Books-A-Million — Local services in Hot Springs

I shop at book-a-million a lot and I am concerned by what has been going on.

1. There is nothing wrong with selling used books. I am all for passing on books and letting others enjoy them. I do have a problem with used books not having their own section and being mixed in with new books. I have an even bigger problem with medical reference books that are 20 years out of date being sold on the same shelves as current ones (In this case a used 1992-1996 copy of the PDR).
2. The "downgrading" of all books about paganism from a legitimate place in the religion section to the mind, body, and spirit section sends the message that Books a Million does not choose to recognize or is not aware of the devoted religious practice of millions of people as anything other than a metaphysical self help experiment l. On that note the selection of legitimate books about Wicca and Paganism has shrunken lately to be replaced by nonsense like "Hex your Ex".
3. There is an increasing amount of dolls, coffee mugs, games, and junk, not in a few strategic areas, but all over the store where books used to be, including cookie jars on the book shelves where books about baking once stood.
4. At the checkout having employees practically beg me to sign up for free magazine trials after I have already politely said no thankyou is obnoxious and undignified. This wasn't once, it has happened dozens of times.

Ultimately I love having a large bookstore in town and would be sad to see them go, but under the circumstances, I'm not sure they are going to last if this pattern continues. It seems they are catering not to book lovers, but to teenagers who no longer have the mall as a hangout. If you are over 15 and you want a great selection of books that are properly organized and appreciated, shop online and pay the shipping. You will get what you want and have a...

I’ve always been an avid reader, but usually order my books and things online. I had recently been in town and decided to stop by to see if I could find anything quickly in person that caught my eye. While browsing the store, one of the associates I believe by the name of Lyric was talking (obviously loud enough that I could hear it a few rows over) very rudely about a fellow associate. Obviously not my business, but in the real world I think that some sales on a register can be spared when talking very rudely about another person. Maybe this girl never learned what a time and a place was, but nevertheless it was extremely unprofessional. It honestly made me feel uncomfortable to be around managers and other associates that allow things like this to go on here. I won’t even begin to go on about what checkout was like. You could probably pick up my gist from hundreds of other comments but whatever you do, just don’t sign up for any of their programs. They will try and coerce you a million times during checkout, but it’s not worth losing hundreds of dollars for someone to get a thumbs up from a manager. I honestly hope this company works together to better their policies, programs, and associates. And to the other girl that was working that was being talked about the entire time, I applaud you for keeping your head high and maintaining your amazing work ethic. You, out of all people there that day, were the only one I could see being an amazing person later on in life. Needless to say, I will not be coming back to this store. And I hope “Lyric” grows up to realize that life is more than selling books, and the way she talks shows her character. If it were my business, she wouldn’t have been walking in for a second day. That’s...

So, I went to this place to buy some books for my students - I teach literature in high school. I spent around $90, and the sales clerk convinced me to join the rewards program and save a few bucks. Service was friendly and I was satisfied... for about three months. Then I got a call from my parents they were receiving magazines in my name - that Books a Million had set up without my knowledge or consent, all over that damn rewards card. I checked my bill to find I'd been charged $22 for subscriptions to Time, Bon Appetit, Country Living, and Good Housekeeping... And it was all through some fly-by-night middle man named Direct Marketing - Continuity/Subscription Merchants located somewhere in New York. There's a phone number to call, but it's automated and they only let you cancel your subscriptions if you start new ones instead. Apparently if you press 0 you get an operator who promises to refund the charges, but doesn't... And when you check Books a Million online to cancel the rewards program - you can't, and they automatically charge renewals every year. The sales clerk never said anything about magazine subscriptions when I signed up. This was all without my knowledge or consent. I'm never shopping here again, and I'm writing to warn you all - don't do the rewards program! This didn't just happen to me. Google books-a-million scam, there are others...