Books-A-Million — Local services in Gainesville

BAM is OK. Well, as the only remaining big box bookstore in the Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc. mold, it's pretty much all we've got in that style, OK or not.

Which means lots of blockbusters, remnants, private label or off-brand publishers, including the rear wall of special interest magazines that mostly aren't real, regularly published legit ongoing magazines.

Also, due to its right-wing chain ownership, Books-A-Million has a noticeable bias towards rightwing politics in its choice and positioning of political books and memoirs. Sure, you can find Michelle Obama's and Barack Obama's books - but not as prominently displayed as some no name author's giant sized "Trump - 45th President Promises Kept". Same with new political thriller novels by politicians (and their ghostwriters.)

In terms of religious and spiritual literature, same bias again. If you are looking for a Bible, their collection is almost entirely translations made by or favored by very conservative churches, such as the ESV, CSB, NKJV, etc., or Catholic translations. In multiple editions: Study, Devotional, Journaling, Presentation, Art Illuminated Bibles.

Those are good translations, and as a liberal Christian I own some of them for study and comparison. But it's nearly impossible to find the translations like the NRSV, CEB, RSV (in non-Catholic variants) commonly used by the "mainstream Protestant" and "via media" denominations such as Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, etc. Maybe one small print low-end printing of them. Not the range of purpose-based types nor print sizes of the "conservative" translations. Even though those are published, they're not at BAM.

On other religions, very little on Eastern religions that isn't some screed about "World Religions and Cults". Very little on Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, nothing on Baha'i Faith. Not much even on Judaism and no Jewish Scriptures (for Jews, not "Old Testament.)

Science section is broad but not deep. Science Fiction & Fantasy likewise, and tends to full price hardcover of things available in paper. Graphic Novels section small and not current.

Finally, almost nothing of quality at any discount, without buying their discount membership - which they hard sell if you don't already have it. Likewise hard sell magazine subscriptions if you care to buy one copy. I've heard that's because the clerk's compensation and even job retention is tied to their pushing those with strict quotas, but unlike everything else I wrote, that's not from firsthand, recent observation and experience.

Staff are helpful and friendly, when not trying to save their jobs by hardselling. Masking adherence is a joke though. We'd all love to get over the "Delta blues" but until we are, I wish they would adhere to Alachua County emergency orders and CDC guidance. They don't, and don't even have the latest Alachua-county mandated signage.

I do shop there sometimes, and buy books and gifts when I find something unique or want it now, and do have their membership so as to save on those purchases. But despite looking like a bookstore of the "Golden days of big chain bookstores" it is nothing...

Enjoy browsing inside, skip the online store.

Let me first say, I LOVE bookstores. They are a comfort and joy that I can't describe with just a few words. You can stay in a bookstore and never feel out of place as you browse through your favorite section.

I actually have never had an online purchase before, for a bookstore. But because there was a nice deal I decided to order and pick them up. As I got to bam I walked around for a bit before asking for my items at the center desk. One of my books that I ordered, apparently wasn't on the shelf and was never fully charged. The online system was "incorrect" I was told, and I just shrugged, understanding that sometimes things happen. Then a hardcover I ordered was substituted for a softback. But the price was still charging me the hardcover. I decided to take it away and instead of refunding my money, I was offered a gift card of the same amount.

It's a good thing I love bookstores. I guess.

It's also a good thing I don't take things to heart. I probably won't go back to this store. At least, I don't think I will. The employees were the only reason why I gave it three stars. You can tell a couple of them really loved their job. One girl I spoke to for about 10 minutes or so and it really felt like she enjoyed working there. The manager, was a little off the wall and confused. So that tells me they probably don't get many online sales. Or it was an off day for him.

I'm not upset but it was a disappointing experience. I'll always love bookstores but I think this one in Gainesville is probably my...

Unorganized and inefficient. How do you have a bookstore that is disconnected from the online store. They had a sale advertised on the website for online AND in store but when I bought the books in person from the store the associate mentioned the sale ended that day…so I couldn’t get the discount. Didn’t make sense. So I chatted with an online associate regarding the sale and she said it depended on the store. Huh? No where did it mention that in the ad. I returned the books I bought and got the books online and picked them up in store - which saved me $30 dollars (ridiculous, you should be supporting the brick and mortar bookstores). Anyways, I had to order one book online and now they don’t know where the book is. The tracking link doesn’t work and they don’t know when it will ship…sounds unorganized right? The only reason I’m giving this 2 stars is because the store manager during the closing shift exhibited extraordinary...