Strand Book Store Inc

I have never seen so many book in all of my life and this place tops it because not only do they have a lot of books but the prices are crazy. You can easily get lost looking at all the books that are in thei store.

Posted 01/26/08 | Report Abuse

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I am surprised no one has reviewed Strand yet. After my inital visit I thought, why did I even shop at B&N all these years? They have real books, shelves and shelves of them, and you don't have to walk to 4th floor just to find actual literature. They sell some new books as well as used ones, at a fraction of the listed price. The $1 carts outside are cool too, cheaper than buying a magazine for a long train ride. The scene can be hectic during crowded times, but the selection makes up for that.

Posted 05/14/07 | Report Abuse

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One of the best used bookstores around in my opinion. I especially love all the renovations they have done to the store. No more climbing the stairs. I can now take the elevator. The dollar rack is always fun to look through. They have an amazing selection of children's books that are so cheap. They make wonderful presents for my grandchildren. A little disorganized but I've seen worse.

Posted 11/30/05 | Report Abuse

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Strand Book Store is filled with a great variety of different books at pretty cheap prices, you can get a great bargin on some old books. I can spend hours there just browsing through their selection, the staff wasnt very helpful when I approached them and came off obnoxious, but aside from that, its a wonderful book store.

Posted 11/15/05 | Report Abuse

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If there is a hard to find and out of print book on your wishlist, chances are that you will find it here. If you have no particular book in mind, then after browsing here for a while you're sure to have a big long list of books you want to buy. They have a great selection of used and hard to find books. Prices can be reasonable, depending on how badly you want the book.

Posted 11/13/05 | Report Abuse

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One cannot go throughout life without frequenting this book shop. With its literally eight miles of books, it's impossible to leave without buying anything. Although its size can be overwhelming, the best bet is to focus on the bargain tables that are laid out throughout the store, listed by subject. The prices are unbeatable and so is the selection. The main drawback is that there is no air conditioning, so if you're visiting in the summer, watch out!

Posted 11/13/05 | Report Abuse

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Right by Union Square, this legendary book store is very famous for it's collection of rare, used and out of print books. There's definitely a book you've been wanting in their "18 miles of books." It can get a bit crowded and the staff in my experience has not been very helpful, but if you find what you're looking for then it's well worth it.

Posted 11/06/05 | Report Abuse

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this is simply the perfect place for all your book purchasing needs. if you ever need a book dont go to one of the huge chains, go to a very reliable vendor like Strand Book Store! they have everything that you would want! i would strongly recommend Strand Book Store to everyone!

Posted 11/05/05 | Report Abuse

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Strand book store is truly a wonderful place to shop for books - you really never know what you are going to find there from amazing editions of books to just the people you are going to see. Strand is an ideal place to find used books at great prices - the selection is really excellent. Strand is really one reason that village is excellent - go there and then to a coffee shop and your day is just made. Overall, I would recommend Strand to anyone because it really is a New York landmark to visit.

Posted 11/03/05 | Report Abuse

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I love coming to Strand to browse, more than anything. I never know what I am going to walk out of the store with when I leave. It's really a fun way to pass the time. If you are the type who knows what you want you may find it easier to just go to their website and order your specific books and pay on line and then just go to the store to pick them up.

Posted 10/16/05 | Report Abuse

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it's the way you've always imagined book stores when you were a child - supertall stacks of new and old books, with ladders to reach them; bemused patrons and hippy-ish salespeople navigating the tiny spaces between stacks; every corner jampacked with books begging to be read. this is the kind of place you can spend hours browsing and despite the fact that they have used - and thus cheap - books, end up spending all your disposable income.

PROS: the selection is almost limitless
CONS: not enough hours in the day to spend here

Posted 10/14/05 | Report Abuse

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The Strand Book Store is a New York legend. You've surely seen people on the subway sporting the Strand totebags. They've been shopping at the largest supplier of used and new books in the city. It's a store of aisles and aisles of books, ranging from middle aged books to contemporary best sellers. The staff are very helpful and can search the shelves with you in pursuit of whatever you seek. They don't have everything though, so amazon might still be a better bet.

Posted 10/13/05 | Report Abuse

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I could truly spend hours just perusing the books at the Strand. Now that they have completed the renovation it doesn't have that completely musty old book feel like it used to - which is both good and bad. Be careful of the discount paperbacks in the front - they are discounted for a reason.

Posted 08/26/05 | Report Abuse

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You really can't go to Strand with a particular book in mind - well... You could but it's a bit chaotic. However, Strand is the PERFECT spot to just go and browse and a pick a random book by some random Russian author.

Posted 08/22/05 | Report Abuse

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They really do have a lot of books. They have a great selection, including college texts books and even magazines. They have a special order desk so they can even put in that hard to find textbook as well. They have a so-so friendly help staff, but they are usually too busy to help. Inside, it's cramped and always stocked full of books. They also have a bargain book sale outside.

Posted 08/21/05 | Report Abuse

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This huge Manhattan book store sits just south of Union Square and offers a little bit of everything, with thousands of books in every subject imaginable. The fiction section alone spans two floors, with popular releases, classics, and review copies in the vast basement. The newly renovated arts section offers first-rate tomes on photography, design and more. And best of all, the prices are much lower than any chain bookstore.

PROS: Great selection, low prices
CONS: Staff not always the most helpful

Posted 08/16/05 | Report Abuse

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The Strand Book Store is famous for there enormous inventory of new and used books. They claim something like 18 miles of shelves of books and I wouldn't doubt that that is true. It is a bit messy and the staff is not all that helpful so wear comfortable shoes as you maybe doing a lot of walking, bending and possibly climbing ladders. You can't deny the inventory being world class and the prices are pretty good with some amazing bargains. If you have any interests in books eventually you have to come to the Strand to take a look.

Posted 08/14/05 | Report Abuse

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Books Books Books ! Variety of all sorts. A nice place to spend a Saturday afternoon with a cup of coffee and the time to relax. There's another location on Fulton St. off of Gold st. near the seaport, so venture out one Sat. really soon and enjoy.

PROS: Tons of literature
CONS: Not easy to guide your way around the store.

Posted 08/09/05 | Report Abuse

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Strant Book Store is probably one of the largest non-chain bookstores in the world. They have a gigantic selection of used, rare, out of print, hard to find and other weird books. But their huge selection has a downside.

It's pretty impossible to find out if they have a particular book. If you call them and ask them to look something up, they tell you that they will look for it and get back to you if they find it. So you end up waiting for hours for them to call you back, and can never be sure if they're still looking for it or if they don't have it and won't be calling you back at all. On top of that, they only search for hardcover books, so if you are looking for a paperback, or if they only have the book you're looking for in paperback, they won't tell you whether they have it or not.

If you're in the store, you'll have a much better luck finding the book. Things are split into sections that are pretty specific, and everything within sections is alphabetized by author. Which means you better know the author's name, or you won't find your book!

So basically, they really make you work for the book. But if you ARE lucky enough to find it there, chances are you'll be very happy with the price.

PROS: Huge selection, great prices
CONS: Hard to look up availability

Posted 08/02/05 | Report Abuse

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this strands is definitly not as nice as the one on fulton street. it can get pretty hot in that store during the summer. and the stacks of books there are pretty cramped.

Posted 08/02/05 | Report Abuse

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You can literally spend hours going through all there books. They have a large selection of used and hard to find books. The prices are very reasonable and the store has so much more charm than the large chains.

Posted 07/26/05 | Report Abuse

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The Strand is certainly a new york landmark, although I would almost recommend one of the smaller bookstores in the village before this one. The deals on the books outside can't be beat, and the variety of books is always changing.

Inside, the crowds and heat can either add to the mood or be an irritant, depending on the mood. If you are a true book lover, it is certainly worth it--being among the "8 miles of books" will feel like coming home. If you give the store a good amount of time, it can be a great way to spend an afternoon.

If you are just looking for one particular book in a rush, it can be overwhelming and while the staff has never been rude to me, it is simply so crowded that it takes forever to get help.

A gem is the collection of even more rare books, mainly antique books, first editions in the office next door. Up a couple flights in an elevator & it's a completely different experience--no crowds, just book treasures. The bargains may not be as great here, but if you've been looking for a book or edition for years, it's worth it.

Posted 07/22/05 | Report Abuse

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Strand Bookstore is a great place to not only find books but also surround yourself with people different than you'll find anywhere else in the city. A variety of hipsters and smarty pants from NYU are also sprinkled in the scene.

PROS: Location people
CONS:

Posted 07/21/05 | Report Abuse

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I really enjoy going to Strand and browsing through their vast selection. Their books are priced very well and I always leave with a variety of books that I enjoy reading. They also have a nice online store to shop from home. Strand is a great store with a wonderful, original selection.

Posted 07/21/05 | Report Abuse

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The Strand is a NYC landmark, but not neccessarily a good one! The staff is rude and the store is over 8 miles of books, so if you need help good luck to you! The one thing I will say about the Strand that is good is that they have a lot of hard to find and out of print books. If you call in advance to look for a book or collection (I recommend this) they can track it down for you and possibly hold it at the front of the store. If you are planning on checking out the Strand in person (everyone should at least once due to the overwhelming size and the constructive chaos) plan on spending a full afternoon in there.

PROS: Has hard to find, out of print books
CONS: Crowded, rude staff, 8 miles of books

Posted 07/18/05 | Report Abuse

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The largest used and out of print book shop in New York they have an amazing inventory. Miles of books as they like to put it in there advetisments. Pretty much any book you could want is in stock.

Posted 07/16/05 | Report Abuse

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The Strand is the place New Yorkers go to find used and out of print books. The selection is stagggering and they are easily the largest store of its kind in New York. Wander the aisles or find a section with books you are interested in and dig in. Outside there are usually racks filled with $1 books and you sometimes find a gem there before you even enter the shop.

PROS: Amazingly large
CONS: Very busy hard to get help from staff

Posted 07/16/05 | Report Abuse

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I have to agree with all the other reviewers, good and bad...and I definitely recommend it for shopping or just a fun afternoon. However, I don't recommend this place to sell your old books unless you have a LOT of them, or they are very rare, or otherwise valuable.

Posted 07/15/05 | Report Abuse

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The Strand is where people go for sizable discounts on recently published books. Though it's not exactly a model of organization or friendliness (some of its 200 employees can be surly at times, to put it mildly), at these prices, you don't expect service with a smile. Benjamin Bass opened the original Strand Book Store on 4th Avenue (New York's Book Row) in 1927. Major deals can be had downstairs in the remainders and book review edition section, not to mention the vast collection of used that make up it's trademark 18 miles of books.

Posted 07/13/05 | Report Abuse

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That's what they claim in their ads. 18 shelf miles of books all used. I don't doubt the math is correct as the store is cavernous. The staff is condescending at times which can be a bit annoying but if you wander long enough you'll find what you're looking for. In the age of eBay its easy to forget how difficult it used to be when you were looking for out of print books and back then the Strand reigned supreme. If you have any interest in the printed word, find yourself in New York City and don't visit you're just foolish

PROS: Enormous Selection
CONS: Surly Staff

Posted 07/12/05 | Report Abuse

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i love independent book shops, and love large ones like strand. they have an excellent selection of new and used books, as well as out of print titles. They have discount books outside. They have a great staff and have a reputation for being a damn good store.

Posted 07/12/05 | Report Abuse

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Besides a great selection of new and used books at reasonable prices, this is also a great place to bring back and sell back the books you're already read. They also have a wide selection of older and hard to find books, especially in the arts topics.

Posted 07/01/05 | Report Abuse

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This bookstore is a maze of aisles, a seemingly chaotic organization of floor to ceiling books of any and every kind. I spent an entire day in this bookstore once. It's almost all used books, but nothing is in horrible condition and everything is extremely inexpensive. You'll have to search for what you want, but that's half the fun - because you'll discover the unknown no matter which way you turn. This store is an actual experience, and one you won't regret. I love love LOVE this bookstore.

Posted 06/22/05 | Report Abuse

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Hands down the best selection of books you will find in New York City. It can be a little crazy and overwhelming, but if you need something difficult they are your place. Also, they give those useful books bags with purchases of certain amounts

Posted 06/19/05 | Report Abuse

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The Strand is a wonderful place to browse for new and used books, but the cramped, crowded space may leave you feeling claustrophobic. Their prices cannot be beat and you can find some real treasures here, but it does take some hunting.

Posted 05/31/05 | Report Abuse

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Even on a Tuesday afternoon, there are long lines and lots of people meandering about, carrying piles of books. However, The Strand in general is a wonderful store, and this Union Square store has more of the obscure stuff as opposed to the Fulton Street store. This one also has more Strand-brand t-shirts and other memorabilia if you're into wearing store names on your clothing.

PROS: So much better than B&N any day in terms of prices and atmosphere.
CONS: Crowded.

Posted 05/19/05 | Report Abuse

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Everything you have probably heard about The Strand is true. It is HUGE. It is CHEAP. If you are just browsing you can lose hours here. If you are lucky enough to find exactly what you want you will get it at dirt cheap prices. It is no-frills. My low rating is basically due to the fact that you wont be pleasantly surprised. It is exactly as advertised. I've had good trips to this store where I walked out with more books than I could carry and I've had ones that have been disappointing, ya never know. But if you have never been defiantly try it out, its still a fun time.

Posted 05/11/05 | Report Abuse

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Because seriously? The Strand is, as it advertises, ridiculously cheap and has a ton of books, but they don't really bother to lay them out well. There's no map, directory, and very little rhyme or reason in how they decide to lay out their store. The shelves are extremely narrow and you're often on top of people looking for books. The salespeople can help you out, but if you're not sure exactly what you're looking for, it's going to take you a long time to decide, at which point 20 other bargain-hunters are going to run over you. If, however, you want the new best-seller and can't bring yourself to go to the local Barnes and Noble, The Strand will have it for half price, sometimes more, and in very good condition.

PROS: Huge selection, cheap prices
CONS: Hard to find books, bad for browsing

Posted 05/05/05 | Report Abuse

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A New York institution. The absolute lowest prices you'll find anywhere on fiction and non-fiction books. Totally unglamorous, but the stacks and stacks of new and old titles will keep you browsing for hours. And the $1 racks outside aren't bad either.

Posted 04/02/05 | Report Abuse

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