Petaluma Paperbacks

Their stock of books is great. Easy to find the books I’m looking for. Love shopping there, the only place to trade in paperback books. Owner is terrific !

Did not have one book I was looking for on the shelf and the man there took the time to look in other places for it. Everything is well organized and easy to find. Love that I could do trade ins!

Great place to find the used books you can’t find. Very helpful, would definitely be back soon

Allow me to preface my review by stating I absolutely love (and prefer) brick and mortar bookstores such as these. My library was a little crowded, so I was delighted to find this place for a trade-​in to pick up some new reading material. The first person I contacted was disinterested, but begrudgingly took my used books and gave me a hard time about letting a hardcover slip into my pile. «We only take paperbacks, hence the name Petaluma Paperbacks» was his reply to me. My mistake.
When I returned with my trade-​in credit a few days later, the other man who helped me was much nicer and assisted me in finding what I was looking for. When he rang me up, I initially misunderstood their trade-​in credit policy, as it only covers 70% of the cover price. For example, if you have $ 20 in trade-​in credit, you can’t use it to cover the price of a $ 15 book – you can only apply it to 70% of $ 15 and must pay the rest in cash. My initial confusion obviously caused me to request an explanation, which clearly irritated the man helping me. We worked out the final price, and I paid what he asked. The air of the whole conversation was confrontational and uncomfortable, which was surprising to me as I was simply seeking an understanding of the policy.
Needless to say, I enjoy browsing bookstores and don’t like the feeling that I’m not welcome because I had a hardcover in my pile of paperbacks, or because I’m asking a question about an initially confusing policy. If it’s confusing to people, perhaps the problem is with the policy and not the customer? Just a thought. Anyway, there are other great options like Copperfield’s and Tree Horn that will gladly take your used books, have a great selection, and don’t make you feel like a jerk.

This is a great bookstore! Well organized, great prices and a really nice owner. It also has a good Young Adult and Children’s section.

Cool place to get some books. Didn’t event know it was there. Must have passed it a dozen or so times.
They have a wide selection and at pretty low prices. I think the owner was there helping me look at a few books
I would go check it out and experience it yourself for the first time just to see what it’s like.

Great bookshop; lots of hard to find titles, excellent trade in program, and the owner even walked me around the store introducing me to books by authors similar to my tastes. If your in Petaluma and looking for old books, check it out!

This is a great little bookstore that often has great deals on books, plus sells used books, does trades, etc. With the loss of Read Moore Books some years ago, Petaluma needs this place! The selection is not is huge as others like Treehorn or Copperfield’s, and it lacks the really interesting old books, collectable books, etc., that those two carry, it is a great place to go. The owner is also very friendly and really helps out by donating books very freely to schools, etc.

I wandered into this store with my almost 2 year old, purely to kill a little time. I’ve been in and out of used book stored, second hand stores etc., looking for something specific, never finding it.
They’ll find it for you. If it can be found, if it exists, go to Petaluma Paperbacks.
I guess I could have gone online and bought the books I have been looking for, for about 5x’s the price I spent at Petaluma Paperbacks, but I’m a die hard penny pincher and that was not an option.
Went in on a Wednesday afternoon, the books were there on Friday.