happen if the DMV and USPS got together and decided to open a bookstore. Bland, uncomfortable, and unfriendly staff, smug in the satisfaction that they have permanent job tenure. Perhaps they need to get *real* jobs now that they finally graduated from Reed.

Pros: Location, slection, hours

Cons: attitude, where are the magizines?!

06/06/2007 Posted by d13s31

This is what great book stores are all about. If you are new get a map, plan on at least 90mins of browsing and bring a friend. Java in the cafe is made by real baristas not the wanna be type at Starschmucks. The staff actually knows where books are and how to order them so ask if you can't find what you are looking for.

Pros: Selection

Cons: Parking

03/27/2007 Posted by ronagon

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.

Pros: Huge store, great atmosphere, lots of books.

Cons: Egotistical, cold and incredibly hateful staff.

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03/19/2007 Posted by kdd32252

Best selection on the planet? Maybe. Cool place to browse? Sure. 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.

Pros: Selection

Cons: Prices

12/06/2006 Posted by jflux

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.