Longfellow Books — Local services in Portland

After being a customer for decades, I will never again shop at Longfellow and neither will my family members (retired English teachers and avid readers!). We have been supporting bookstores instead of Amazon and prefer to read hard copy books, so we will now patronize Print.

Last week, I placed an order online for 2 books and paid for it. I selected curbside pickup as I thought my father was going to come in to pick up his order. When he told me he wasn’t, I called the store to request my 2 books to be mailed to me. Meg answered the phone and said she could switch the order, but there would be a $7 mailing fee. I was surprised since the online order option said the mailing fee was waived and she said that’s only if you have a financial hardship due to Covid.

I explained in all honestly that I did not have a financial hardship but that I have a physical one because I cannot come in person due to Covid as I am currently undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and hoped the fee would be waived. She responded “I appreciate that, but I’ll need your credit card number to mail your order”. Stunned, and because I had already paid for my books online so couldn’t easily cancel my order, I gave her my credit card number and was charged $7.

Your website clearly says that the mailing fee will be waived for any reason. Apparently cancer doesn’t qualify. I hope the $7 was worth losing multiple customers as I will surely share this horrid experience with others. And the 2 books I bought were less expensive on Amazon where I definitely would have had...

We enjoy this place and like to support small bookstores. Sadly, they won't let you use the restroom unless they're holding an event, and there is no nearby one you can easily use, and thus, we never really go here to browse, which is where I think this store would really shine. My partner drove down today and picked up an order and had to leave immediately to find a place to pee. So I think we're done. Why seemingly educated people don't get that it's sexist, ageist, and ableist not to have a bathroom that can be used by their customers, especially in stated emergencies, is beyond me. They're also a little resentful about you actually using your birthday gift card, so we always kinda laugh when it comes in the mail. Their staff make smart, thoughtful and well-written recommendations, though, so that's nice. I trust those folks' assessments, but I...

Best local bookstore! While they may not always have what you are looking for oN hand, I always find something of interest, and their online ordering options are fantastic and they'll track down whatever you are looking for with free shipping if you pick up your order at the store! Very cozy and comfortable environment perfect for browsing the day away, but easy to navigate if you need to Make make a quick trip in and out. Very friendly and helpful staff amd the owner is incredibly kind and has helped me with countless online orders for my classrooms, and for my home library....