Changing Hands Bookstore — Local services in Tempe

Weird, unwelcoming energy from staff. Not going back.

I wanted to browse some books on a quiet Sunday night, so I swung by this place for the first time. It was around 7:30 p.m. (30 minutes before closing), and I figured it’d be a quick, chill visit. I kept to myself, quietly reading book backs when I was approached at 7:45 by a young employee who said, “Just doing my spiel..we close in 15 minutes.” I replied, “Sure, no problem.” She didn’t say anything else and walked right in front of me, a little closer than felt comfortable. I didn’t hear her say anything to anyone else.

As I continued browsing and was getting ready to head out around 7:57, the same girl found me again like a heat-seeking missile, and gave me another reminder that they were closing. I told her I was already planning to leave and that I respected the store’s hours, but there was no need to keep reminding me. She was dismissive and walked away saying , “It’s our policy,” and I repeated that the extra reminders weren’t necessary.

Before leaving, I asked for the manager. Three employees were behind the counter, including the girl who had approached me, and I explained that I wasn’t trying to give them a hard time, but being approached twice about closing (after I’d already acknowledged the first notice) felt unnecessary. I told them this was my first time at this store, and probably my last based on how I was treated. They all kind of mumbled “okay.” The girl didn’t look at me once.

Looking back, I wish I’d added that I felt unwelcome after politely acknowledging the first notice, and that what I’d intended as a quick stop turned into a weird, negative experience where I felt singled out by that specific employee (young white girl, glasses I think; didn’t catch her name). Being approached twice within ten minutes when I was peacefully looking at books felt invasive and strange. I can’t think of another time where I was so coldly and aggressively reminded of closing hours.

There’s already enough bad energy and poor customer service out there, and this place just got added to that list. I...

If you love bookstores, Changing Hands can easily be a destination point, a five star shopping experience. An avid reader, I live on Amazon. You can simply find cheaper deals online than B&N or Bookmans in person. I usually find books I like, then buy them cheaper elsewhere. That may change with the discovery of Changing Hands Tempe. Really cool, big store. Mix of new, discounted and used books as well as the novelty items you might expect (and some unnecessary clothes & lifestyle sections). They do author events with some very famous names, plus carry great inventory of autographed books.

Positives: Signed books throughout Many new, older HC at $10 Huge section of used books $4 Eclectic mix Fun to shop

Honestly, I loved this store, just moved to Tempe & very close by! Why 4 stars instead of 5? I had two awkward customer interactions in one visit. I inquired about the date of an author signing (TJ Newman) upfront & guy logged on to computer & looked it up. Very nice, but took about 7 minutes & I felt like I was wasting his time. When I explored store, I found "signing section" not 10 feet from where we had been that listed all the dates! Just point me that way & I would have been good.

The more problematic interaction came at checkout. Guy working at register, head down. I approached & stood in designated spot. He looked up & said nothing, just looked impatient. I said "hi" & moved forward with my purchases feeling stupid. "You want to check out? Other side." Why didn't he just say that in a friendly manner when I came up? Instead, the bothered expression while saying nothing was very off-putting. Sorry if you have other work, I'm just trying to leave. Great experience in store immediately downgraded. My friends who witnessed exchange all found him quite rude.

Hopefully, just a one-off. The eventual cashier...

Less than pleased with the atmosphere in this bookstore. On both occasions the staff have been cold and unfriendly. My boyfriend and I are so used to Being able to remove our masks while being seated, when we were approached for sitting alone by the bathrooms without our masks we were both surprised.A man with long hair in a ponytail informed us that we were unable to remove our masks at any time in the bookstore so we willingly obliged and put our masks back on. However less than a few minutes past he is seen watching us from across the store on several occasions trying to see if we were wearing our masks properly. While I understand the importance of wanting to keep the business up and running his efforts were honestly borderline harassment. He once again came over and Told my boyfriend he was not wearing his mask properly as it had slipped below his nose during our conversation. As we spoke to him another associate was called over and he began to inform us that We could wait outside while they shopped for us. (We were merely interested in sitting and having a conversation over a book in a small corner of the bookstore away from everyone else.) After we decided it was time to leave, we witnessed two women in the store clearly wearing masks below their noses to which the employees saw and said nothing. We watched as the women walked freely in the store as we were strongly encouraged to shop elsewhere. While I understand the mask mandate, the level to which the store interacts with customers is robotic and frankly obsessive. If you were truly concerned about the health and well-being of your customers why...