Brazos Bookstore — Local services in Houston

As an avid reader and purchaser of books, I thought it might be lovely to check out local shops near me. Much to my surprise as most book shop employees are kind and helpful, this time was not. I picked a very special book for my sister called Monet’s Cat. I was so happy to have found something among the cluttered books and made my way up to purchase it. There was an older lady behind the counter but she was not at any specific register and she was sitting down farther from the registers. She asked me if I was ready and I said yes and she got up to check me out, I walked up to one register and she said “no, here” assuming I would know what register she meant just by her voice because she did not point and was not close to a specific register. This is fine, I’m not as much upset with this as I am about what happened next. I hand her my book and she asks if I want a bag. (Preface, I have never been to this store so I do not know what kind of bags are usually used here) I ask what kind of bag and she glared at me and said with a very aggressive attitude, “a bag, a paper bag.” And scoffed. I said yes and did not speak another word to her. This really upset me, to one, get an aggressive attitude with a customer who was smiling and did not cause any scene or cause for dismay, and to glare at me like I am an idiot not knowing what the word bag means. One should not have to assume that all bags are paper. If the bag was plastic I would not have wanted a bag, as a chance to use less plastic. After I handed her my debit card she asked me how I was and I ignored her. I do hope that she has a better day today and that no other customers have a similarly rude book-shopping experience. I almost want to go and return this book and get my money back, but I hesitate because this is a very special book for someone I care a great deal about and I do not know if I could find it in a store again. I will not...

So I’m gonna be that guy, I guess. I’m sure this place is a good, even great bookstore.

My issue is with how they handle book signings. I have purchased two (tried to get another but it was sold out) over the years. I went in to inquire about my last purchase, which admittedly was a long time ago. But I don’t recall getting a reminder about it and there was no follow up about picking it up. When I went in to inquire, they told me they no longer had it. Ok, I forgot, but no reminder? No refund? No store credit? Nope. They keep what I paid and I get nothing.

I went to look back through my emails to see how much I paid and found an even older order that they canceled. They said in their response to my inquiry on that one that they emailed all purchasers about the cancellation. Well I didn’t get one and had to inquire on my own. Even when I requested refund, I got no confirmation of that.

Keep in mind, I have purchased signed books from stores all over the country. I have attended in person book signings several times. I have a stack of signed books and memorabilia taller than me. So I’m not new to book signings. This is just the only bookstore that has cancelled or kept my money after an event in this manner.

My suggestion would be to offer credit or offer to ship the book, like other places do. That way I become a long term customer and buy again and again. As it stands, I think this is bad business and wouldn’t make another purchase online from...

I visited Brazos Bookstore today (7-23-2019) which I was excited to have a chance to vist based on the reviews. However as a first time guest I was very disappointed of the unfriendly and unreceptive environment. As soon as I walked in, I see one employee look at me, didnt acknowledge me, and went back to looking at her computer. I smiled and walked around the store where I saw a second employee who was doing inventory. I said hello which she replied hello back and proceeded to continuing her task. I continued to browse the shelves for books and came around to the back of the store where the stockroom was and saw another employee (3rd employee) and although we made eye contact still there was no form of communication such as "how are you?" "Or is there a book you are looking for?" Or even "if you need any help or have any question please dont hestiate to ask." I was in the store for about 30 minutes and didnt have not even one employee out of the 5 employees who worked there have a conversation with me. And to add to this, I overheard one employee say "I need to send in a report to the New York Times in regards to the store's book sales" while i heard another employee ask her colleague "do we have a staff meeting later today". Moreover, I find that my experience at Brazos Bookstore was very unpleasant and being an author I wouldnt invest my products in environments that are so nonchalant as the people in this...