San Diego Mesa College Bookstore

Spring semester is starting in a couple weeks, I hoped to get lucky with a used textbook so I paid for an hour of parking and visited during their posted hours. Just as I had done last semester, I walked over to the section that I needed and started looking around. After a few minutes an employee came up and asked in a snotty tone «can I help you???» I asked if hey had a certain book that was on my list and he told me they had not fully finished stocking this subject and that I should come back in about a week. I thought that was strange, but agreed and started browsing some other books. The guy gave me a nasty look and left. Less than 5 min. Later he returned and tells me «I don’t mean to be rude, but you have to leave… «what the heck? Does he think I’m shoplifting? Then just as another employee comes near, he says «we aren’t set up to sell books yet and you aren’t even supposed to be back here!, you have to go!»
I left feeling very misunderstood and pissed that they had posted hours of business but not willing to let me shop. 2 weeks before class and they don’t have their act together. Lame. Waste of time.

Mesa College cancelled my ACCT 116 class due to low enrollment. No problem. I wouldn’t have signed up and attended the first class if I didn’t want the class. But I understand the business aspect of a CC.
I took it in stride. The Mesa College Bookstore did not. The bookstore manager put up a woeful hour long fight on how much she hates the world before she finally gave me back a partial refund ($ 110 of the $ 150 it cost to buy the book).
The manager is a spineless twerp who loves Pearson more than she loves the San Diego community. Together, this idiot and Pearson are selling acid based paper loose leaf unbound shrink wrapped crap as «books» with a $ 135.00 price tag ($ 150 after tax). And the manager is clearly in bed with Pearson when it comes time to get a refund.
Textbooks are pure scams. But damn. This is taking it a whole step further. This is Vegas odds on how useless a textbook can be. Got absolutely nothing for my money.

so far the most unorganized and slow and expensive book store. We are just student that live on financial aid and cal grant. Why a community college charge $ 200 for a customized book? then would not buy back the book when they were the one that customized it the first place.
I went to the book store 3 times prior school start to get all my books so that I do not have to worry about it when school start. But guess what! Three times they neither have the books or not ready to sell (why did they even open anyway?) If you asked the staff about their inventory, they were not friendly and want to help you (acting like they are busy and you are there just give them more work) This is a not so big campus but when school starts, the check out line in this book store was super long. They need to have a better set up than they have now.
I only buy lab manual and any book that I can’t buy anywhere else. I will scout craigslist, ebay and amazon extensively before going to this book store.

Prices on text books, note books, etc. = HORRIBLE.
I worked at the Mesa Bookstore for part of a semester so I see some of the shady things we did like charging to Shrink wrap somthing that costs us just pennies to do — we dont give out the isbn number so you cant buy it online and verify its the exact same book, etc.
The workers are pretty friendly and helpful when it comes to locating books and supplies other than when you ask «Where are the scantrons» (we have a HUGE giant arrow pointing to them that says in bold SCANTRONS) so that gets a little like omg please look around before you ask. But other than that :) Prices on everything other than chips and water is high… returns are a pain in the butt, buybacks are rediculous even if that book is needed for the next semester you still get close to nothing for it so its usually better to just keep the book for future reference. Mesa college apparel is so rediculously priced you either want to laugh or cry when seeing the prices… ocassionally they go on clearance so its better but still not wonderful. Then again Ive looked at the apparel at State and its just as high.
I say walk (or even better DRIVE) up to the KB books on Linda vista road a 5 min drive if that and get the books at a better price and when it comes to supplies and backpacks and all that good stuff… WAL MART or Target will do the trick.

This place used to offer me like a dollar for a book that I spent $ 30 on.
Ridiculous.
Its like trading a used car in, only you dont have to deal with a slimy used car salesman.

Other than the excessive price gouging it’s not the worst bookstore I’ve had the pleasure to visit.
Your usual sundries (candy, gum, etc.) along with all your logo wear needs and school supplies can be found inside.
Once in a while good deals on clearance student edition software. An older copy of Adobe Acrobat PDF for $ 9 that still works, etc.
Service can be slow at times when trying to purchase those overpriced books, however I have never had a problem at the front checkouts — at least not with the staff. Students can be a whole other issue.
The place squeaks out with a 3 *. It should really have a 2 for the back book service and the fact that the URL to the bookstore is not easily accessible from the main college campus page without a search.