Changing Hands is not your ordinary bookstore. I've fallen in love with both locations. I initially…read morefound Changing Hands through their Phoenix location which needs a separate review of its own. Both locations have their own unique layout, so you can't even compare them. There is so much to appreciate. This one feels a bit more spacious and I found myself in the store for 2 hours just taking my time looking through the aisles. Immediately upon walking in, I was enamored by their setup and selection of books. They have every genre you can think about. Some sections that caught my eye: a dedicated kids' section and a spot for when special guests come. They're also connected to Wildflower so you can come before or after a sip and bite. Changing Hands is so special because they care about community and also support second hand! Staff is eager to help you out and guide you if you have a specific book in mind. You can bring your well loved books in return for store credit and they're quite generous with the credit. They'll take your books depending on the condition and if they need stock for that book. The cherry on top- I love that I'm supporting a local bookstore. And you even get a stamp card with a discount once you've gotten it all stamped out. Their prices are also affordable, and you can choose from new or used books which is nice. Most of their used books are in pristine condition. I support Changing Hands through and through and am so glad I ran across this bookstore. If you're a book lover, you need to go!

UPDATE: I opened my new book up and MULTIPLE PAGES WERE…read moreRIPPED OUT. Absolutely unacceptable!!! It is OBVIOUS the staff here half ass their jobs as not only was this used book damaged to the point that I won't be able to read it in its entirety, I FOUND SOMEONES TAX DOCUMENTS IN THE BOOK and the staff DIDN'T CARE. This is without a doubt the worst store I have ever been to in my life. I am fuming and will not be coming back, which is incredibly disappointing as I was hoping to support a local business but this store is just an absolute nightmare. Review: The selection was alright at best, but the store was laid out horrifically. I struggled to find any of the books I was interested in, and the staff did not seem interested in helping me in any way. I struggled to find any of the Star Wars books I was interested in as they were just scattered randomly throughout the store whereas every single other bookstore I have been to have franchises that large in their own sections. And it wasn't just the Star Wars books, books from numerous series were scattered randomly across the store making it near impossible to find anything you'd actually want. Want the sequel to your favorite book? Well it's not going to be by the first one in the series, that's for sure. And the prices? Insane!! The used book prices are alright at best, thankfully I was lucky enough to find one decent deal on a book I had already wanted. But it was disappointing nevertheless, as a used paperback from the 90s shouldn't be $8. All of their new books are noticeably more expensive than any other bookstore I've ever been to, at least $5 to $10 more than even Barnes and Noble, who already charge too much IMO. And the staff? Horrifically unwelcoming. There was one or two employees there who made me feel welcome, greeting me on entry and being very polite. But when I found someone's PERSONAL TAX DOCUMENTS in the back of a book, the employee who I handed it off to seemed annoyed that I even acknowledged him, despite the fact that I found something incredibly personal in a used book that should have been checked before it was ever put on the shelf. I have NEVER seen something so unprofessional as I could've gone home with the document and taken this man's SSN (obviously I didn't, that's a felony and I'd rather not go to jail). And the cashier who checked me out seemed annoyed that I was even there. I understand that the economy is rough right now and that working in retail really isn't that fun or fulfilling, but at the same time experiences like that with staff are never fun. Work is hard, but I came in and was nothing but polite, minding my own business as I looked for a good book, so I don't understand why the staff couldn't have at least reciprocated with the slightest bit of positivity or kindness. They were obviously miserable and it made me feel unwelcome and has assured me that I will not be returning to this store. If you are looking for solid deals on books in the suburbs of Phoenix, you are much better off going to Bookmans, Half Price Books, or even Zia Records. Bookmans especially, as their prices on used books are unbeatable. Overall, you're better off skipping this one. While you might be able to find a decent deal, you'll be stuck searching for an hour with little to no help from the staff. It was an incredibly frustrating experience.

Found this place on Yelp and have been meaning to visit. Had the day off & decided to check it out!…read more Their emphasis is on the thriller/mystery genre and it did not disappoint. Enormous selection, friendly staff and a lot of amazing staff picks which I had not heard of before. Lots of parking places adjacent to the shop and it's hot such quaint, cozy decor. In addition to the mystery / thriller genre, you'll find a lot of signed editions & 1st editions, too. Pricing is on par with most any other local book store. In a world full of Barnes & Nobles, we need more Poisoned Pens. If you're an avid reader, you owe it to yourself to check this place out.

I pass this charming little independent, local bookstore, Poisoned Pen Bookstore, in Old Town…read moreScottsdale on my way to work. I took the time to stop in a few weeks ago to pick out something for my daughter's birthday. The staff is delightful and incredibly helpful. They specialize in mystery, crime, thrillers, fantasy, & fiction, with several autographed first editions (including a hardcover copy of Twilight I noticed behind the glass doors of a small bookcase). There's a featured Diana Gabaldon section with everything Outlander-related you can think of including Scottish cocktail and cookbooks. They have a few very cool book clubs, including the Hardboiled book club, Croak and Dagger book club, and Sci-Fi book club. They also have author readings and signings often. You can attend these events by Zoom if you don't want to come in person. Their website has an extensive calendar and list of all activities and events. You can also join their mailing list and receive emails which I did at the counter. My first trip in I got several classic books and some ACOTAR books for my daughter that she had on her list. I also got a few fun ones from a special Jane Austen table set up near the front entrance. My daughter wanted to return to check out the selection a few weeks later and ended up getting additional classics, including Dostoevsky, and an anime tarot card pack. There's also a small selection of journals, literary themed merchandise and socks, and a small beverage case for drinks. Restroom for customers inside.

I love me an old bookstore-the smell of the old books, the creaky wood floors and the set of eyes…read morethat gaze at you when you walk in the front door. It's a whole vibe and one that you just can't get with a bookstore that primarily sells new books. There are some items here that are kept under glass, making me think that they might be rare or valuable. Just browsing the shelves provides endless amounts of curiosity-about the stories or information that these treasures hold. If you're looking for something specific, you might be able to ask the shop keeper for assistance, or just come and see what treasures find you. You're guaranteed to find something!

Excellent selection of hardback old vintage books in pretty good condition. Nice selection of…read morebargain clearance outside the store for $1-3 Overall vibe is quiet and musky smelling. Good lighting and organization. Though topics are dated. Not for romance fantasy or more contemporary fiction readers. Poor poetry and traveling section. Missing many categories... Summarized in two words: overpriced and outdated. I've found the same things online for 50-80% off compared to this store.

Quaint and calm. Great stock. Friendly service. Easy to find and excellent selections.read more

Great selection of used and new books and gifts! Love the random assortment. Wonderful customer…read moreservice Jennifer is very pleasant!

Coming here at least twice a week can not let me stay here long time for two reasons:…read more1. The quality of Wifi is so slow. 2. I ordered The Matcha Frappuccino which is not tasty. However, the employee is helpful so much.

Barnes & Noble booksellers is located inside the Tempe Marketplace. I had some time to kill before…read moremeeting my friends for lunch. The bookstore is always a great place to hang out while waiting for a magic hour to come. I grabbed a few magazines along with a table and chair. It was peaceful in here. Got some new ideas in my head from the magazine articles. Shared parking lot and Wi-Fi in the store.

This place was definitely more than a book store! As soon as you walk in you see nostalgic toys and…read morevideo games in cases behind glass. There were also so many games to look at and choose from . I was hypnotized before I ever made it to the books and that's the reason I went into the store. Although I didn't find anything I like because o was overwhelmed, they had a cool $1 section in the back for books. We basically browsed because it was ALOT. But it was cool to see so much old school stuff too.

My friend went in to sell some D&D books valed at $460 on Ebay. I understand Ebay isnt the best…read moresource, so I took a look at the Acaeum, the foremost accurate pricing site for D&D. I looked and the prices were even higher. But I was hoping to get around $175-200. NOPE !!! A measly $48 !!!! Not even the taxes for them. Not ever going there again !

I love first draft! The baristas are super nice and coming here is one of my favorite ways to spend…read morea Sunday morning. A nice coffee or matcha while reading is the perfect start to my day

My WiFi at home stopped working and the library was just not the vibe today so we checked out this…read morespot that had some raving good reviews for a place to work and sip good drinks! Right as you walk in, it's so clean and the space is very chill unlike most cafes that glare music, the music they had was subtle and perfect for remote work. They serve different types of coffee and tea and some baked goods. The space to work was large and didn't have to speed walk to save a spot. The bookstore was well stocked with good books so during a work break, I got some stickers, a new book and a fun little trinket for my purse! Definitely recommend this spot for a nice place to work remotely, sip drinks and eat baked goods. Oh and they also serve mimosas! I didn't order one this time but I will next time!

Bookmans Mesa is the best. At least once a quarter we clean out our bookshelves, board games, and…read morepuzzles, pile everything into the car, and bring it in for trade. I always feel like they give a really fair amount in trade credit, and somehow we always find new treasures to bring home. I especially love the board game section. It's packed with great options, though I do wish it was organized a bit more because there's so much to dig through. The kids area is wonderful too. On our last visit my daughter spent a ton of time browsing the young adult aisles and discovering new books. I only wish there was a location a little closer to us because we'd probably go even more often. Also throwing this out there... if they ever started a kids or teen book club, we would be all over that!

Service was great! Employees helped cart the stuff from my car into the store and gave an…read moreapproximate time it would take to price my offerings. All employers were helpful and professional. I like that they offer to donate anything left over, so we don't have to shlep the stuff they don't want to pay for, back home. Even though I did leave a bunch of stuff there, I did take back a box of record albums and took them to Zia Records who promptly offered $140 for them. Okay, not so promptly, but for $140 I didn't mind the wait and was happy I chose to get a second opinion.

Great store, but now closed. Came by today and the store had a for lease sign and shop is…read morecompletely empty. An online shop exists.

My boyfriend has spent an obscene amount of money in this store and I am sure he will not stop…read moreanytime soon. This place has a ton of books geared toward your military enthusiast. My boyfriend is a huge jet and tank connoisseur (nerd is much easier to spell but kind of offensive haha) so he goes in this shop often. The owner, Keith, is very nice and always helpful. I have gone in there to get gifts for my boyfriend and Keith is always patient with me as I am completely oblivious when it comes to tanks and planes. As Calamari said the store has a lot of supplies for scale modeling and Keith is always willing to special order anything you may need.

Fabulous. I buy all of my books here for tutoring. The books are in great shape and I can get a…read morefull range of loterature. (child - adult )(fiction - nonfiction).

Weird place. Definitely a cool concept, it tries to stay as true to a "maze" as possible. The…read moremildew smell couldn't be ignored. The man working had pajamas and no shoes on-- I'm not one to judge, but it seemed like he wasn't expecting us. Kind of creepy and half done. Not a very good selection and they only took like 1/8th of the books we tried to sell, for $20. It took everything in me not to get annoyed. Yes, I did take the $20, but I'm going to stick to eBay/Mercari for selling my books .