After 10 years or so as a customer and purchasing more than 50 books from them via mail-order, I am done with them. Book Ends clearly doesn't value me as a customer, I am only 1 person.Book Ends is great to do business with.until you have a problem. I will gift the other undamaged copy that I was sent. I told him to forget it and that I would hold on to the book and try to peel the glue off of the pages. He was willing to lose a long standing customer over a $28 book.and he did. He acted as if the publisher had never had a manufacturing defect. With many other more affordable on-line options available for purchasing books, I prefer to support local, independent retailers but I'm done with this one! Finally, I was told to mail the book back with a note and he would see if 'he could find another copy at home'. After much discussion, I was clearly agitated at the dismissive tone of the conversation and the lack of any empathy or value shown to me as a long standing customer. but he responded saying that he mailed 500 books and no one but me has complained.well I have only had the book in my possession for about 30 minutes so I imagine that the other 500 or so folks are only just getting their copies as well. I told him the packaging was intact when the book arrived at my home and that it was clearly a manufacturing defect, I offered to e-mail photos etc. Not being satisfied, I was transferred to speak with a man who, when asked, identified himself as the decision maker in charge (owner/ manager, not sure) of the store and that he guaranteed that this book was mailed to me in perfect condition and that he is not sure what happened to the book after it left his store. I immediately called the store and was told that they don't have any additional signed copies to offer as a replacement (which I can understand) and that they do not offer refunds on signed books, regardless of the situation. One of the 2 books was damaged and had glue, I expect a manufacturing defect from the publisher, across both the top and bottom of the books pages, making it difficult to open the pages without tearing. I ordered 2 signed copies of Jimmy Carter's new book and they arrived via UPS about 30 minutes ago. There is really no reason for Bookends to exist.īook Ends is great to do business with.until you have a problem. When we do, it will be at least partly as a result of the fact that they offer higher prices and much poorer customer service that Barnes and Noble. I'm sure that one day we'll be reading about the closing of Bookends. With the absolute lack of customer service exhibited by Bookends, it is no wonder that the local bookstore is verging on extinction. It absolutely amazes me that a local store like Bookends refuses to provide customer service to lure a customer and a sale away from Barnes and Noble. I'll just head down there early and hope to be in line early enough to get a wristband for the signing - no purchase required. Allman is doing a book signing earlier that same day at Barnes and Noble in NYC.

I asked if I could call ahead the day of the singing with a credit card to hold the book and my spot while I drove to NJ from CT. The individual explained that there was no option other than driving from CT to NJ to purchase the book and then returning to NJ on another day for the signing. I explained that I live in CT and this was not possible. The individual went on to explain that I would have to come to the store in person, purchase and pick up the book, and then return on the day of the signing with the book and receipt to prove that I had purchased the book from Bookends.

The reply from the individual who answered the phone was 'No.'

I then asked if I could purchase the book with a credit card by phone and then pick up the book and my admission to the signing at the actual signing in four days. I phoned the store today, 4 days prior to the signing and was told that there were still books available which would allow entry to the signing. I already own the book, but would have been happy to purchase a second copy for a guaranteed in person signing. The number of pre-sale books would be limited to 300. The store's website stated that entry to the signing would be predicated on the purchase of a book prior to the signing, then bringing the book and receipt to the store at the time of the signing. Living in CT, I was pleased to hear that Gregory Allman would be holding a book signing at Bookend Books in Woodbridge, NJ.

Bookends bookstore in new jersey