Schuler Books Okemos — Local services in Meridian Charter Township

I recently had the pleasure of returning to this store after around ten years away from Michigan and I was surprised to find the layout the exact same as when I last left! It's a comforting place to visit, and I'm grateful they don't play "musical books" in some misguided attempt to shake things up.

The thing about Schulers that has always stood out to me, is their selection. The staff and buyers for the store clearly care about what they do and they don't just throw the best seller list at you like some larger book stores do. I know that when I visit Schulers, I'm likely to see a title that was recommended in a smaller magazine or an online blog, or something different and rare that wasn't seen much of anywhere outside the publisher catalogs. The displays also show this off, showcasing an interesting variety. You want horror books? Excellent - here's standard horror, and then here's the horror books by lgbt authors, black women, foreign, etc. The store's motto seems to be, "Try it, you might like it," something that those of us who are trapped in the algorithm of certain online retailers find to be a refreshing breath of fresh air.

I have grieved the loss of this store since I moved away, and coming back only reminded me of why I missed it so much.

Shop here, spend your money here. Keep them here. As someone who's lived in several "book deserts," in the US - you don't know what you've got...

I went there to buy some books in the series I was reading, found them easily alongside others that I wanted before heading to check out. Everything was going well until I handed the gift card I had to pay for everything. After a few minutes, she tells me the card readers are having issues and that the back registers have been doing better at getting them to work, so I head that way. I get there, pull out the gift card, and tell the person what happened with their immediate response being, "They shouldn't be doing that." This didn't fill me with confidence, and after a minute, they told me that it's not working and if I wanted to pay another way. At this point, I just wanted to leave as I didn't want to pay when I had money on the gift card. The issue with the card reader isn't something they can control, but as a worker at another store in the mall, their response to my problem made me question if they really tried to help me. I've had bad days, but maybe don't complain when the customer is right in front of you with a problem as it really makes them think you aren't doing your best to resolve the issue. I shop here when I really need something new to read and love that they are expanding to have more room. I just wish that the response to my issue wasn't to say they shouldn't have even tried another...

I recently visited Schuler Books in Okemos, Michigan, and I must say that it was a pleasant experience. As a pretty average reader, I appreciated the wide selection of books available and the cozy atmosphere of the store. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, making recommendations based on my interests and preferences. Lots of BBQ and Pizza books.

One thing that I particularly enjoyed about Schuler Books was the cafe, which offered a great selection of drinks and snacks. I loved being able to grab a coffee and a pastry before browsing the shelves.

However, there were a few things that could be improved upon. While the store was clean and well-organized, some of the shelves were a bit disheveled, making it difficult to find specific titles. Additionally, I noticed that some of the staff members seemed a bit overworked and stressed, which could affect their ability to provide top-notch customer service.

Despite these small criticisms, I still highly recommend Schuler Books to anyone looking for a great selection of books and a cozy atmosphere. With a little extra attention to organization and staffing, this store could truly be a gem in the...