Books-A-Million — Local services in Katy

Do not fall for their upsell tactics when you get to the register. They are very deceitful. I walked in a year ago to purchase three books for my wife and I. The lady at the counter told me to sign up for the annual membership that had a special promotion for only $10 today. Reluctantly, I decided to give it a try. She then mentioned that the membership would come with a free magazine subscription to three magazines I chose. Done. I walk out and look at the receipt: she was lying, the membership actually cost $25 but they gave me a $10 credit for next time. I was a bit upset, but whatever, I let it slide.

Fast forward almost a year later. I walk in and purchase another book and ask if I still have a membership. The lady says I do have one and it will auto-renew in a week or so. I told her I had no idea they kept my card on file, so I had to cancel online thankfully right before it auto-renewed.

About a week later I look at my card statement and see something weird: a charge for a magazine subscription I had no idea about. I call the merchant and cancel it via the automated system. A week later... two different charges for different magazine subscriptions. This time, I chose to get to the bottom of it and talk to an actual person about where this is coming from. To no one's surprise, they tell me it came from Books-a-million and that I've had the subscription for a year. That lady did not give me a "free" magazine subscription a year ago, she gave me a paid subscription to three different magazines. I was really angry. And the overseas customer representative on the phone was not making it easier, as he kept insisting that I keep the subscription after I told him multiple times I want to cancel. I cannot cancel online because guess what, I don't have any account online.

None of this was mentioned a year ago. None of it. I suggest being very careful with stores like these. I take my financial information very seriously, and I don't appreciate Books-A-Million keeping my card on file and tricking me into giving my information to some random company overseas without me even knowing about it. All while charging...

Absolutely horrible staff, especially management! They were incredibly rude and condescending. I spoke to corporate about my concern and they assured me it would all be taken care of in the store. I called and spoke to a manager, as directed by corporate, who told me to come in and that all staff was aware I would be coming in and knew how to help. When I went in, no one had a CLUE what was going on. I had to speak to FIVE employees before someone called a manager to ask what was going on. It took twenty minutes for them to complete the task, with the manager (not the one I spoke to on the phone) making downgrading comments the entire time. After I left the store, I called back and requested to speak to the manger I originally spoke with. I told her my concerns about her ridiculously rude staff and she made no effort to remedy the situation. She even ARGUED with me when I tried to explain that the staff were not aware of my situation or how to help. She claimed that she “made all of the staff aware,” yet I was told by all five employees that they did not know what was going on. The manager said that “They must have forgotten,” which I don’t believe is possible considering I entered the store 20 minutes after speaking to the manger on the phone the first time. I will NOT be returning to this establishment, and I suggest you take your...

I love books a million, and have been coming to this location since I was a little kid. True their books are a little over priced compared to somewhere like half price books or even Amazon, but it’s in a good location with a good selection.

Only giving it 2/5 because one of the employees was absolutely horrible to interact with. Went this past Sunday and their were only two check outs, and the line was well past 15 people. It was hardly even moving. The interaction I had with a women with very short colored hair was very unprofessional. I’m not one to usually run to make reviews because I get it, it’s a part time job mostly. But when I say “no” to donating a book and she replied with “is that’s yes or a no” in a tone, then to get shamed for saying “no” is humiliating. To say “no” to signing up for a membership and she still gave a 5min talk on enrolling for it, no wonder the line was taking so long. And looked annoyed when I still said no. Then before I checked out started an argument with someone way over in the line because they crossed a line by a few inches, so I had to wait even longer and those people in line ended up leaving because of her.

Just ridiculous to be...