Greenlight Bookstore (Fulton Street) — Local services in New York

Went in to Greenlight Bookstore this afternoon and purchased a birthday card. While at the cash register I noticed a large unwrapped photo book of Rihanna behind the counter. I asked the price and the very nice sales associate stated % $150. I then asked if i could view the book. She said she the store manager would be the person to be asked and would show it. I asked her if she would inform the store manager that I would like to view it. She went and asked the store manager, came back and said they will not allow it to be shown to me and I left the store. Besides this being rude, it is nonsensical since it certainly discourages a sale of that product. Why display a book if a customer cannot view and inspect prior to sale? I then went to The Center for Fiction, made a purchase and asked if they had the same Rihanna book, which they had to special order, but informed me that it would be there policy to allow me as a customer to view the book to purchase. Greenlight Books has lost me as a...

Beware! I was at BAM this afternoon and browsed the annex of Greenlight and saw a "signed copy" of a book that is on my list to read. Instead of taking it out of the library or finding a less expensive retailer, I decided to buy it because it was stamped as a sign copy. When I got home, it turned out to not be a signed copy. The bookstore said that I can come in and exchange it for a signed copy but I explained that I live upstate and I do not come to Brooklyn often (unfortunately) and they would not do a mail exchange. I was told it was a "mistake" - which of course it is and I told them that mistakes need to be addressed and putting a book out that is stamped signed copy when it is not is deceptive and since it got me to buy the book, it is fraud. I was told that I was incorrect about this. My credit card company is going to dispute the charge since I did not get what I paid for. I am thinking that this might be a good store for browsing but not a good store to actually...

Cute bookstore but a few things stand out that are a big shame: This store is not black owned and Google have it listed wrong. The 3 staff members in the store when I visited weren’t particularly friendly/warm. The books are often sitting around the $18-25 mark, which makes it increasingly difficult to shop at the store vs (enemy) Amazon, where the books are significantly cheaper. There’s no comfort. No carpet, chairs, rug, stools, area to sit/stand and read a page or 2 without being in someone’s way. There’s no designated area of books by people of color, despite being in the heart of Brooklyn. Positives: A selection of local authors books have a visible section at the front. There is a designated area of books written by women. Postcard stands are cute. They have a great collaboration with Granru Market (super cool store, owned by black brothers). It is...