Books-A-Million — Local services in New Bern

I love this bookstore! They ALWAYS have the magazines that I want to purchase - {and even those I didn't know I wanted} - plus their paper and hard backed literary offerings are impeccable. The staff, especially Reese and Leigh, are warm, friendly, gracious and very knowledgeable about their store's inventory of reading materials and their gift offerings as well. They're well stocked with educational materials of ALL types and for ALL ages and the movie, TV and collectors gift merchandise is plentiful and vast. There's a large Harry Potter section, Marvel section, Pusheen and friends section, Hello Kitty section ... ... ... The list of officially licensed merchandise offerings is bountiful and endless. There's even a LARGE vinyl album section. Posters, framed prints, small furnishings, collectibles, jewelry, coffee mugs/cups, dinnerware {think Hogwarts & Harry Potter}, bookmarks, adult - teen - children's coloring books, crayons, gel pens, markers, ballpoints, fountain pens ... ... ... even officially licensed make-up. Plus, Joe Mugg's coffee is right inside the store. So you can peruse the literary choice of your interest while sipping on your favorite hot, or cold coffee or tea beverage; or perhaps even a smoothie. Books-A-Million, or BAM as we call it, of New Bern is one of my most favorite stores in town. I could spend - {and on occasion HAVE spent- [especially during rain or thunder storms]} - literal HOURS in this store. Just curling up in one of their comfy arm chairs & reading a book that I am not yet able to purchase for myself. It's a veritable wonderland of literature and a...

Do NOT fall for the “free magazine subscription” scam... at the check out the gentleman TOLD me to pick three magazines from this card. I said no thanks and he said it’s free, just circle three. There was another customer behind me and I didn’t want to hold things up any further so I just did as instructed. He took my address and finished checking me out, never explaining ANYTHING about the magazine subscriptions.. When I read the fine print later, the subscriptions are two month trials and then they automatically without notice charge the card you used at your BAM purchase (two months prior) an unknown and unannounced amount, without any further notification. I don’t know what kind of racket they’re running but I am shocked this is even allowed. I should’ve not let the pressure of being “that” person in line keep me from investigating further, but I’m appalled that the employee initially did not take no for an answer and that he gave me no information despite my obvious confusion and disinterest, and then LIED to me. He handed me a receipt with the titles on it (no prices) and said “this is just to verify your choices of magazines”. Are you kidding? Blatant lie.. it was probably my “consent”. Lesson learned, BAM is not to be trusted.🙅🏻...

I've been shopping at this store for many years. Overall this store is wonderful and has the most available merchandise for sale and in the merchandise is always in pristine condition. The associates are nice friendly and professional and definitely try their hardest to help you find everything that you are searching for when you walk in the store. However, in my opinion there is one associate that stands out above the rest of the staff. Her name is Taryn and I had the pleasure of speaking with her as a customer. Ms Taryn was so kind and bubbly and charming yet professional when speaking to me and she is such a huge refreshing breath of air for her customer service experience compared to other retail businesses in the area of that specific store. It is individuals such as Ms Taryn that make me beyond confident that I can walk into the store and find whatever I am looking for and leave with as much satisfaction as humanly possible as a paying customer. Overall I would grade the store with a grade of A and Ms Taryn's customer service as an A++. I recommend anyone to go out of their way to go to the New Bern branch of books a million in the hopes of having the same customer service interaction with Taryn...