Menu
For Business Write a review File a complaint
Powell's Books Customer Service Phone, Email, Contacts

Powell's Books
Reviews and Complaints

www.powells.com

Learn how the rating is calculated

2.8 10 Reviews 2 Complaints
Claim Your Business
Take control of your profile: address complaints and engage with reviews
Write a review File a complaint

Powell's Books Reviews 12

ComplaintsBoard
L
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Powell's Books: A Book Lover's Paradise with Great Deals and Easy Navigation

i love powell's books! they got all the books i need and more. the website is easy to use and i can find what i want real quick. the prices are good too, not too expensive but not too cheap either. i got a couple of books from them and they came in good condition, no problems at all. i also like that they got a lot of used books, so i can save some money and still get a good read. overall, i would recommend powell's to anyone who loves books and wants a good deal.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
S
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Slow Payment from Powell's Books for Book Sellers

I sent my books to Powell's Books website about three weeks ago, but I still haven't received my payment yet. I sell my books to a lot of different companies, and they usually pay me much faster than Powell's does. If you're looking to get paid quickly, I suggest selling your books to someone else instead of these guys.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
N
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Discover Your Next Favorite Book at Powell's Books: A Review

Powell's Books is a great website for book lovers like me. I gotta say, it's helped me find a lot of books that I wouldn't have found anywhere else. And the best part? The prices are pretty reasonable, so I can add a bunch of books to my collection without breaking the bank.

One thing I really like about Powell's is their selection. They've got a ton of books on just about every topic you can think of. Whether you're into fiction, non-fiction, history, or something else entirely, you're bound to find something that catches your eye. And if you're not sure what you're looking for, they've got some great recommendations and staff picks that can help you discover something new.

Another thing I appreciate about Powell's is their commitment to sustainability. They've got a program called "Green Reader" that encourages customers to recycle their old books and buy used books instead of new ones. It's a small thing, but it's nice to know that they're doing their part to reduce waste and promote sustainability.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend Powell's Books to anyone who loves to read. They've got a great selection, affordable prices, and a commitment to sustainability that sets them apart from other online bookstores. So go ahead and check them out - you won't be disappointed!

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
A
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Disappointing Experience with Powell's Books Buyback Program

I gotta say, I've been using Book Scouter to find books that Powell's Books will take, but when I go to their website to sell the book, they ain't accepting it. This happens all the time, man. I mean, I ain't had this problem with other buy back sites. It's getting to be a real hassle, you know? I think I'm done with Powell's, to be honest. It's just not worth the trouble.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
R
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Disappointed with Powell's Books: Long Wait Times During Pandemic

I placed an order with Powell's Books on July 16th and I'm still waiting for it to arrive. I sent an email to inquire about the status of my order and was informed that due to the ongoing pandemic, it could take up to an additional 2 months for my book to arrive. That means I could be waiting a total of 3 months before I even get my hands on it.

Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed with this experience. I understand that things are difficult right now, but waiting that long for a book is just too much. I don't think I'll be ordering from Powell's again in the future. It's a shame, because I've heard good things about them, but this experience has left a bad taste in my mouth.

I hope that other customers have had better luck with their orders, but for me, this was a letdown. I'll be looking elsewhere for my book-buying needs in the future.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
G
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Powell's Books: A Treasure Trove of New and Used Academic Books

Powell's Books is a pretty famous book store that you can find in the Pacific Northwest. I've used their website to order books before and it's always been pretty easy. They were one of the first stores to start selling stuff online, way before the big guys like Amazon.

They're really good at selling both new and used books, but they're especially good at academic and scientific books. This is because they're a family-owned business that's been around for a long time and they've collected a lot of used books over the years.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
T
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Review: Powell's Books - Great Selection and Packaging, but Used Books are a Gamble

Powell's Books is a great place to get your hands on some new reads. Their packaging of mailed books is top-notch, ensuring that your books arrive in great condition. However, when it comes to their used books, it's a bit of a gamble. Unlike other book sellers who use a grading system to indicate the condition of their used books (such as "like new," "very good," "good," or "acceptable"), Powell's doesn't use any such system. This means that you never quite know what you're going to get when you order a used book from them.

I've ordered from Powell's a few times now, and while I've been happy with some of the used books I've received, I've also been disappointed with others. In my last two orders, the condition of the used books I received was not up to my standards. Some had creased spines, others had bent pages, and a few even had writing or highlighting in them. While Powell's was quick to give me a refund for these books, I would have much preferred to receive books that were in acceptable condition in the first place.

That being said, Powell's still has a lot to offer. Their selection of books is vast, and they often have hard-to-find titles that you can't find anywhere else. Their prices are also quite reasonable, especially for their used books. And if you're lucky enough to live in Portland, Oregon, you can visit their brick-and-mortar store, which is a book lover's paradise.

Overall, while Powell's may not be perfect when it comes to their used books, they're still a great option for book lovers. Just be prepared to take a bit of a gamble when ordering used books from them, and don't be afraid to ask for a refund if the condition of the book isn't up to your standards.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
A
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Discover New Books with Powell's Books: A Review of the Online Bookstore and Review Site

Powell's Books is a fantastic online bookstore that is perfect for anyone who loves to read. They have a wide range of books available, and their website also acts as a book review site, which is great for finding new books to read. One of the best things about Powell's Books is that they have a "review-a-day" feature, where they post a new book review every day. This is a great way to discover new books and authors that you might not have heard of before.

The website is easy to navigate, and they have different categories to help you find the books you're looking for. They have an e-books category, which is perfect for anyone who prefers to read on their electronic devices. They also have a used books category, which is great for finding rare and out-of-print books. The staff picks category is a great way to discover new books that are popular with the staff at Powell's Books. And if you have books that you no longer need, you can even sell them to Powell's Books through their sell books category.

Overall, Powell's Books is an excellent site for obtaining books, especially if you're looking for something that might be difficult to find elsewhere. The book review feature is also a great way to discover new books and authors. I highly recommend this site to anyone who loves to read.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
E
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Discover the Magic of Powell's Books - A Review

Powell's Books is a fantastic place to find all sorts of books. Whether you're a local or not, their online store is a great option for book lovers everywhere. When I come across a book review that catches my eye, I have to decide whether to buy it right away or wait for it to show up in my local library's catalog.

As someone who enjoys reading a variety of genres, I often find that the books I'm interested in aren't available at the library. That's where Powell's comes in handy. They have a wide selection of new books, but what really sets them apart is their used book inventory. If I'm willing to wait for a title to become available in the used category, I can save a lot of money.

Sometimes I just have to have a new book right away, but other times I'm happy to wait. Either way, Powell's has never disappointed me. Whether I'm browsing their shelves in person or scrolling through their website, I always find something interesting to read.

If you're ever in Portland, I highly recommend visiting Powell's in person. But even if you're not able to make the trip, their online store is a great way to experience the magic of Powell's from afar. So go ahead and indulge your love of books - you won't regret it!

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
E
Verified customer This review was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Powell's Books Review: Poor Quality Items, False Claims, and Disappointing Customer Service

Powell's Books used to be a great site with friendly customer service, excellent quality items, and reasonable prices. However, within the last year or so, the standards have completely dropped. It seems like they are trying to maintain maximum profits during the pandemic. The items they send are in such poor condition that they would not even make it to a charity store. Sometimes, they send severely water-damaged books, books that look like a dog has eaten them, books with loose pages or binding, and books with significant creasing. To make matters worse, these books are usually listed in their "standard" condition, which is supposed to be akin to "good or very good." However, they should have been correctly listed as "less than standard," a condition that the site claims to have.

Refunds have been reluctantly given in cases like this, seemingly with no genuine understanding of the inconvenience of then needing to source these same books elsewhere. This can be made infinitely harder if it's a rare book. In fact, customer service staff, usually higher staff members such as Ashley, their customer care manager, attempt to remain tactful while coldly "polite" without actual empathy, understanding, or humanity, only profit motive.

It would be thought that a genuine, honest, and ethical business of any kind would not only "own up" to their own slipped standards and poor customer service but also adhere to their guarantee listed prominently on their site. However, this is not the case with Powell's Books. Instead, a newer order was cancelled, and all blame was put on the customer for the "increase" in refunded items. They did not address the massive, worrying drop in quality of items.

Powell's Books claims to have a general condition that they follow, which is "Standard." This means books in good or better condition, free of writing or other markings in the text (with the possible exception of a previous owner's name in the front). The great majority of the books in their stock fall into this category. In short, when a book is listed as "Standard," customers can expect it to be a high-quality copy.

They also claim that all their new, used, and out-of-print books are in good reading condition, guaranteed. They recognize that ordering used books on the web, sight unseen, requires trust. However, by enforcing strict quality guidelines, they can guarantee that every book they sell, new or used, is a good reading copy.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of false, fraudulent, and dishonest claims made on their website. It's an insult to injury that one of the worst claims is, "We're nothing without our customers. Powell's would not be the destination it is now without its loyal customers." This is clearly completely false, unless you're a customer who is fine with near throw-away/give-away items amongst ones that do fit their meaningless "standards."

Based on the proud history of this store displayed on the website, personally, I'd say the store's founders would be rolling in their graves to see just how their "family business" is being conducted and how their "loyal customers" are treated. I would advise others to stay well away from Powell's Books.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review

Powell's Books Complaints 2

ComplaintsBoard
M
4:25 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Mixed feelings about Powell's Books: Great selection and deals, but poor customer service and website issues. Watch out for book theft

Powell's Books is a pretty good place to buy books. They got a lot of books and you can find some good deals. But sometimes they mess up and steal your books. That's not cool. And their customer service is not the best. They don't always help you out when you got a problem. Plus, their website is kinda hard to use. But overall, I still like Powell's Books. I just gotta be careful and make sure they don't steal my books again.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review
ComplaintsBoard
J
2:27 am EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Powell's Books Great Service and Price for The Lying Game at Powell's Books

Got me a new book called The Lying Game from Powell's Books. They did me right with their service and gave me the best price for this book. I'm pretty pleased with how they handled things.

Read full review of Powell's Books
Hide full review

Is Powell's Books Legit?

Powell's Books earns a trustworthiness rating of 91%

Highly recommended, but caution will not hurt.

Our conclusion: After a detailed review, ComplaintsBoard finds Powell's Books to be a trustworthy company. Although there's a 0% resolution rate for customer complaints, which deserves attention, Powell's Books is known for their high standards and safety. If you're thinking about dealing with Powell's Books, it's wise to check how they handle complaints.

Powell's Books has received 5 positive reviews on our site. This is a good sign and indicates a safe and reliable experience for customers who choose to work with the company.

Powells.com has a valid SSL certificate, which indicates that the website is secure and trustworthy. Look for the padlock icon in the browser and the "https" prefix in the URL to confirm that the website is using SSL.

Powells.com you are considering visiting, which is associated with Powell's Books, is very old. Longevity often suggests that a website has consistently provided valuable content, products, or services over the years and has maintained a stable user base and a sustained online presence. This could be an indication of a very positive reputation.

Powell's Books website is deemed to be popular and indicating that it receives a high volume of traffic. It is important to be cautious when using a highly trafficked website, as it may be a target for cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities or steal personal information.

However ComplaintsBoard has detected that:

  • Powell's Books protects their ownership data, a common and legal practice. However, from our perspective, this lack of transparency can impede trust and accountability, which are essential for establishing a credible and respected business entity.
  • We conducted a search on social media and found several negative reviews related to Powell's Books. These reviews may indicate issues with the company's products, services, or customer support. It is important to thoroughly research the company and its offerings before making any purchases to avoid any potential risks.

About Powell's Books

Screenshot Powell's Books
Powell's Books is a renowned independent bookstore located in Portland, Oregon. Established in 1971, Powell's Books has become a cultural icon in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The bookstore is known for its vast collection of new and used books, including rare and out-of-print titles. Powell's Books is a destination for book lovers from all over the world, with its flagship store occupying an entire city block and boasting over one million books.

Powell's Books has a strong online presence, with its website powells.com offering customers the ability to browse and purchase books from the comfort of their own homes. The website features a user-friendly interface, making it easy for customers to search for books by title, author, or subject. Powell's Books also offers a variety of e-books and audiobooks, as well as a selection of book-related merchandise.

In addition to its impressive selection of books, Powell's Books is also known for its commitment to sustainability. The bookstore has implemented numerous eco-friendly practices, such as using recycled materials for shipping and packaging, and offering customers the option to receive their orders in reusable tote bags. Powell's Books also supports local and independent publishers, and has a strong focus on promoting diverse voices and perspectives.

Overall, Powell's Books is a beloved institution that has earned its reputation as one of the best independent bookstores in the world. With its vast selection of books, commitment to sustainability, and dedication to promoting diverse voices, Powell's Books is a must-visit destination for book lovers everywhere.

Overview of Powell's Books complaint handling

Powell's Books reviews first appeared on Complaints Board on Jun 18, 2023. The latest review Powell's Books: A Book Lover's Paradise with Great Deals and Easy Navigation was posted on Jun 20, 2023. Powell's Books has an average consumer rating of 1 stars from 12 reviews. Powell's Books has resolved 0 complaints.
Ratings on other review websites
Trustpilot
Trustpilot
1.6
43 reviews
Trust badge
Collect Your Trust Badge
Be recognized for outstanding customer service
  1. Powell's Books Contacts

  2. Powell's Books phone numbers
    +1 (800) 878-7323
    +1 (800) 878-7323
    Click up if you have successfully reached Powell's Books by calling +1 (800) 878-7323 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Powell's Books by calling +1 (800) 878-7323 phone number Click down if you have unsuccessfully reached Powell's Books by calling +1 (800) 878-7323 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Powell's Books by calling +1 (800) 878-7323 phone number
  3. Powell's Books emails
  4. Powell's Books social media
  5. Janet
    Checked and verified by Janet This contact information is personally checked and verified by the ComplaintsBoard representative. Learn more
    May 13, 2024
  6. View all Powell's Books contacts
Powell's Books Category
Powell's Books is ranked 16 among 175 companies in the Books and Magazines category

Our Commitment

We stand for unbiased reviews

We make sure all complaints and reviews are from real people sharing genuine experiences.

We help resolving issues

We offer easy tools for businesses and reviewers to solve issues together. Learn how it works.

We advocate freedom of speech

We support and promote the right for reviewers to express their opinions and ideas freely without censorship or restrictions, as long as it's respectful and within our Terms and Conditions, of course ;)

We ensure transparent and fair ratings

Our rating system is open and honest, ensuring unbiased evaluations for all businesses on the platform. Learn more.

We care about your privacy

Personal details of reviewers are strictly confidential and hidden from everyone.

We are easy, free and open to everyone

Our website is designed to be user-friendly, accessible, and absolutely free for everyone to use.