Barnes & Noble Booksellers

I’m not going to compare this bookstore to Powell’s, because they are just different animals. B&N is a nice, clean, spacious bookstore, with a friendly help desk and a nice selection of gift books and other non-​book related things. I love their journals and stationary. Bonus– there’s a Starbucks that is attached, which to me, is a bookstore necessity.

In a way I feel kind of sad for bookstores as it seems as though they are a dying breed, but this Barnes & Noble still appears to be going strong. We stopped in here to try to get my friend’s daughter to use her gift card and look for some teen fiction/​tween books for her daughter.
It’s organized like any other B&N, with the registers on one end and then the kids section on the other with different genres of books scattered along the way. One thing I did notice right off the bat is that the employees don’t circulate around the store, so you have to go to the kiosk in the middle of the store to get help even if you’re in the back of the store. The help kiosk really isn’t anything other than a person typing your request on a computer. I don’t know why they just don’t have computer’s throughout where you can just do the search yourself and save time from having to ask an employee who may or may not really know where to find what you’re looking for.
They do have a lot of selection here though, but most of the items you can also find at your local library for free. We walked around for about 30 minutes before we realized my friend’s daughter forgot her gift card but since we already had books in had we headed to the checkouts. As mentioned, there aren’t many people on the floor and the same goes for the registers. The people didn’t seem bothered that there was a long line and made no attempt to call anyone else to assist ring up customers.
This B&N has an adjoining Starbucks as coffee and books seem to go hand in hand, so you can stop on your way out if you don’t find what you’re looking for in B&N.

It’s Barnes and Noble. So, ya. Came in here with a gift certificate and just the idea to browse. Personally, I prefer used bookstores and locally owned ones. They have a large selection though.

Looked online to see if B&N carried a particular book and to read reviews, check price etc. Got there & price was $ 15 more than online. I was informed that they don’t match their online price. Bummer. Also I purchased an extra gift card at Christmas time. I brought it in with receipt and they don’t offer refunds on gift cards either. Make sure that you are certain before buying, and certainly don’t buy anything extra! I will likely use but it just seems that if you were in a dwindling market, you would go out of your way to provide better service. Not alienate a repeat customer (I will be a lot less repeat moving forward.)

I often forget that this place even exists. That’s really too bad because I’d rather this location not close down. I’d rather it stay a bookstore (even if it’s a B&N) than turn into something else.
I know that three stars means A-​OK, but these three stars are more like a «whatever». This location has always served its purpose. I come here for a quick gift and because I like the journals and planners. Other than that, I usually just head over to Powell’s. The employees here have never been rude, but just don’t seem to be book lovers. Does that make sense? You know how if you’re at Powell’s and you ask an employee about a book or a genre you like and can immediately have a full conversation about recommendations? Yeah, that doesn’t happen here at B&N. You do, however, get the speech on how you should purchase their membership. Every time.
Yes, there’s a Starbucks in here and although each time I leave I tell myself that I should visit B&N more often and I could even grab a coffee while I’m there, I’ve never even been into the coffee shop area. Eh.
Overall, I guess I’m glad they’re around but wouldn’t be the least bit sad if this became another Powell’s location, but I would mind an empty building. Don’t close, Barnes & Noble, we sometimes tolerate you!

We frequent this B&n. My kids have been to many storytimes here. Their story selections are fun and the lady is really nice and great with kids. I like their children’s section, but The kids section at cedar hills Powells is our fav. Usually we read books or kids enjoy at the lil lego station they have. I really like that about B&N. Hands on learning, besides books and reading, two thumbs up. Toys here are a lil expensive, which I found out after I bought as presents and gave them away. Next time I ll look up and compare online before purchasing. Books though are great and we got some great finds in the bargain section. Overall love this B&N both for being a bookstore and also esp being in the shopping center.

I rarely buy books anymore, but I just had a feeling I would need it on the way to our beach house. The staff were really helpful with suggestions and I ended up with A Game of Thrones. I’m still working my way through it, and i’ve watched season 1 so i know what happens. But still it was a great suggestion.

Dear lady who was looking for my LAVENDER book: you lost your credibility when you asked me how to spell lavender after telling me you had no books on the subject. You lost my business.

Full disclosure: I personally order most of my media from Amazon, and lately I have been exclusively purchasing e-​books in an attempt to rid book clutter from my home. (After my most recent move, I said «enough is enough» with my 5+ super heavy boxes of books I only read once, and I trucked them all down to a donation center.)
That being said, I wanted to purchase my fiancé’s kids some books for summer reading. Because of this, I wanted to take them somewhere where they could peruse the books. Their kids section was really great. It was definitely kid-​friendly, the books were all displayed in an appealing manner, they had things broken out by age group, and overall I was impressed.
What I was not impressed by? The fact that over 10% of the book store looked like a toy store. Additionally, not only did you have to walk past aisles of toys on the way to children’s book section, they also had a lot of toys within the children’s book section itself. I understand that they are trying to make money, but I guess I just prefer a book store to be a book store.

Barnes & Noble is turning from being a book store to being a «t shirts, games, baby items, and knick knacks. also we sell books» store. I walked in to a table of books and three tables of candles, cups, toys, and leftover Halloween cups and napkins. On clearance, in February, they wanted $ 1.99 for black and orange napkins. Do we really wonder WHY the napkins are still there? I can assure you I know no one who would say «I need some napkins for a party… I bet the bookstore has great prices on them!» This can be said for MANY of their items, which now take up a large percentage of the store. I work in business and I understand upselling and impulse purchases, but you should not bank a good amount of your retail floor space on impulse items that can be found elsewhere, for cheaper, and not even book related. I’ll give them a pass on things like Book Lovers Monopoly but those three rows of baby toys, rattles, blankets, and baby shower gifts need to go. Its all sold at or above retail and I’ve never seen anyone come here for this type of stuff, especially with a Target and Toys R Us withing sight.
Moving on from the fact if I were in charge here I’d eradicate 90% of the junk they sell, their actual books are often overpriced or impossible to find. I go in looking for a copy of Gravity’s Rainbow for a coworker. It’s advertised on their site as having 6 in stock here. I browse the aisles three times myself and seek out an associate. He has no idea who or what I am talking about and wheels around to find a computer. After spelling the book and author name wrong three times he declares they might have some and asks me to wait there. 20 minutes later he comes back with the study guide for it and asks me if that will suffice. I went to find another (this time a nice older, intelligent looking woman) sales associate and she found out they don’t have any. She could order it but it would take three weeks and cost $ 2.00 more than it does online. She noted I could order it on their website and if I found another book to push my total over $ 25 I could have it shipped to my home for free within 2 days. I thanked her and decided to do that.
Browsing around I was saddened to see their prices are not good or competitive at all. A classic book offered for free on a Kindle or even a Nook is $ 10-​$ 15, a newer book on «clearance» is still $ 4 over what Broadway Books (local, indie, awesome book store) sells it for. Supposing you buy into their membership and get the 40% plus 10% off hardcovers you will still pay more than Amazon or Powells. Books are not a commodity where you can rationalize paying more for quality or service. I hope B&N decides to cut some fat somewhere and lower the book prices or they may go the way of Borders.

This is my favorite Barnes & Noble location besides the one that is now closed in South Bend, Indiana and I do like it better than the one in the Gold coast in Chicago too. It’s huge, everybody’s pretty helpful when you need it. I’ve been going here since I was in high school, everything is almost the same except that they have a huge space dedicated to kids now, before it was just the cute little back space. So I come here for some quiet time every time I come back to Oregon to just browse. It’s nice! I’d much rather be here then in stank Powell. I hope they don’t go away like Hagen did. But then again Hagen was more a pacific northwest regional thing.

I make my yearly stop here before the holidays, to get some great gifts. I think its the best place to purchase stocking stuffers. The new nook devices are amazing and the prices are so cheap, you should get everyone a unit.

What can I say. It’s a book store. It’s no Powells or Borders (RIP Borders) but it does the job. You can get coffee at Starbucks and grab a book.
It’s a generic book store. The clerks aren’t quirky or happy to work there like they are at Powells, but I got what I need and I shouldn’t bitch too loudly.

I know I’m not supposed to go into, or like, or purchase anything from this bookstore. It’s a chain. It’s evil. My librarian brother (who worked himself through college at B. Dalton and later worked for Seattle’s Pacific Pipeline book distributor which was sunk by the Amazon battleship) has lectured me about this… and I’m a big Powell’s girl.
No, really, I am. I always have a Powell’s gift card in my wallet, ask anyone.
Sometimes though, I want to slink in here and peruse the sale tables for cheap novels for my mamma, who rips through them like popcorn.
And sometimes I like the attention from the nice lady who works in the kid’s section, who saw my Princess plopping on the floor with a certain kinda lame fairy book and came up with a much BETTER fairy book series for her, for which I am eternally grateful. The lame-​o series was getting on my nerves and her reading level (12^th grade, she’s headed for 5^th) was way beyond that (had to brag, sorry). The nice kid section lady even went online for us and ordered the cool ones that weren’t in the store. So sweet of her.
And sometimes, stifled gasp of pure shame, I even duck into Starbucks with my newest paperbound prize (last time it was a dirt cheap much coveted cookbook) and have an iced caramel macchiato. I mean, if I’m going to sin, I might as well go all the way, right? Sin big or go home!
I really just like bookstores, honestly ANY bookstore, and they make me happy. This one opens at 9am, too, so if I’m desperate to get a copy of a specific book on my way to a family’s house, say, «The Explosive Child» (social work’s current flavor of the year handbook), for example, it’s super cool that I have a place to do that.
I did it again this morning.
Thanks B and N. Don’t tell my brother on me, ok?

I love books and I could spend days in Barnes & Noble. I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced amazing service there, but then I’m pretty adept at finding my way around, unsupervised.
I do like that you can place an order for something they don’t have and they’ll have it delivered to the store for pick up for free. If it showed up at my door for free, that would be better, but then, that’s what Amazon is for :)

The only game in the triad corner (Portland-​Beaverton-​Hillsboro) but it has everything a person would be looking for. Their technology, philosophy and spiritual sections is very good. I’ve found books here that other larger and more specialized bookstores didn’t have.
It has free WiFi and a Starbucks attached. Any coffee and free internet in a storm. The place is very busy because like I said it is the only game in town.

Dear B.N.,
Why is it that…
Every time I get near you, my heart starts to flutter?
When I’m here with you, my concept of time fades?
Your words have the power to make me angry one minute, but laughing the next?
Even though I know of your evil book conglomerate ways and how you haven’t always stood by your family name of «Noble,» I still think you have potential to do and be better?
Even when your own family of employers goes against you and says negative things about you, I still defend you and not let it phase me?
When your brother bookstores try to bookblock, telling me to stay away from you, trying to woo me with promises of the bigger and better, I’m still not attracted?
Even though your past history has been filled w/​unpredictable ups and downs, that I’m still willing to take a risk and buy your stocks? — If I take big risks, can you promise that I’ll have big gains in the end?
Is this what I think this is!!! Could this really be???
Well, whatever it is…
You make me into a better person… with all your self help books.
—You intoxicate my being with the fragrance of your presents and gift ideas—
You give me hope… with your awesome collection of beauty magazines.
—Sweet as a dew in the early morn, like a lily among the thorns—
You give me the image of the divine and a foretaste of Heaven… with your good selection of books on religion/​spirituality.
—I looked for you, the one my heart loves, but did not find you—
You show me a whole new world… with your wide medley of books on travel.
—Searched through the night, until I rested in your site—
You are life giving … with coffee from the 24 hr Starbucks that’s connected to your store.
—You’ve stolen my heart—
With each day, you give me one more reason to like you even more… Especially today, when you gave me a FREE membership card that will save me 20% ON ALL MY FUTURE PURCHASES & all I had to do was show you proof that I was involved in the field of education! *Teachers, tutors, parents who homeschool kids, educators! Be sure to get yours today!*
(Wow, you not only acknowledge the work I do, but express your appreciation with awesome deals. AND you like me for my mind and not just my looks? Just… Wow.)
—-Your books so sweet, adorned with honey—
I’ve been your number one fan from the beginning to this very day.
Don’t tell anyone else but… I like everything about you.
—Set me as a seal on your heart.—
B.N., thanks for being Unilocal Worthy and most importantly… a FTR. Only YW FTRs for this kid! Forget 1^st woman prez of the US. When I grow up, I’m gonna be the next Tony C. of LA and Alex S. of NY in the great state of OR! :)
Go kid!
X~O~X~O 4eVer & EvEr
—For as strong as death is love, unyielding as a grave. Nothing will quench its flame—
p. s. will you be my funny valentine?
LuV,
cathy