Barnes & Noble reviews

I'm happy to do it! :) Thanks for taking the time to comment! Let's see.. -I do enjoy working for them! Ive worked a few different jobs from fast food to other retail to waiting tables, and this is my favorite job yet. I can rarely recall times when I've told myself I'm gonna look for a new job and I hope to stay with them for maybe a couple more years! -I dont have my degree yet. Im working towards it right now, and almost there! Haha. A bachelors in Kinesiology. -Reading is great! Unfortunately i don't get as much time right now to leisure read due to textbooks and such, but I definitely pop open a book when I can! Definitely hard to pick a genre, as when i got hired, I knew i wanted to read from multiple so i can relate to as many customers as i can! Although i will say i probably enjoy fiction the best! -Total my store probably has about 30+ employees, including our cafe staff. On a usual workday, i probably work with 8 others, including managers, cashiers, baristas, etc. -On an average day, Im actually in charge of the bargain department. So i come in at 7 AM, 3 hours before the store opens, shelve the new product and rotate quantities with higher quantity books from the back. And I also try to fix up all my tables and displays so they look nice when we open. After opening, Im at the customer service desk so i greet people as they walk in, ask them if they need any help finding books as i walk the floor, reshelve books as we find them misplaced around the store, answer the phone and tell people if we have an item in stock and ask them if they want us to hold it for them, and yeah! I also back up the cashiers if a long line forms! B&N is a great job, and definitely look into applying if you get the chance! The people are great, customers and co workers, and I've definitely made some lifelong friendships. Happy to have put in my 2+ years with them!

Sorry the address in the picture is from our HQ, I don't work in NY but thanks! We've closed a handful of stores in the past 5 years, but we've also opened some. We have something like over 600 stores I believe. I think if digital drives us out it will take another 10-20 years (if I had to guestimate). I really enjoyed Fault in Our Stars. I actually saw the movie first. I usually read SciFi/Fantasy. Nightfall is probably my favorite.

Not looking for a new job. I have 10+ years with this company and 5+ with my previous employer. If for some reason I need to find another job it shouldn't be that hard. *knock on wood Nook is separating because as a digital product it needs to be run by a digital company. Each store has one or two "tech savvy" employees to help with nooks, otherwise it's just general help. Again, I think the focus on physical stores is browsing. Getting rid of bookstores would hurt the market in general. Think of music 20 years ago vs. today. There's variety now but it's a lot harder to find and break out than it was back then.

You work at Barnes & Noble obviously because of the books and the people - you’re part of an enthusiastic community in your co-workers and favorite customers. It’s a joy to be able to curate displays, lead book events, and share my favorite reads.

while there are some exceptions, by and large management at every level is problematic: lack of accountability in regard employee wellbeing, micromanagement and inconsistent application of policy, gossip and favoritism shape workplace polities and dynamics, non-compliance of HIPAA through workplace gossip The CEO is so out of touch, his company wide emails and updates lack self awareness - union busting; speaks highly of “honorable booksellers” pay and promotions are minute; stores across country are falling into disrepair

Great discount and access to library of advance reader copies

Here's why website prices are cheaper: To buy online, you purchase it on your computer. We have someone at the warehouse put it in a box, slap a label on it, and UPS picks it up and drives it to your house. To buy in store, warehouse packs up boxes, ships them out country wide to delivery hubs. Those hubs unload the trucks, redistribute the boxes based on which store they go to and pays a driver to deliver those boxes mon-fri. Then we have employees who receive them, unpack them, sort them, then shelve them into the sections. It's one person to do the work vs. about ten.

I had a lot of fun, some locations are very family oriented.

Always have a few coworkers that just aren't kind.

Honestly the discount and the community

I have a great work environment at my current location. Minimal stress.

Low salary

Below the industry average

Higher positions Not so much

My coworkers i work with daily!

Employee discount Support in cross training Encouraged to move towards advanced positions/roles

Often understaffed which can be stressful

1/2 off books & cafe along with other discounts.

Personable and sincere. Great communication as to how the business is doing, goals, vision, changes, etc.

Ensure each shift/role is appropriately staffed to ensure efficiency and the best customer experience. When understaffed, and trying to compensate, it is very stressful and distracting

Researched the company online, as well as visiting in person, and reading reviews

Average

Very inclusive and welcoming

Interacting with customers, particularly the regulars.

Great environment!

Low starting Rate of Pay

Great customers! Great Work Environment Great discounts on books

Books books and morebooked.

Not enough money.

Discount books.

Coworkers are caring and enjoy their work, which makes it a pleasant environment.

The pay and scheduling consistency is less than optimal. Not that great, actually.

Customers were great for the most part. If you love to read than working at a bookstore is beneficial. You meet new people and the coworkers for the most part were great to work with.

At my particular location, management was hard to work with. Specifically the store manager. Many work-related issues were never addressed and there were many times that employee concerns were ignored.

Offered a great employee discount and coworkers were easy to get along with.

I enjoy reading, so being able to help others find things they may enjoy is really fulfilling. I also like shelving books, because organization is key.

The current manager doesn't always curate the most positive work environment and puts a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of booksellers when they could be handling these things just fine.

The employee discount

A majority of your coworkers are great people to work with and everyone has their own passions and expertise. The discount is good, great even. I also found an exposure to so many different subjects, authors, and points of view concerning familiar titles to be really motivating in being the best that I could be.

There’s definitely a stark difference between the Pre and Post Daunt eras of B&N (he’s the current CEO of the company by way of Elliot Advisors). The company allocates fewer resources for employees with each passing day. Their scheduling system keeps a skeleton of a crew in the store so it’s hard to balance customer service with job duties.

Books to read and nice CO workers

Well nothing just needs more benefits

My favorite benefit is the friendly environment.

books

very poor pay scale, poor corporate, no benefits, workload doesn't match pay

discount on books

Knowledge

Nothing, maybe a little favoritism

Free knowledge, free books and discounts

Casual retail environment, local management is respectful and appreciative.

No upward mobility or full time status available at this time.

Great atmosphere and employee discount.

Workplace culture is great socially as all employees typically have a desire to work among books so everyone will almost always have something in common in terms of hobbies. Employee input on store changes is usually valued. The wide variety of stock makes the job more interesting as there is something that almost anyone would be interested in

Pay rate is low for the large amount of work and efficiency required of even the entry level booksellers. Higher ups value efficiency over all things which makes for a stressful and high-paced environment. Above all else it is no different than other retail jobs

Employee discount for books and café makes the lower pay worth it

Everyone was helpful and it was like a family.

When it was completely empty making it boring at times.

Meeting coworkers who will be in my life for an eternity.

The atmosphere of the environment the employees and the product we sell

No benefits for a part-time

Discounts on merchandise and food

Nice customers and employees. The location and the cafe

No opportunity for growth

Benefits

I love the product and the connections I make with the community

Management can be a little bit disorganized and upward mobility is slow and challenging

Free books!!

Community engagement (storytime, book clubs, book fair events) and being able to borrow books. Management is great to work under. I enjoy interacting with Barnes & Noble friends I have the opportunity to connect with.

Lack of hours.

The 30% employee discount!

I love meeting new people as well as being abreast of new books, the latest magazines. I love helping someone find just right the book or product. Additionally, the employee discount is a great benefit.

There are not enough people who work each shift, so I feel like I do is run around like a chicken with its head cut off. I can't possibly address all the customers' needs, and so every time I go in, it's frustrating. If someone calls off (which happens frequently), the whole night is over for the rest of us

Learning new things all the time!

My store was very flexible with scheduling allowing me to work and attend college classes. Also liked the store discount.

The only negative aspect of working for Barnes and Noble is they are open 7 days a week and during the evening, so having a weekend off is difficult.

My favorite perk/benefit was the store discount including the coffee shop located in the store.

Not really. When you're paying the list price, you're supporting the physical book store. Sales might be declining due to the number of people doing online shopping now, but sometimes we do have promotions that create comparable savings to Amazon. Also there are those people who are willing to pay a few more dollars if it means getting the book instantly rather than waiting for shipping. I'll admit I do still do my fair share of shopping on Amazon as well, as I'm sure some of my other employees do too haha

Thankfully nothing too terrible so far!! Actually, in recent memory, last week we had this couple who made a little spot in one of the far corners of our store. They were there for probably a solid 5-6 hours and they would be cuddling, or making out, or giving each other massages. Wasn't really sure why my manager didn't kick them out, but it wasn't the greatest sight to pass by whenever id walk to our break room or have to shelve product in that vicinity. Like Motel 6 aint that expensive people! xD

I used to worry about this, but actually Barnes & Noble College is more profitable that Barnes & Noble Inc. stores. The college company is expanding and will likely be here to stay even if the regular Barnes & Noble stores go under.

Then your friends cousin is well over 100 years old. BN started in 1917 officially. Apply online at the website.

Labor laws vary state to state. You'll have to ask.

Depending on what type of manager you are I think it's between 30-50 a year usually. Obviously more the longer you've been with the company. Check out the website Glass Ceiling, it has some good resources in that department.

Here's why website prices are cheaper: To buy online, you purchase it on your computer. We have someone at the warehouse put it in a box, slap a label on it, and UPS picks it up and drives it to your house. To buy in store, warehouse packs up boxes, ships them out country wide to delivery hubs. Those hubs unload the trucks, redistribute the boxes based on which store they go to and pays a driver to deliver those boxes mon-fri. Then we have employees who receive them, unpack them, sort them, then shelve them into the sections. It's one person to do the work vs. about ten.

As an employee we get the same discounts for all books. As a company it depends on the title and quantity we order. I'm not sure what the markup for other companies are but I've seen books ranging from zero (we make NO profit when the customer buys it) to 80%+ (usually remaindered out titles that go in our bargain section).

Sorry the address in the picture is from our HQ, I don't work in NY but thanks! We've closed a handful of stores in the past 5 years, but we've also opened some. We have something like over 600 stores I believe. I think if digital drives us out it will take another 10-20 years (if I had to guestimate). I really enjoyed Fault in Our Stars. I actually saw the movie first. I usually read SciFi/Fantasy. Nightfall is probably my favorite.

No. From the sales reports I've read our stores are profitable. And as a company, if you're making money you stay in business. Brick and mortar we don't have a whole lot of competition. People still love books, kids HAVE to read them, so we'll keep selling them. Our downfall will happen when the following criteria is met: eReaders become cheap digital book browsing becomes easier older generations become more technologically compliant or stop purchasing books altogether

I'm low on the totem pole, so I make between 30-35 a year. Starting employees are usually between 7-8 dollars if you're being hired part time. Full time (we call them "leads") tend to go a buck or two higher. It all depends on the store/location and your work experience.

Actually homeless? No. I've seen a couple in from time to time, but they tend not to stay long. They cool off, use the bathroom and leave. Non-homeless campers though...all the time.

-Demographics as a whole for the company? That's hard to say. Since I've worked there the Teen market exploded and it seems like "Teen" books are more widely accepted by adults as readers as well. -The best employees are the ones that are cross trained a

Sales focus. It really seems that the company is more interested in saving money than making it. Managers will gripe about tables not selling, but they have a corporate list - so we can't take them down and put "better" books on them. Employees and customers hate how little hours/help there is working at one time. There are stores in my region where the store beat their sales goal but failed to make their payroll goal and those management teams didn't get a raise. Saving $ > Making $ It doesn't work.

General consensus of employees are: if you don't make a mess and put it back we're fine with it. In the cafe? Buy ONE drink and as long as people aren't standing because all the seats are taken it's fine. I know some stores got rid of lounge chairs and bench seating. I've seen people reading on the floor. That's a little odd. Also, summertime people like to soak up our AC.

Oh, definitely. Working in an urban store, we've had a good share of author signings as well as celebrity appearances. I've worked book signings for Dee Snyder, Neal Stephenson, E.L. James, a bunch of athletes, a couple politicians, and Howard Stern. I've also met and helped find books for Sigourney Weaver, Ed Rendell, and Richard Dreyfuss. He really likes alternative history books about the Civil War.

Here's my top five grievances about customers: "I'm looking for a book." Me: "Really? That's neat." "Where's non-fiction?" Me: *rolls eyes* "Can my Borders card work here?" Me: "Sir, that's not a company anymore." "What's a good book to read?" Me: "May I recommend Harold and the Purple Crayon to start?" "WHY WON'T YOU TAKE MY STARBUCKS GIFTCARD!?" Me: "Ma'am, it's not a Starbucks, it's B&N Cafe Which Happens To Have A Starbucks Logo On Everything So It's Misleading."

Not exactly sex, but once a large man walked into the store, made a B-line for the medical reference, and flipped open an anatomy book to the female reproductive system. Someone caught him practically making out with the page and he was kicked out. I personally asked that the book be incinerated.