Books-A-Million — Local services in Montgomery

A couple of months ago my sister and I went to this store to buy a book. At the checkout, the employee was extremely pushy. She asked so many questions before we could even buy the book. At first she asked about donating to some organization. When we declined, she then asks if we want to be put on some “list” to donate at a later time. We declined again. Then she asks us to pick some magazines for “free.” We decline this as well. We don’t even read magazines and we didn’t need any surprise charges. She pushes again. We decline again. She would not take no for an answer. We begin to get annoyed, but really needed to leave in a hurry so we just pick whatever cooking magazines. We are then FINALLY able to buy the book and we leave thinking that employee was being ridiculously pushy. Well a couple of months later, low and behold, a charge for a magazine subscription. They got the debit card information from the purchase of the book that day. We disputed with our bank. I do not appreciate someone pushing us to do something even after we say no REPEATEDLY. Do these employees get commission for this magazine scam? It’s like she was holding the book hostage unless we say yes. And then she failed to mention we would be charged for the magazines through the debit card we were going to use. A customer shouldn’t have to go through an obstacle course to make a purchase, and then get scammed a couple of months later....

I called and talked with Sam. A great AAA + customer service PERSON. I'M NOT FEELING MY BEST AND YET TALKING WITH SAM WAS DELIGHTFUL. I HAVE A REALLY TERRIBLE HEADACH AND DIZZINESS. I ASKED ABOUT A BOOK BY ISABELLA WICKERSON AND HE SAID HE KNEW OF THE BOOK AND TOLD ME WHAT THE COVER LOOKED LIKE. HE LOOKED IN THE COMPUTER BUT ASKED WOULD IT BE OK FOR HIM TO PLACE ME ON HOLD WHILE HE WENT TO CHECK IT OUT ON THE FLOOR. WELL, HE CAME BACK WITH ,"THANK YOU FOR HOLDING. I HAVE 3 PAPERBACK AVAILABLE. IF YOU WISH TO HAVE THE HARD BACK, I CAN ORDER IT FOR YOU. I SAID, " I WAS OK WITH PAPERBACK, I COULDN'T COME THAT DAY AND ADVICED HIM. I WOULD CALL BEFORE I CAME. BECAUSE I LIVE SO FAR AND I HAD TO MAKE ARRANGEMENT FOR A DRIVER. DURE TO THE DIZZI ESS I WOULDNT DARE DRIVE. BOOK A MILLION,EAST CHASE IN MONTGOMERY. ALABAMA HAS A GEM OF A PERSON. YOU COULD TELL HE WANTED TO HELP, AND IT WAS NO PROBLEM. IVE CALL PLACES, AND YOU COULD TELL THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED. SAM, YOU ARE WONDERFUL. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. I SHALL CALL ABOUT THAT BOOKS AND OTHERS. ...

The staff could be nicer. Most specifically the girl with black hair with blue eyes that works the register, & her friend who is a barista. She will openly turn around and talk about customers. I’ve heard it multiple times on separate occasions.

It is very concerning that someone so out of touch with reality could be working in a public setting.

I was telling someone about my encounter, and I was cut off with a story about the same girl!

It’s a shame Prattville closed their location. They were much more mature, and a lot more personable.

I won’t stop talking my daughter to get books there just because an adult acts like a child there, but it’s definitely a headache to have to bite my tongue.

I would never treat people this way at any job, or just in life in general... 💁🏼‍♀️

But… to make someone feel uncomfortable asking about books… especially a 10 year old child excited about a book… in a book store… is not...