Bookmans Entertainment Exchange
(520) 325-5767
Products and Services
Trade,Sell,Buy,Videos,Tapes,Records,Dvds,Wi Fi,We Buy Cds,We Buy Books,Video Games,Software,Puzzles,Magazines,Games,Cds,Books,Best Used Book Store
Reviews
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A lesson in what not to do in economics
Posted by Chutzpuh on 7/24/2009
<p>I have had mixed experiences with the Bookmans locations for many years now. Essentially, what you get out of the place will depend greatly on whether you are buying or selling and what items you are dealing with.</p> <p>Let me start with the selling side. Basically, you walk in with your electronics, books and other stuff and let an associate look everything over. Afterwards, you may either take an amount in trade credit, or significantly less in cash. Strangely, the associates are rather inconsistent from one to the next in what they take, and the items accepted vs items not don't always makes sense. You can walk in with book 6 of a series when the store only has books 1-5 and several copies of book 3 and they will refuse your book 6 while taking another book 3. Sorry for the complicated example, but this actually happened.</p> <p>My guess is that they go by cover art and decide what looks better. With no catalog system, they really have no idea what they need or what they have. Many times, they don't accept hardcovers due to space needs, even if they are new releases. Not really a good plan since new releases should sell better.</p> <p>At one point, I accidentally mixed one of my UofA textbooks in the stack. A book retailing for $140 and likely worth about $60 to the school store. Bookmans offered me $3 dollars. Basically, when you sell to them you do so knowing that items will be accepted based more on the alignment of the stars rather than on age and worth. Also, don't even try selling something that you could sell elsewhere for more. You will always get a better price somewhere else.</p> <p>Now for my take on buying stuff. For many years I did well buying books from Bookmans. I paid about half retail for my books and found what I liked. Sadly, the turnover rate of new material at the store is low. Thus, there is never anything there anymore for me to want to read. Or in other cases, I will find several copies each of books 1-4 of a series, but not a single copy of book five since they were likely turned away as hardcovers.</p> <p>Game systems (i.e. psp, ps3, ps2, xbox, xbox 360) are sold at prices either equal to or greater then retail, or at a slight (about $20) discount. Sadly, at retail, these systems come bundled with accessories and/or games, at Bookmans you get the system alone. Take into account the fact that you get them without a warranty, and you get a bad deal. Sorry Bookmans, but a 1 week warranty on a used 360 is not going to cut it. When I get a red ring of death on the thing one month in, it is a total loss.</p> <p>Recently, I purchased a Ps3 game there for $15 in trade. Used price elsewhere, $9; new price on Amazon, $18. This example is true across that entire shelf as far as I have seen.</p> <p>While the games are overpriced, some of the other items are decent enough. I purchased an old 17" LCD monitor from them for a decent price of $60 at one point. I also picked up an ipod skin for $2 and a computer cable for $1. I guess the moral here is to simply be aware of the items worth.</p> <p>When I asked about their pricing system at one point, I was told that they match what Gamestop does. Well, I don't exactly consider Gamestop to be the best business model to emulate for starters. Secondly, I have never seen Gamestop try to sell me a Super Nintendo game for $40. Since when is an opened, played and abused game considered a collectors item?</p> <p>To wrap it up, don't try selling to Bookmans unless your only other option is to throw the item away. You would get a better price anywhere you go. If you find an old book you like there, go for it. You may find it cheaper on Amazon, but once shipping is factored in, the end price is about the same. Do not buy electronics or games at all (unless it is a wire or something), without using trade credit. The pricing on that part of the store is usually very bad and spending real cash would be a total loss.</p>
I visited here when I went to ...
Posted by karajane on 12/5/2007
I visited here when I went to see my mom and this is my new favorite place! I could have spent hours in this store browsing the books. They have a great selection and a really friendly staff!
