I'd been a customer of Alibris.com for more than 12 years. While I found lots of good used books,…read moreand only occasionally did I get shorted (but reimbursed), what was scary was the lack of direct communication with anyone at Alibris and when there was some communication with Alibris, it was slow and inadequate. If I really ran into trouble with Alibris over a book, over a charge, or a bookseller, just who could I count on to get resolution? I had no idea. Like most people I signed the Terms of Service to become a customer, and I never really read the agreement. However, last month I started receiving repetitive emails asking for information from me from Alibris, telling me to respond but only if I were dissatisfied with my purchase. I did not respond at first because the instructions in the email were clear: do not respond if you are satisfied. But then I got a second email the following day, making the same request. I ignored it. Who was responsible for sending me these emails? Was it a third-party bookseller, was it Alibris, was it a customer service rep, or was it somehow an automated email? Who could I talk with to find out? No one. I ignored the second email, but then i received a third, and i decided I would respond. I responded angrily and asked why I was being sent emails requesting a response that wasn't really necessary, especially since the customer was satisfied with his purchase -- and I used a couple of expletives. I never got a reply to my angry query, but when next I tried to order a book from Alibris, I swiftly learned my account was suspended. I couldn't order books any more. I created a new account with Alibris then and used a different email account as well, though I used my same charge card. At first, I was successful in purchasing books. I bought two without any difficulty, and at last I thought the obstacle that Alibris had posed me was finally overcome and done with. But then I went to order a third book, and learned my new account too had been suspended without notice or email. Why wouldn't Alibris allow me to purchase a book? When Alibris suspended my first account that I had for 12 years, I thought it was because someone at Alibris hadn't liked me using a couple of foul words in my email and was punishing me for foul language. But when Alibris suspended my second account, I queried Alibris and a nasty man who heads Clients Services at Alibris emailed me, signing his name Ryan Warner, and asked me if my email's name was different from the name on my account. My email name was George Smith and my account name was George, so I said No, it is not different. I never heard back. I wrote Mr. Ryan Warner a second time and still no response. After I had emailed him three times, Ryan Warner wrote me back telling me i never answered his original question -- which, in fact, I certainly had done and I had the Sent emails to prove it. I never heard back from Ryan Warner. Today I complained about Ryan Warner's behavior on Twitter or X, and before I knew it, Alibris blocked me from posting any more comments. Finally, I read Alibris's Terms of Service contracts. Little did I know that Alibris states it can terminate any account for any or no reason at all. The reason I wasn't able to get any communication from Alibris about my account was because Alibris doesn't want to waste time communicating or negotiating its decision on terminating or suspending an account it deems it doesn't want. That's all there is to it. So if a customer does or says something, anything, once that Alibris doesn't like, it will terminate you as a customer, and you will NEVER get a second chance with it. The lack of communication lots of customers complain of about Alibris is all in the Terms of Service. Alibris wants just to press a button to delete and you've been X'd. This is a lousy business practice and Ryan Warner is a lousy intermediary between Alibris and the customer. Alibris's Terms of Service and Client Services are unfair and inadequate for good business about books. Tip for consumers: The Terms of Service at Alibris are such that the company can suspend or terminate an account without providing any reason at all, and Alibris does employ the Terms of Service in this manner with customers.

Alibris is a scam - avoid it. While I was shopping it gave me prices in AUS$ and the shopping…read moretrolley postage showed about $20. After I put my credit card details at the final step the postage was suddenly $77 which i didn't notice until the order as being processed. I immediately requested to cancel the order using their customer service form - zero response. All the "contact seller" links in the order were broken. I tired looking up the sellers using google - again broken sites. Tried again the next day using their customer service form - zero response. Total scam - stay away.

The Rockridge News is a hyper-local newspaper published monthly, except August. It was founded in…read more1986. I became aware of it when Alan moved to The Point at Rockridge July 1st. He gave me the July issue, which I read w/ interest. He just gave me the October issue, which I am in the midst of reading. The articles are well written and cover Rockridge history, current developments, politics, human interest and other issues, like health and safety. This month's issue has a focus on the 30th anniversary of the Firestorm in 1991, which killed 25 people and destroyed countless homes, particularly in the Oakland Hills. I'm a fan of lyper-local news and have enjoyed reading The Rockridge News. It's delivered and distributed free at The Point and elsewhere in Rockridge. They also offer subscriptions for $20, so presumably it would be delivered to you directly. If you're a Rockridge resident, or have an interest in the area, you can pick up a copy at the library or at businesses or restaurants in the neighborhood, particularly along College Avenue.

Local store with great options, laid-back and friendly owners…read more Good selection of chocolate in there as well Definitely coming back!

I travel from San Diego to Oakand on business every month and it is the only place I can get the…read moreWall Street Journal, NY Times or Financial Times.

Very helpful staff, lovely selection of new and used books. I got help finding a very niche book as…read morea gift and was directed to exactly what I was looking for.

I fell in love with Spectator Books as soon as I walked in!…read more I love that there's a station to leave your water bottles and drinks. I also appreciate that they have masks available if needed and offer them proactively. On top of that, they provide free drug testing kits, like fentanyl test strips -- which is so vital, especially with the spike in fentanyl overdoses and contaminations in recreational substances. It's just really nice to see that kind of care in the community. The range of books is massive -- both new and used. The selection of new books is decent, but the used book selection (and price) is phenomenal. They also have a whimsical collection of bookmarks, stickers, and random stationery, which is super charming. Honestly, it's just a really solid bookstore. The first time I visited, I'm pretty sure I spent like two and a half hours just browsing all the sections I was interested in -- and there were so many. Lots on religion and spirituality, metaphysics, physics, psychology, cookbooks, music, art, fashion -- so many topics that caught my eye. I took my time and walked out with maybe $125 worth of books and oracle cards, which was such a joy. They also have a book exchange policy where you can trade in books for store credit, but you need to make an appointment to do so. The last time I visited was maybe a month ago, but I'm thinking about going again... tomorrow! XD

The way brick and mortar bookstores are dwindling these are becoming unicorns…read more I have to admit that the last few books I bought were all online - one because it was independently published and no bookstore carried it - but the other two I didn't even bother looking after that first hunt. We need to support these bookstores. Let them know what you want and they might hear you for next time. I liked the cards and other items they had in stock too. Its great to pick up before you make a decision. Right now I have a few books in my 'to read pile' and once those are finished I will come back here for some more. Great to have this in the neighborhood.

A really good bookstore in Downtown Berkeley!!…read more I came in here looking for a calendar, and ended up browsing through the books. It's a classic old school style bookstore, with very friendly people working here. I didn't spend as much time in here that I wanted to, definitely have to come here again!!

This were martha stewart meets burning man . Actually it's much better than the slop one would get…read morefrom Martha. This mag is inspired and fun. I want to do every project just about every issue. The hubby loves to make rockets, I love to make cowboy chic lamp shades! I especially like how the projects are rated by ease and time.

ReadyMade Magazine is Martha for the hipsters. The first issue I ever read was Issue 16. I…read morelearned how to make a picnic basket/table out of a wooden pallet, use twine and fire to convert a glass bottle into a bell jar, and discovered the rebar group and PARKing Day. The editor's letter made me laugh out loud and I just love the scale of difficulty of projects...it ranges from chimp (easiest) to handyperson complete with toolbelt (most dificult). And the Macgyver Challenge is not to be missed. There are two things that would make ReadyMade even better...1. if the magazine was published more often and 2. if the magazine had an online subscription option so I could read the magazine and save a few trees. Here is a fun little Threadheads episode about ReadyMade http://www.threadbanger.com/episode/THR_20070601 Update: Did they hear my plea to put the mag online? Well maybe. All the projects ever published are now available online.

After all these years, Walden Pond Books is still a place I like to go into to see if I can find a…read morebook to purchase and read on BART. I always find a good book to read. Good reason to take BART and walk over is the Grand Lake is a great place to sit around as if we are tourists from a planet named Saturn.

Adore this bookstore that makes its beliefs known real loudly. Great selection of books to choose…read morefrom for adults and kids. Decent prices on all the books. Always quick to assist you and very friendly.

I love Moon Metro guides. I own copies for Chicago and New York. I'll probably buy one for San…read moreFrancisco this summer because I lost my guide book. The format breaks down neighborhoods into color-coded sections (nightlife, restaurants, and sights are listed with descriptions in the back). These blue books bound with laminated maps are thin enough to fit in my boyfriend's pocket.

PROS: Clean, working escalators, friendly staff. Well stocked. HUGE! Great selection of games and…read morepuzzles!!! They validate your parking in the front during check out! CONS: No seating on the 1st floor. After a day of shopping I wanted to relax with a magazine while my sons checked out the books and other items and there was absolutely nowhere to sit downstairs. I don't know if that is purposeful but it didn't seem to make sense. We did find some cool items to purchase and a card game so that was a plus.

This bookstore is a nice addition to the Bay Street mall in Emeryville. It is one of the anchor…read morestores. In terms of square footage it is the largest retail store, with perhaps the exception of Tokyo Central. The sections are well separated, and the books are well curated. The staff is sparse but helpful. I like how the upstairs spills out into the food court area. The prices here are slightly higher than Amazon, but it's worth it to be able to flip through the books and peruse.