Books-A-Million

Nice store with a large selection but they have allot of rude people working. The cashiers shouldn’t make smart ass comments about what books someone is choosing to purchase. I’ve heard the same complaint from several people they need new cashiers. The prices are ridiculous for certain books. I paid over 30 for one book… that’s why i mostly use a kindle now.

Where’s the customer service?! My daughter received 2 of the same books for her birthday, both came from here. When I took it in to trade it for the next book in the series I was told that’s not possible without a receipt??? The manager was called over because I just didn’t believe it, but was told there was nothing he could do. Seriously? That’s the worst store policy I’ve heard. I’ve always thought this store to be way overrated (there are some great used books stores in joplin) but will obviously not be coming back, nor will my family who bought the books.

The place blows, but as it’s the only big name book store in the area (since Waldenbooks and B. Dalton Bookseller went out of business) I spend a lot of time there due to a lack of a Barnes and Noble.
It’s messy, dusty and out-​of-​date looking.
I have personally witnessed employees reshelving stacks of books willy nilly wherever there are gaps on the shelves (on more than one occasion), so there is no mystery as to why you’ll find a biography of Sammy Hagar, on the same shelf as «Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind» by Joyce Meyer and «Uncle John’s Endlessly Engrossing Bathroom Reader»). Poor training or apathy? I’d fire the whole crew and hire some people who know how to alphabetize, for starters.
The languages section is always jacked up. Chinese books will be with the Spanish, German with the Italian, Spanish with the Russian… When a new shipment of language books comes in (I go here a lot, so I know what’s new) they are, like everything else, plopped down wherever there is space. New boxes of Spanish flashcards? On the shelf that says «French.» New Japanese materials? Across the aisle in the reference section.
If people can’t find what they want, how can they buy it?

Pretty good selection but unfortunately you can get the same books on their website for a lower price? I like the personal touch and experience of walking into a bookstore & being able to know I’m getting the same price as online. Too bad.

I do not know who shops at Books-​A-​Million, but it always seems to be busy so they do have customers. I find nothing of interest there. Books are much cheaper online, the B-​A-​M selection is lacking, and the store atmosphere is not conducive to browsing (unless you’re trying to meet fellow dark lords to play Magic the Gathering). Joe Muggs has never had good coffee and they don’t have a qualified staff. At the checkout register, B-​A-​M seems to arm their associates with lots of responsibilities that are designed to deter customers from ever returning. I understand suggestive sales and «club» memberships as I worked for a different bookstore chain for several years, but the way B-​A-​M associates present their sales pitch is not very customer-​friendly and verges on inappropriate in many cases. I really dislike this store, if you couldn’t tell. It offers nothing for me.

A good mass market bookstore that carries all the bestsellers and enough magazines to cover anyone any flight length. I usually prefer Hastings across the street if I’m just browsing since they also have music and movies/​videogames but Books A Million is convenient to get in and out of and it’s easy to find specific books there.

Books-​A-​Million is the largest store in Joplin dedicated to books. There are several places to sit and read and Joe Mugg’s Coffee provides the java. There are 1000’s of books and 100’s of magazines. There is even a kid’s area to toss your child when you want to look for a book. ;)
Not sure about wi-​fi, I’ve never tried. If they don’t have it, that’s a big disadvantage. If you want a good sized selection of other media (video, games) check out the new Vintage Stock at the Northpark Mall.

For a city the size of Joplin, this store does okay, I guess. Their selection is mediocre though (books only, no music/​video section at all) and the service is S-​L-​O-​W. Seriously, expect 5 minutes at the counter. Oh, and there’s no wireless internet in their little café area. If you combine it with the Hastings across the street you get a decent selection, but that won’t help with the wireless issue.