This is my sanctuary with countless books, magazines and wonderful staff but limited chairs:)

Great special events, decent clearance sales , but the "Starbucks" is not a real Starbucks. You can't use your app, rewards card, or gift cards. Parking is a little rough right now. Try parking on the other side of the mall and walking through. read more

Helpful workers.great variety.expensive.and if they don't have what you want they will order it for you.

I would just like to warn any potential international customers out there, that Barnes & Noble will NOT cover return shipping on an order that THEY have made a mistake on. I ordered in Nov the newest edition of a book that had just been revised and re-released. Barnes & Noble had the book listed as in stock and the cover displayed was of the lastest edition. I had searched all over the net for this book, Barnes & Noble were the only ones to 'have' it. Being in Australia, shipping took over a month - just before Xmas I received the parcel. An old edition! All correspondence I have received have been 'cut & paste' templates that outline the return procedure for locals. Suggesting I just drop the book off at my local store!! Regardless of me mentioning numerous times that I'm in Australia. I have requested a supervisor read my complaint and respond to me properly. That was last week and I've not received any reply. read more

I have to say I'm glad b&n is on its way out of town. I used to like it at U Village, but now they seem to have turned into something akin to the pop radio stations: every section has been bought and sold by the big media companies, and it's hard to find anything but smut and empty material here anymore. Is there something akin to diabetes for reading? Because if there is, B&N is the ultimate reading diabetes-inducing diet (no offense to real diabetics.) Don't get me wrong-- I'm not an independent bookseller purist. But B&N isn't what it was when it first showed up on the scene... it sold its soul. Moreover, when I was moving, they said it was against their policy to allow me to reuse their boxes, even though I confirmed that all they do is smash them up and recycle them. Third Place Books, on the other hand, saved them for me, told me which day I could expect to collect the most, and even helped me stack up the cart to roll them out to my vehicle. It felt like the good old days. read more

With my wife present, I purchased a Nook Simple Touch for her birthday at Barnes & Noble at the Northgate Mall in Seattle in May. The clerk sold me a separate power adapter which, after using the Nook, my wife discovered she didn't need. When she went back to B & N within the 60-day return period to return the adapter, the folks at B & N told her that since the adapter had been purchased with my credit card, they could not issue her a credit and I'd have to come in. Well, I didn't get around to returning the adapter for another month and by then I was informed that the 60-day return period had expired and, though the adapter box had never been opened, there was no way I could receive credit for the adapter, nor was there any way B & N could apply a credit to my wife's B & N account -- and hadn't I read the small print about returns on the back of the receipt? It's only a $10 item and I acknowledge procrastinating on the return, but what makes me cranky about the transaction -- and why I'm writing a not-so-nice review -- is that in May the clerk sold us something we didn't need in the first place, my wife tried to return it and was denied the opportunity, and when I did show up there was absolutely no effort made to accommodate my "late return." What would acknowledging we should never have been sold the adapter plug in the first place and crediting my wife's account cost B & N? My wife may be "bound" to B & N by her Nook, but I'm not -- and that's the last time I plan on shopping there. read more

My mom and I entered the northgate location of Barnes and noble on 12/27/18. I had always had excellent customer service and help finding things at this location. Today we were returning a backgammon set that had been purchased on the 21st. It had never been opened and the plastic and paper still surrounded the game pieces. We went to the customer service desk where we had to wait for at least 5 min for anyone to help us. When a representative came over her name was Shirley. At least that was the name tag she was wearing. She was incredibly rude and abrasive to my mom and I. She seemed disgusted and that we were waisting her time. She told us there was a policy against returning games. My mom tried to tell her that the game had never been opened. Shirley became very irritated by this and snapped saying "I'm trying to make an exception here, just let me look at it" at this point I walked away from the situation. We found we couldn't even return at the customer service desk we had to go wait in the line. The cashier we had in the checkout line was extremely helpful and welcoming, a drastic change from Shirley. I personally believe if you are an irritable person you should not work at a customer service desk. I also believe that a customer deserves respect, even if it was against policy it could have been said in a nicer way. read more

Typical B&N- better than Pacific Place in size and layout for sure! The upstairs at this spankin' new location in killer- lots of chairs, a open area with couches for reading, and a ton of seating along the upper windows. The sale selection is very neat and always has great deals. The staff is good for the most part. The best part is the Starbucks- the seating area of the cafe is somewhat odd (narrow, often crowded, and partitioned in a weird manner) but the curly haired young man and the pleasant witty girls keep me returning. I am thankful they opened this location- I have totally dissed Border's for B&N and have been very happy with my new favourite chain bookstore! Half price is still a favourite- both stores have their pros and cons though. Half Price does have way better deals, but it is a bit disorganized and there is no cafe. Plus, their locations both suck unless you live on the Hill or in the District. B&N has a customer accessible data base and a ton of seating, plus more parking. It is also in my neck of the 'hood. I will keep going back! read more

Odessa was so so helpful and friendly!!!! she helped me find my book and honestly brightened up my whole day, that's how cool she was

I really try to frequent the smaller, independent bookstores, as the big chains don't need my $$ and do nothing for our local economy. However, there are a few books I need to order sporadically for a class I teach and the independent booksellers can't seem to get them in a timely fashion when I special order a half dozen or so at a time, so off to B & N, I go. However, I will *never* give my business to Northgate B & N again, even though it's just 3 miles from my home. Since the store opened several years ago, I've been treated rudely by staff every time I've been in there (which was at least a dozen times until I gave up) with only once exception...an especially helpful, young man in the music department who helped me when I redeemed a gift card I'd been given for my b-day. Otherwise, I've made purchases in which the clerk has said absolutely nothing to me, no hello, no thank you or even the amount of my purchase. This has happened more than once. However, the rudest treatment I've received was from the store manager, and I'm pretty sure it was the same woman on two occasions. The first incident occurred when I was required to renew my longstanding teacher discount card and required to fill out a new application for a card which had expired. You would have thought I was a terrorist being grilled and scrutinized by the FBI and/or the whopping 20% discount was going to come out of this woman's paycheck. Oh my god, would you like a blood sample in addition to all the things you're questioning on this renewal application submitted along with my state-issued teaching certificate??? Next, I called a week before Christmas to order books I needed at the end of January. Because it was the holiday season, I thought it wise to order early, even though the books I routinely order usually only take 7-10 business days to arrive. After two weeks, and no call from the store saying my books were in, I called the store and apparently the person who took the phone order never placed the order. The clerk on the phone argued with me saying I clearly did not place the order and the last time I placed an order was two months prior and I never picked the books up. I explained that that wasn't the case, as all the books I order I'm ordering for students and always pick them up. When the clerk's snotty attitude escalated I asked to talk to the manager and the manager was even ruder, with comments like "I don't know what you expect, ordering a week before Christmas." Gee, I'm simply expecting that the books I indicated I needed six weeks from now would actually be ordered and would be in within that six week period. I never said I needed them for Christmas. I just needed them to actually be ordered! This was the final straw. I called U-Village and got the name of the Northgate B & N's district manager. Upon giving me the info, the U-Village manager asked what had happened and I shared my numerous negative experiences. Both the U-Village manager and the district manager followed up in a timely fashion and they comp'ed my purchase. I went to U-Village to have my refund processed and while I still shop B & N (but only for these special orders...people, we need to support the little guys whenever possible!), I will drive several miles out of my way to give my business to U-Village B & N. And as a side note...that store is always freaking freezing!! No matter the season, the AC is always jacked way up. Clearly they do not want people lingering in the store, as evidenced by numerous other reviewers who were told they couldn't use the tables. read more

Book selling is just a sideline for this place. On Christmas Eve I went here to purchase a last minute gift for my young daughter. It was an hour before closing, they were not very busy, 3-4 cashiers- one actually ringing.The up escalator was not working. There was nobody to help me in the children's section so I walked around the whole upper floor to find someone to help me-nothing. Self help kiosks had at least two people per. Went back down to talk to a cashier. No empathy with my displeasure at my experience, just kept asking what I wanted so I would get out of her face. Finally said an apology might be in order, and left. I worked retail for 15 years. Guess what... an apology doesn't mean you are personally responsible for a customer's complaint. An employee is a representative of the company, an apology might lead a customer to think the problem is an isolated incident. Oh, now I see why I had to ask for an apology- the clerk didn't want to mislead me. read more

Not bad and they do have a good selection. It is defininitely different from the CA BN we went to last week where frankly they didnt have a clue how to find books or what books were available. Over here we have always found good deals and also found travel books well stocked read more

I went to Barnes &a Noble about two weeks ago and had a great experience. It was finals week and I really needed a certain book to help me better prepare myself for my exams. I called earlier in the day and was very happy with the speed and great customer service on the phone! The man that I spoke with was able to find my book fast and put it on hold for me! Went I went into the store later that night Tristan greeted me and found the book that was on hold for me. Tristan went above and beyond with his level of customer service during this stressful time for me! He told my boyfriend and I about changes in the store and about how I can save on books in the future. We went in the store near closing hours so I did not expect the service to be so fantastic! I will definitely return to this Barnes and Noble! Thanks Tristan read more

First off I don't normally write bad reviews, normally I figure someone just had a bad day etc, but pretty much had to in this case. So Monday night January 12, 2010 around 7:00pm (just in case ANYONE from Barns and Noble would actually want to check into this) My wife and I did our normal routine of hitting their beverage bar, my wife got a cupcake, I got a coffee and we happened to be renewing our yearly membership (spent $30-35 right off the bat) I sit down with my wife's cupcake while she quickly runs next door and picks up an iced coffee from Panera Bread (she's not a Starbucks fan). She returns and starts eating her cupcake while I go look for books I need for school. A lady from the café asks her to move out of the café section because she has an outside drink (while she is still eating her cupcake she purchased there), she's kind of put off as this is never a problem, but tells the lady she's moving to the magazine section and does. The lady points her out to a man also working the café and he comes over to her shortly after (still eating the cupcake) and asks her to move again even though she's completely out of the café and in the magazine section. My wife is fairly upset at the trouble they are giving her so she calls me on my cell and we meet up. I find the manager and ask him about what's been going on and he says its policy that no outside food and drink can be brought into the café, I reply that that is fine, but my wife moved out of the café to the magazine section and she again was asked to leave. To that he says that yes if outside food or drink it brought into the store their policy is that you will be asked to go to the second floor and not even be on the floor with the café. Puzzled at his answer I ask if there are any "no outside food or drink" signs posted anywhere and he says there are not, but that is the company policy. In short I am very sorry I renewed the yearly membership fee and am considering returning to get a refund for it. When they hassle my wife for no apparent reason as she is currently eating their food and we had already spent a fair amount of money while still shopping, it just doesn't seem right. As a side note we are both Average Joe's, jeans, t-shirts, coats to keep the rain of, no reason to think we are homeless, a threat, or shoplifting, etc. Just be aware, it appears staff may have changed and they aren't as friendly as they have been in the past. read more

Rigid and unreasonable customer service. I brought in the last Harry Potter book (a hardcover) which upon the 2nd reading completely split down the middle, but otherwise was in good condition. Bottom line, the book should NOT have done this. However, because it was over a year old, the manager there would not even consider replacing it and was actually quite rude and condescending that I would even ask for this. SO, believing his attitude was unreasonable and inappropriate, I took the same book to the flagship store at University Village. Without mentioning my treatment at the Northgate Store, they took one look at it, said they had seen others do this, and that the binding was faulty. They gave me another hardcover, free of charge on the spot! read more

I have to admit, it took me a little while to warm up to this BN. But it's come to be one of my favorite of the evil big chain bookstores. Okay, okay, I don't think they're evil. It's true! Somehow I can justify gigantic bookstores...because well, they are GIGANTIC BOOKSTORES. How do you not love that? And don't get me wrong, I love little bookstores too. I love all bookstores. Okay, now I have completely invalidated my review of this place. Let's start over. Sometimes, when the everyday stress of life is getting me down, I just want to get lost in rows and rows and rows of fantasy, possibility, young adult angst, DIY potential, blissfully, beautiful blank journals And. So. On. Put a coffee in my hand while I'm doing it, and I will emerge refreshed and ready to, once again, face the world. Have to admit this BN is where I usually head to serve that purpose. And just between you and I, because it is a big chain, I don't feel bad about finding what I want there and ordering it with my Amazon Prime membership later. I really do wish their coffee was consistently better though...they always overheat the milk and don't really have any concept of foam- but inexplicably, I'm forgiving! read more

I've never had a pushy salesperson for a barista until the barista here tried to upsell me. She also took a very long time to make my drink. I had the fortune to be able to listen to an interview they were conducting in the sitting area in which I found out it is actually their policy to try to upsell every customer. read more

I love love love this bookstore! There is a wide selection over two stories and I can always find what I'm looking for. There is a cashier who, despite me not being in the store for months on end sometimes, always remembers my name and details about me. I know some would just call that good customer care, but it seems over the top good to me. The information people don't stalk you while you're wandering around, checking out the books, which is exactly how I want it. They don't mind ordering books for you - Amazon pulled the book about Scientology (I wonder at whose behest...) I couldn't find it for the life of me. There was only one bookstore in the world who still carried it, in Scotland! I had the book in a little over a week :) I have to give this place 5 stars: Customer service; Selection; a Starbucks to sit and read; Open late; No stalkers, but they are attentive and helpful when you need something done. Also, the place always looks nice and clean. They don't have those bathrooms with toilet paper all over and things remaining in the toilets, the bathrooms are quite clean. There is always plenty of free outdoor (but not street parking) parking. I recommend checking it out. read more

I understand, even though I am a customer, that a management job is stressfull. At one of the other closed locations a manager was in a hurry to get me out. I unfortunately was in the ladies room when they were closing. At this location, they are the same too. I don't expect them to stay open longer than they are given but they need to respect us a bit more because we are what gives them their job. Their cafe has amazing eats and is always friendly. I was a bit appalled at request I made for an item I grabbed and put on hold, they were closing. I will admit that if I couldn't make it to their store that day if they could hold on to it a little longer. It was a clearance item. On one of the days I called and requested for another day to hold it, a gentleman went to help me. I thought he came back. Instead it was a manager who told me it was sold. I don't think people care enough about how they inform you about something. I felt like she rubbed it in my face. read more

Went to the Northgate location in Seattle, WA today. Talked to a really nice guy in Customer Service and a lady in the kid's section was very nice and helpful. The cashier lady was not friendly at all though :/ We did a return in the beginning and had a purchase at the end of our visit. She really did rub me the wrong way. read more

They are constantly playing the same crappy acapella/cover band and its the most annoying thing. I've just stopped going to this location because without fail it's the same album playing and impossible to sit and read with these insufferable voices doing worse versions of pop songs. Change your music, B&N!!!! read more

I never have received such poor customer service as I have here. I bought a Nook tablet for my business to try it out and was going to buy 14 more if it worked out. They held onto it for over 2 weeks without any results. I called the tech person there 5 times for updates but never received a call back. After notifying them I wanted to return it and get a refund, the Community Services Mgr called me 8 times in one day promising to fix the problem IF I would buy all 15 that day. Eight times in one day I was pressured to buy 14 tablets. I gave her another chance to find out if it would work for me without results. I returned it for a refund and was told that they have a 2 week policy for returns. I raised my voice and threatened to file a formal complaint to their corporate office. I received my refund. The Community Service Manager was rude, pushy and insistent. I'll never shop there again...ever. read more

As a chikld,my father introduced me to books and I have had a lifetime experience.Books have always been a part of my life and I have no patience for someone who doesnt read.I have gained a great deal of kn owlege to books and some workshops.And let me tell you I visit Barnes and Nob le up in Northgate...once a week and it is a very good location for an old goat like me.The staff there is exrremely helpful and I had a book on hold.It was available and behind the counter.However,i do have one major complaint...the checkout line is always crowded and sometimes they just have one casher on and that sometimes can be very inconveint for goats.Us old goats love their expresso bar and try some of the cheescake.The cheesecake is just so awesome and I have put on a few pounds.ANd the magazine section is just so fantastic...there is magazines for every interest..however.I do wish that they would have more magazines on astrology because lately...they have been hard to get.The peop[e behind the coffee counter also get `10 hats for the way that they handled this extremely busy day and she got me my cheesecake.If you want to spend a good afternoon browsing...like old goats like me do....go to Barnes and Noble and while you are there check out the clearance and journals and sales books also.Barne read more

It's 7:00 at night on a Sunday and all the tables downstairs are taken. So being a college kid who needs to study and this being the only place that is open even remotely late in this area I find there is a little table upstairs in the kid section and pull out my laptop and book and begin studying. One of the employees asks if I have a kid in the store and I reply "no" then she responds with "this is not a student study area" rather snarky and just stares at me until I begin putting my laptop away. Well one, no one is even in this section and two, what child is going to be up at 7:00 on a Sunday wanting to read at kids table in Barnes and Noble? Three, you don't have to be a b***h about it and four, obviously you never went to college come on have a little grace its not like its 10am all the tables downstairs are open and I choose to study at a table that is way to small to begin with. Cut a girl some slack why dont you? read more