BOOKOFF New York — Local services in New York

A Treasure Trove of Japanese Culture: A Review of BookOff New York

Nestled in the heart of New York City, BookOff stands as a vibrant beacon for anyone with an appreciation for Japanese popular culture and a love of discovery. Stepping into BookOff is like entering a meticulously organized yet overwhelmingly abundant treasure chest, brimming with a staggering array of products that will delight collectors and casual browsers alike.

The sheer volume of inventory is arguably BookOff's most defining feature. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by towering shelves packed with books – an incredible selection spanning manga, Japanese literature, art books, and even a sizable collection of English-language titles. Whether you're hunting for a rare out-of-print volume or simply looking to dive into a new series, the chances are high you'll find it here.

Beyond the literary delights, BookOff's aisles stretch out to reveal an equally impressive collection of toys and figures. From highly sought-after anime collectibles and model kits to adorable plushies and quirky gashapon, the variety is astounding. It's a nostalgic trip for many, and a constant source of new additions for dedicated collectors.

And then there's the video game section – a gamer's paradise. Consoles from various generations, both Japanese and international releases, sit alongside a massive selection of cartridges and discs. Whether you're looking for classic Famicom titles, obscure PlayStation imports, or more recent Switch games, BookOff consistently delivers. The thrill of stumbling upon a hidden gem or a beloved childhood game is a core part of the BookOff experience.

What truly sets BookOff apart, however, is their commitment to fair pricing. While some specialty shops might inflate prices, BookOff generally keeps their games, books, and toys at or very close to market value. This makes it an incredibly appealing destination for budget-conscious collectors and those who simply want a good deal. You can often walk away with a significant haul without feeling like you've broken the bank.

In essence, BookOff New York is more than just a store; it's an experience. It's a place where you can lose yourself for hours, sifting through mountains of fascinating products, and almost always find something new and exciting to take home. For anyone living in or visiting New York City with an interest in Japanese culture, books, games, or toys, a trip to BookOff is an absolute must. You might just discover your next...

I frequent used manga bookstores in various states. Bookoff was one of my favorites! I'll have to plan a trip to go back into NYC with a suitcase for this store alone!

Despite being in NYC the space between shelves is pretty big, glad because teen/young adults may be loud/excited and can be frustrating in a smaller space without feeling like your being climbed over/around. Upstairs in the 'normal' used book section things are a tiny bit tighter.

Used manga is about 2-4 dollars cheaper here. No upcharge for books already plastic wrapped. HUGE selection, plan to spend at least an hour just reading titles alone 2-3 rows of 7-10,5ft tall bookshelves full of manga. Lots of hidden gems from people who have unloaded their collections. Anything mainstream popular in the current meta ( like apothecary dairy or frieren 2025 ) were either gone only had a rare random volume, which is normal for used book stores when something gets popular again! Large selection of Japanese printed manga too!!! About 5-6 bookshelves all cheaper priced.

They also had figures too, but by the time I went through all the manga and anime it had already been 2.5 hours! I'll update my review the next time I go back to the city.

Anime/DVD: About 3 shelves of 5ft tall used anime. I strongly believe in physical media - but I I passed on the used anime since I can order more gently used sets of Amazon/ebay right now. Some of the box sets they wanted 70/80 USD for were in pretty rough shape, BUT some of the cases were from 2009-2007 so wear and tear are 'normal' but I didn't feel that I could replace the case(s) easily. I would consider the anime/DVDs if I could find cases without chunks missing out of the plastic OR if priced about 10/15 USD cheaper due to condition. Selection wise, a lot of the popular shonen 'onepeoce/naruto/DBZ/bleach/mha' take up a whole shelf or 2. A fair amount of older anime, just in rough shape, but if you just want the physical media and don't care about appearance it's a fair selection. A few 'slice of life' one off seasons, a lot of Miyazaki movies, some more recent movies like 'girl who kept through time, summar wars,...

Sadly The older female Japanese Manager is quiet bias with her customer service and if I didn’t know better I’d even say slightly racist. Back in October 2023 I brought over 200 steelbook Blu Ray’s to sell ( (which their instagram clearly and enthusiastically asks that you shop their steelbook selection and bring in yours to sell ). They have computers on-site to bring up the costs of things that don’t have SKUs but she insisted they no longer accept “steelbooks at this location / new policy” she could not tell me when this policy went into effect and why they are still selling / advertising on IG. When I showed her in store that they have hundreds of steelbooks without SKUs for sale and even offered to take the lowest of lowball offers ( I did not want to head back uptown with those incredibly heavy collection after lugging it all the way downtown ) she adamantly refused to try and work with me, then proceeds to tell me I’m “scary” and doesn’t want me in her store.

Fast forward to today, I find myself trying to sell a few brand new still in box figures and as I’m waiting for my item evaluation she actually chases me down in the store to tell me I’m banned because in October I was “too scary”. As a native New Yorker I can see how in a heated conversation I can come off a little abrasive caespecially when someone is banking on a bit of a language barrier to justify not being helpful; but not a single profanity was uttered, no violence was incited but I’m guessing because I’m 6’1 puertorican / black with a beard at the time I was “too scary” needless to say after making the trip down here I am now outside without selling my figures which they would have absolutely offered a criminally low amount for. It’s bad enough BOOK-OFF preys on the desperation of their customers offering a disrespectful fraction of what the item costs only to go and sell it for an exorbitant amount, but to be told I’m “too scary” because I wanted actual help and insight and proof of this “new policy” ? This is New York City if you want to treat someone differently based on how they look then BOOK-OFF maybe this isn’t a city in which you should...