BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR 14gou Chiba Makuhari Store — Local services in Chiba

They have a nice assortment of books, sporting goods, a modest electronics offering, a very small section for bikes and furnishings, a decent representation of toys but the area they excel in is a large section devoted to clothing and a very nice section of high-end ladies accessories and jewelry. The clothing section has a wonderful range of sizes for babies and toddlers but it isn't a very child or stroller/wheelchair or elderly-friendly store for reasons detailed below.

In a short summary shopping here is like running an obstacle course, very cluttered and small aisles, non exists to staff-assistance, and I have never been here that people didn't shove, bump, cut lines or generally make this a very un-japanese shopping location experience.

Here's a more detailed review. It's my local thrift store, I'm here on average three times a month. Each time I've been here (after school or work hours, and especially on the weekends) I see unattended little ones pulling things off of shelves or running around playing games in the aisles. This seems to be a problem specific to this one book off location. The other two I regularly visit never seem to have that issue.

I can only speculate that it is a combination of problems - this site draws in more families as it rests very close to several schools and is right across from a family shopping area, and perhaps local parents are less considerate than in more cosmopolitan areas.

In keeping with my complaint of shoppers, people here seem very prone to pushing and rude behaviors that I have rarely encountered elsewhere in my travels through Japan. Yesterday while leaving an aisle I had to stop because a very small child on a sit and ride toy was right in front of me, blocking the walkway between himself and a footstool. It was literally stop short or risk kicking someone's boy for stepping over him with my arms full. A lady several feet behind me began walking towards us, looked down at him, brushed past me (knocking me with her basket as she went), toppled the store step-stool with her purse, and stepped over the child so she could look at something on the end of the aisle. It was ridiculous, the little boy looked scared (likely the noise of the metal stool falling over) and the woman didn't do much to excuse herself. I guess that jacket she was eyeing was just too irresistible to worry about socially acceptable behavior. As a parent collected the boy, i informed the woman (in my poor Japanese) that she was the rudest person I've ever seen and should be ashamed.

Unfortunately, her behavior isn't that uncommon, I often see people acting this way in this store and staff is never to be seen, which I feel adds to the overall sense that you're in some kind of grab and go street market where social etiquette need not apply.

As a foreigner, I can't say I have ever actively been discriminated against, but I will say don't expect help from the staff and that English signs labeling which checkout line to use (they have different ones for electronics/media vs other goods) aren't clear. Also people will cut in line here, another novelty I've only encountered in this one store, which the staff will not address, so make sure to keep your elbows out and invade the personal space of your fellows in the queue. If you leave a polite space someone will wedge in and pretend not to hear or see you,even if you complain.

They do have a bathroom with changing facilities, but unless your stroller (or wheelchair) is quite narrow you will not be able to enter every part of the store over the clutter and items littering the floor.

To close, keep a super sharp eye on your fellow shoppers because their kids will either bowl into you or you may find yourself bumped and pushed. Don't expect help from the staff and just accept that you're going to have to be rude and pretty much shout to get staff over to open a display case or...

What I love the most in this particular branch of Bookoff Super Bazaar, the merchandise is more neatly organized compared to other branches. The selections when I came were decent and I've found a lot of hidden gems and branded items at very reasonable prices. Tax free had also sweetened the deal. It's also reachable by using the Keisei train, just around 10 minutes of walking from the nearest station. Right across the street is a huge Ito Yokado supermarket building. Overall, it was a positive experience shopping here. I would definitely recommend going here. Staff were very kind...

Best book off I've went to on my trip. The store seemed entirely untouched by tourists, the game selection was huge and the prices were among the lowest I've seen. They do seem to have a weird lack of game boy games and pc engine stuff, especially for the size of the store. Maybe i missed them because of the language barrier. Beware, the console hardware is at the opposite side of the store, i almost missed it. Wish i could have spent more time here. Also, bring your passport because this bookoff has a tax free kiosk, even if it really isn't in a...