A & R Textbooks

Mark gave VERY VERY VERY POOOOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DISRESPECTFUL towards me. a 64 year-​old lady who somehow kept her composure!!! Please take a moment and read this comment… Upon visiting A&R Textbooks at 1703 Pico in Santa Monica I asked many questions before purchasing 2 text books, one rented book & 3 binders for a total of $ 383.35 cash and later an additional text book for &69.62. One important question I asked was, «Can I return these books and when is the best time.» I was advised by cashiers Nancy Y. and later by Daniel M. to come back for returns during the buy-​back period. Later I became ill and had to drop my classes 2 months before semester ended. I called twice for specific buy-​back instructions & the value of the books because I had to catch six busses round trip while hauling all of the books on a handicap walker; so, I wanted to get an approx. return amount from reading off the receipt info to the cashier, just to see if the trip would be worth it; but, I had to take my ID, receipt and books to the store. Then It was told to me that all of my books could not be returned because they were not bound books and that there was a code that only allowed a one-​time use!!! This very important bit of info had not been shared during any of my inquiring visits nor my phone calls!!! I was told that I could get a discounted amount for the rented book (which I had complained about pages falling out and random highlighted text). Later I got several reminder texts to return the rented book. I called & spoke to Mark to explain the return. Mark said that I was responsible for paying the amount back that I had received and I should not have gotten it! I explained no less than 9 times in 2 conversations that I had done everything humanly possible to follow all instructions and thought I had received the marked down, returned amount because I turned the rental in almost 2 months earlier than the original time I was to have rented it for. I said that I had no way of knowing the store’s policies and the employee showed his boss my receipt and was told to return about a third of the original rental fee to me. Mark kept yelling and talked over me saying I had to pay $ 57!!! How could this random amount be quoted for a used, damaged, paper bound meteorology book? He later asked how did I want to settle the matter. I told him that I would be willing to split the charge, since I called in good faith. Still blaming me for the bosses decision. I told him that I do know how to handle a simple business transaction and that I had handled business for a mayor, an assemblyman & a councilman, so please don’t act as if I don’t understand. Mark screamed that I was threatening him when I said that and he did not want to talk to me anymore and for me not to call back and that the charge was dismissed! I said that I didn’t want anything free and he hung up in my face. I SAY… VERY VERY VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE and DISRESPECT for a young whipper snapper towards me, a 64 year old lady who kept her composure. JUST SAYING

Not impressed. The prices on the textbooks I needed were not any lower than they were at the regular bookstore. Looks like «the other» college bookstore, trying to piggyback off the real one. Pierce College near where I live in Woodland Hills is the same way. The bookstore charges a fortune for almost everything and then «the other» bookstore across the street charges the same or even more, only there are usually no lines there because it’s just a cubbyhole shop. STUPID. Stores like this should not be allowed to be in business. Not that SMC’s real bookstore is any model bookstore either.

Terrible service over the phone. I had to call 6 times before I got an answer and when I did, I get attitude and dull responses. After 5 min of unfriendly service, he finds out they don’t have the book, great. I rather pay more at the smc book store than attempt to shop here again.

Very shady, run by Koreans! It’s best to stay away! The prices are much cheaper at the SMC Bookstore.

it is a bad bookstore… i will never go again! i hate this book store… i’ve’ never seem such a bad book store in my life.

If you attend SMC, avoid this book store at all costs. I wrongly assumed that these bookstore would be cheaper and more convenient but I was wrong.
The workers here are rude and all they care about is your money, you receive very little help if you are confused on which book to buy. It is especially bad at the beginning of the Fall or Spring semesters, for example the disorganized lines are a pain, because people always jump in front of you and there is practically no supervision from any of the store employees.
Also they have a TERRIBLE refund policy, I cannot stress this enough! In the beginning if the semesters they let you refund your books for about a week and then they do not let you refund anymore. I accidentally bought the wrong book a day after they wouldn’t let you refund anymore, and I cannot believe they would not at least BUY back the book.
These people are greedy and don’t care about anything except your money. Avoid them and go to SMC bookstore at all cost.

treacherous groups of F*#¥$ed korean owners！never never buy book from them. Same price as SMC book store price! Just buy at the college instead! Cause at least you are paying for an institution to support education! Don’t just give your money to some nasty Korean ppl! Makes me feel bad for even giving one star!

This place is an absolute joke. The only reason they are still in business is because students are desperate to get their books last minute. They are well aware that their policies are confusing and complicated so they can make the biggest profit possible from the students. The books are overpriced and contrary to what they tell you, they won’t buy back and even if they do expect yourself lucky to be able to get a coffee with the change you receive. Also the service is terrible and the owners are rude and greedy. GET YOUR BOOKS ONLINE EARLY! Try Cheg or a million other text book sites. Anywhere but here.

I go here for my SMC textbooks. They’re a little over priced and they don’t buy back for that much. They get you your textbooks though. Best place in the area.

Meh.
Prices are slightly lower than the bookstore, but they try to give you pennies for your used books. Better off selling your used books on Amazon and you actually get what they’re worth.

I will not come back again! buyers beware! got a text book for an english class and it turned out to be a teachers manuel now half the class is in trouble!

Expensive but the parking is free and you don’t have to go on-​campus.

A&R is cheaper than the SMC bookstore by a little bit for their new and used books. I prefer to buy books online. When you do, be sure to order early enough so you get it in time for class. Otherwise the only time you should look into this bookstore is if you need a textbook fairly quickly or if your class needs a special/​custom textbook bundle. Be sure to pay attention to their return polices should you decide to buy something.
I understand that selling books back won’t get you much back. I’d be satisfied with at least half, but I can take what I can get. It depends on how many use books they bought back, if it’s needed for the next term, and whether or not the book will be used the following terms.
My complaint is that I was told the other day that out of my two classes, they would buy the text from one of the classes. Then I went today and I was told they had too many copies and would not be buying my book back. Perhaps I should have gone yesterday or called first. Or I should have been warned I should come back soon. I’m a little frustrated because it took an hour bus trip to get over there and to find I had wasted my time.

Prices here are better than at the SMC bookstore but note that they are not that much better than online. I come here because although they have huge lines at the beginning of an SMC school term, they are no where as long as at the SMC Bookstore. The staff knows how to work fast but they’ve handed me the wrong books several times. No severe damage done, just longg wait times to get them to go looking for my books again. My biggest complaint is that their return policy leaves much to be desired. Other than that however, this is the most convenient place I know to get books quick for SMC and the lines die down as the semester goes on.

It’s the best place for textbooks if you’re short on time, and if you don’t want to buy at the SMC official bookstore.
They’re really fast with getting the line to move quickly, but the lack in pricing. The books here aren’t that much cheaper, maybe at most $ 10, but if you’re really tight on money go here. The location is very convenient, right across the street! I don’t advice trying to park here because there’s very very very limited parking.
If you can buy your books online!

I hate this place. They wont give you prices over the phone, no returns, and theyre prices are never much lower than SMC. On top of that, they take major advantage of broke students needing to sell back they’re books…
The owner whom I have to say is a complete DOUCHBAG offered me $ 25 for a math book that he sells for $ 115 used… smh…
They are not there to service you but rather take take take take take… everyone is super shady and for the most part rude. I think I came across like one or two people who weren’t. Sometimes the price is right so I will get a book from them but don’t expect to return it if you switch classes or what not.
AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS if you possibly can. SMC has a much better return policy and the price may be 5 to 10 bucks more, but its worth it.
The lines might be shorter, but theres a reason SMC has longer lines, and the line is never more than 10 to 15 minutes the first week or two of school, after that its a breeze.
Overall I will not go back and do not suggest anyone purchasing from them.

This place sucks, they are charging more for used books than you can buy new somewhere else! They seem to be taking advantage of people who are short on time, and they also don’t have any return policy. Yeah, good if you’re in a hurry and have no time, but you’re going to get ripped off for sure. People working here seem shady too, clearly they know they are taking advantage of students.
AVOID!

They saved my butt AGAIN… Thanks for the scantrons and the free, yet limited, parking :)
They sell both new and used textbooks. Prices are average. You won’t find much «on discount,» but it certainly beats waiting in agonizingly long (er) lines at the SMC Bookstore. Yes, they buy back, but bring lube because you KNOW where they’re gonna stick it to you… Just like EVERY other buyback option.
Overall, a really nice alternative to the campus bookstore. And a great spot to swoop a quick scantron without braving the lines of every other option. Thumbs up!

I’m glad I found A&R a few months ago…
I was looking for a used textbook that SMC didn’t have in stock…
Not only did they have it used in stock, but their price was a couple bucks cheaper.
They helped me right away and I was walking out with my textbook in minutes.
I just called them today, looking for more used textbooks… which they have in stock, but their price was only $ 1 cheaper then SMC.
Hours right now… Open M-​TH 10−7pm and F 10 – 4. They have extended hours during the first week of the semesters.
So if you want to save a dollar or two, which is better then nothing…
stop by or call A&R to see if they have the books you are looking for.
Located right across the street from SMC.
Wish I knew about this place when I first started SMC…

I’m glad to have found out about A & R Textbooks! The lines are much shorter and the selection of used books is not only cheaper, but much larger compared to the Santa Monica College bookstore. During busy times they are very well staffed — I’ve never been in there for more than 10 minutes buying or selling a semesters worth of books.
However, they are kind of shooting themselves in the foot by not buying back certain Sociology books for Soc 1, as the professor I had uses the same edition of the textbook year after year — in addition to one other book that is now out of print. I had to buy those online. I ended up selling them to another student who took the same class with that professor (I cannot for the life of me pronounce, much less spell her last name.) too since A & R wouldn’t buy them — and I ended up making a nice little profit (I bought them online for 10.00 each).
But otherwise, definitely go here during the semester changes to swap out books!