Bookman’s Entertainment Exchange

Bookman’s has changed a lot since I lived in AZ 6 years ago or so. It’s still a fantastic mecca for book nerds… actually nerds or all kinds. But, some of the old charm has been replaced by a modern layout and some other changes that killed some of the nostalgia for me. As far as books go, the layout hasn’t changed much — rows and rows of high shelves tower over the back of the store with used books of all kinds.
My favorite section of the store has always been the comics area which has been moved but is much larger and has masses and masses of used comics to peruse. The problem now, however is that the prices are extremely confusing. It used to be that all comics were 50 cents or something like that. Now they range in price depending on section, seller, and apparently some books are priced individually. I’m actually not sure exactly how it all works and gave up looking after a while because the few books I wanted were overpriced. It is apparent that the idea of gem hunting for comic books is a thing of the past here. There is some sort of arrangement with a comic book store which has its own little corner of Bookman’s and keeps some it’s stuff separate. The whole thing was very confusing and overwhelming. With that said, there were some new things I liked such as the figures, posters, etc that the comic store brought with them.
I’m not going to go too crazy on my review here but Bookman’s is still a book lover and geek culture lover’s dream. Some of the modern changes messed with the romance for me but it’s still the best place to look for a good book.

Bookman’s…a dying breed of bookstores! I was so glad we found this gem in Mesa. For you Hawaii locals… this is similar to Jelly’s, only 10x better. Bookman’s sells both new and used items and their products range from comic books to action figures to musical instruments and stationery. I was so overwhelmed when I was walked in. First it was the size-​the space is huge and then I was overwhelmed with the hard to find products that they carry. My favorite section of the store was the toy section that carried a bunch of rare Star Wars action figures.
One can lost in the store for hours, getting devoured by all of the classic comics, toys, books and music. I have to confess that I didn’t have the chance to explore the entire store since I spent such a long time in the Star Wars section. I see that the previous pictures here on Unilocal showcase a clean and organized store but that was not the case the evening I visited. The store was packed with children and families so naturally, the kids trashed the store. Things were awry, especially the toys and there were a bunch of things that were out of place but I guess that’s to be expected with such a great variety of toys and books for sale.
The customer service was good and prices were really reasonable. The next time I’m in the area, I’ll be sure to check out Bookman’s again for some limited edition collectibles.

Great experience. I only brought in two bags of mostly books. They didn’t take much, but offered over $ 150 trade or $ 40 in cash. Only thing I didn’t like was it was a little disorganized.

I wish they’d move the porn chest away from the comic book and toy section. I don’t feel comfortable browsing their porn with it where it is.

I usually come here to buy video controls or accessories. They lack in having rare video games, but they have a lot of the basic Nintendo games

This place is full of amazing treasures! Great selection of current magazines too! I can definitely spend an hour or two browsing here. They really have a good selection.

Looking for a used book, dvd, vhs, laser disc, video game, furniture, musical instrument, vintage toy, magazine, poster, home décor, computer, tv set, comic book, T shirt, cassette tape, 8 track, or vinyl record? WELL, you have come to the right place. Dog friendly too.

I took in a lot of items, most were new and sealed yet they only offered pennies on the dollar.
If you are in desperate need for some cash, then I recommend them but if you want to sell your items for what they are worth, then Craigslist or eBay is far better.

The store is large and well organized. Browse through tons of books, movies, music, games and other various and random finds. While you might already be here trading in your unwanted old and used goodies, did you know that Bookmans also holds a variety of events for all ages throughout the year? Everything from storytime, crafting, book signings to musical guests, and pet adoptions. You are sure to find a way to stay busy.
Level-​Up:
— Bookmans is dog friendly as long as your pooch is on a leash.
(Not sure if this includes cats too?)
Level-​Up:
— Enjoy free Wi-​Fi
Dooo – Dooo – Doodle – Dooooodle – Dooo
Achievement Unlocked:
Five-​Star Review!

Bookman’s is always a great place to browse and I always find something to buy that I wasn’t looking for. It sort of is overwhelming with all the stuff they have.
Only complaint is the carpet needs a good cleaning.

What a disappointment! I used to shop here frequently in the past when I lived on the East side of town. I was looking for NES games and sadly their selection was piss poor. The whole store seemed dirty, unorganized, and just bleak in my opinion. What happened? I won’t be returning.

Large store. Been visiting here for years. You might not expect to see musical instruments and gaming at Bookman’s, but you’ll find a substantial inventory here in addition to the books, cd’s, dvd’s… you expect. Even some collectibles. Bookman’s continues to evolve.
Prices are generally reasonable, but some are a bit high. Trade values aren’t quite what they were in the good old days, particularly for books, which is understandable. It’s the «new normal» for used book stores everywhere. Matters not. Every visit to Bookman’s (all locations) is an adventure if you have the time to savor it. You never know what you’re going to find.

The definition of Bookmans is rip off. I have been to several Bookmans locations around the state, but never have I been so disappointed. Yes, the store is clean, it is well organized, and they have a wide variety of items. But let’s be honest here, most of it is nothing more than garage sale worthy.
I brought in 3 boxes of well cared for books, textbooks, music, movies, and games, all totaling over $ 2000 in value. They did not even accept an entire box worth of items and offered me $ 80 in store credit or $ 20 cash. What a disappointment! The only thing I can thank Bookmans for is taking my textbooks and saving me the hassle of carrying 50lbs back to my car while a smelly hobo smoking a cigarette on the pavement out front of the store eyeballed me.
However, that 50lbs had cost me $ 1000 over the last few years. I took the $ 20 cash because I didn’t want the obligation of having to purchase items from Bookmans and paying their ridiculous markups that they scammed people over. From now on, the public library system can have my books and media. I would rather they have a cherished second life in circulation for others to enjoy than make a buck (and get ripped off) at Bookmans. Buyer and seller beware!

I used to have this location at 4 stars. Recently I have had bad experiences. I understand they buy things that they think they can sell. I get the hit or miss.
The last few visits I have not been able to trade much, with people offering cash as I was walking out actually in some cases. The last 3 visits 1 staffer was acting flat exasperated despite the fact I was told by others to swing back every week or few weeks to see if I had better luck. The STORE MANAGER actually has yanked away gifts from the staff who knew damned well that I’ve shopped with this company for over 20 years and a loyal customer of this location right in front of me.
I am considering contacting the owner of the chain, and yes, I have met and talked to him before, about the latest experiences. Until 2015 I was happy to say NOTHING but nice things about this company. 2 people have done a perfect job of torpedoing my opinion of them. I may change my mind again IF they convince me otherwise.

I like to trade my books at Bookmans. They also take little knickknacks as well. It is pretty well organized in there and the staff has always been helpful.
They used to have a little café inside but it’s gone. I miss it. I’ve earned a lot of credit over the years at Bookmans, and I will continue to trade my books there. Excellent used bookstore.

I love Bookman’s.
I can clean off my bookshelves and save my magazines and get some store credit to spend on more books and magazines. I love the random collection of items to be found here as well. Everything from comic books to albums to CDs to movies to games to jewelry to books, books, and more books.
It’s a good thing I don’t live closer or I’d have some serious ’splainin’ to do.

Cheap books and everything else. You also get to check out people out so that is a plus. Staff is fun and helpful and adding the café was a great call. I still love Changing Hands but Bookmans is on their heels.

I was very surprised to see that the prices at this establishment were a lot cheaper than what I usually pay for books from Amazon.
The selection here is vast and ranges from books to music to tchotchkes
I really enjoyed the children’s section as I am always looking for new titles
Bookmans has a ton of classics
The employees were all very friendly and helpful… The two guys that were working in the book sell/​exchange section s
The next time I need a book for school or for my own personal joy, I will check Bookmans before Amazon… schooled me on the Bookmans operations…

I love browsing the shelves at Bookman’s. There are all sorts of gems in there and it’s a great place to take a date and stroll the aisles together. You’ll definitely find some interesting stuff to spark conversation. Not only do they have books, but they also have video games, CDs, audio books, musical instruments, board games, you name it!
Another big plus is that they welcome dogs on leashes!

My son has been telling me for months now to go to Bookman’s, he is a huge book loving fool, and he knows I’m a movie buff so I finally listened to him and off to Bookman’s we went.
WOW what a great place, you can sell/​trade books, movies, games and get some too, and man do they have a big selection! If you don’t have a game plan on what you are looking for, it could get a little over whelming.
Hundreds of books, tons of movies, video games for all kinds of systems, N64 (yea baby old school) Cube, PlayStation, Xbox, you name it I’m sure they have it!
This is a great local find for my son and I and now that I know what they have, I will have to game plan to find what I am wanting! Oh and they even have free wifi!