• Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble

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Overview

Barnes & Noble has a rating of 2.76 stars from 164 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Barnes & Noble most frequently mention customer service, and gift card problems. Barnes & Noble ranks 121st among Textbooks sites.

  • Service
    52
  • Value
    47
  • Shipping
    41
  • Returns
    30
  • Quality
    40
Positive reviews (last 12 months): 23.3%
Positive
7
Neutral
0
Negative
23
25
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What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

No positive highlights yet

Critical highlights

  • They have an antiquated system, rude customer service personnel and seem confused by their own procedures.
How would you rate Barnes & Noble?
Top Positive Review

“The Twisted Green Road - A Flash ISBN979-8-885-67237-4”

Mary B.
1/29/24

This is the third book of a trilogy that I have read by this author. I find his writing easy to read and the involvement with the main character captivating. Anyone who served in the military would enjoy this book. I look forward to reading this authors next book soon.

Top Critical Review

“Lost packages, and torn pages.”

Logan R.
1/29/24

I've ordered multiple Claymore manga for my girlfriend and so far 3 of them have had pages ripped in half. I ordered myself the Claymore box set and just got to volume 17 which has 2 pages ripped out so I decided to buy another Volume 17 to replace it and now that package says it delivered 2 days ago but it hasn't and they're not responding to any emails about the situation. Don't buy here. Go to books a million instead.

Reviews (164)

Rating

Timeframe

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

customer service (36)
Thumbnail of user loganr293
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 29th, 2024

I've ordered multiple Claymore manga for my girlfriend and so far 3 of them have had pages ripped in half. I ordered myself the Claymore box set and just got to volume 17 which has 2 pages ripped out so I decided to buy another Volume 17 to replace it and now that package says it delivered 2 days ago but it hasn't and they're not responding to any emails about the situation. Don't buy here. Go to books a million instead.

Products used:
Manga

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Value
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Thumbnail of user alinag34
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
December 29th, 2023

I ordered 2 school-books for college, checked status of delivery yesterday, and it shows them arriving today. I received one today and when I checked, they sent me a refund for the other book. School starts in a few days. They didn't even notify me. Very unhappy with this lack of consideration

Products used:
Book

Service
Value
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Thumbnail of user maryb6412
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 29th, 2024

This is the third book of a trilogy that I have read by this author. I find his writing easy to read and the involvement with the main character captivating. Anyone who served in the military would enjoy this book. I look forward to reading this authors next book soon.

Quality
Thumbnail of user paulac1249
1 review
1 helpful vote
January 17th, 2024

Id give them a negative 100 if they had one! Worst company in a company history to work for! They dont
Give one iota of care to their employees! They lie and manipulate to get what they want! The bosses are
Dispicable!

Products used:
N/A

Thumbnail of user caroljtidwell
1 review
1 helpful vote
December 9th, 2023

My Nook library was not showing books I'd ordered so I contacted their tech department. They said my email had changed but it never has. They had me re-register the device which eliminated all of my books. When I asked them to resend them - they'd sold them to me and of course have the sales records - they said I had to tell them the other email address. But I'd never had a different one. The Nook went into the trash. Never again.

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user jenniferw3662
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 18th, 2024

Still waiting for Rewards Vouchers, owed on 2023 purchases & repeatedly promised by Barnes& Nobel. Is this a new customer scam?

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user gabei5
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 26th, 2024

Once, many moons ago, I felt quite adventurous, so I stepped outside my humble adobe to embark on a beautiful journey. You see, dear reader, I was tending to my typical duties of watching anime and eating my top-notch ramen. My waifu was looking quite exquisite and alluring in her kawaii maid outfit. Heh.
As I saw the entrancing entity, she hypnotized me, sinking her venomous fangs into my eyes as they poured out adoration. The beautiful creature whispered to me, her whispers like gusts of wind brushing against my beard, singing, "Buy mi merch."
Without hesitation, I raced to my car with my katana as I smirked. Beware wretched beings! Today, I shall bring her home and sing her my sweet poems.
Faster than the speed of a Naruto run, I arrived at the mall. Colombia mall.
My journey both began and ended at Barnes and Noble. Ah, yes. The store for intellectuals.
"Yare yare daze…" I sighed as I saw the tragedy collapse in front of me. These bakas have no idea what kind of material that manga stores! No, no. They are about to unlock Pandora's box to my beloved manga.
"Hey!" I shouted, striking my fearsome Jojo pose. "Don't touch that beautiful artifact you nicompoops!"
Heh. Let's just say those bakas won't be going near MY waifu again! HIYAH!
Sigh. I wish this worthless establishment encompassing my oh-so-precious manga would ensure that no villains could taint my valuable waifus. -_- Derp. I'd sign up to be a knight in shining armor for my waifus, weebs, and fellow otakus! Oh, well.

Thumbnail of user georgeg1717
1 review
0 helpful votes
August 12th, 2023

BN used to be a reputable easy book ordering company to work with. I've had a gift card and have ordered a few books recently and the delivery time is awful with no updates on their website. I paid for expedited shipping and still am waiting for my order 3 days after it was promised. I would never order anything from them again and it makes sense to just go to Amazon who at least values its customers. BN has closed most of its brick and mortar stores and should do the same with its online retail.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user keithauton1
1 review
1 helpful vote
October 23rd, 2023

Barnes & Noble South Asheville NC has removed all conservative literature from their store. I suggest they are practicing cancel culture and need to be boycotted.

Thumbnail of user mirriamh
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
January 12th, 2018

They have the great deal in the country. The ebooks i purchase was awesome. This is not just an ordinary online store.

Thumbnail of user pk166
1 review
1 helpful vote
December 16th, 2022
Verified purchase

Bought 4 items, only received 3. Last on lost in transit. Now won't arrive until Dec 27….after the holiday. Original order placed in plenty, more than plenty, of time. Got put on hold endlessly and even disconnected. Takes help from the power above, to get to a supervisor. NEVER AGAIN. Get your customer service to be CUSTOMER service. It is all going back. Amazon will be my source for books now. So disrespectful.

Tip for consumers:
Beware of their shipping, returns and customer service people who just don’t care.

Products used:
Because of the lack of respect afforded to me….and I was NOT combative or unkind with the numerous reps I spoke to over three days…EVERYTHING WILL BE SENT BACK. Yep 3 days over something I never received. Because they decided to use a new shipping partnership between UPS and USPS, I didn’t receive my package. Too bad for me that the replacement order was being sent Standard and won’t arrive before Christmas. Oh well, our bad. Nothing we can do. How about getting off your chair and walking to the shipment department. This all transpired within 15 minutes…..come on.

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Thumbnail of user luzr168
1 review
2 helpful votes
April 18th, 2023
Verified purchase

Be very careful when you buy online from Barnes & Noble they lie about the day you will receive your book and after you buy it they send you an email saying that you will receive it 3 weeks later because they do not have it on hand. And when you call customer service they don't cancel your order and the only thing they offer you is a label so you can send the product back so they can refund your money. If you need a book sooner go to the store in person or look for another place where you can buy it faster.

Products used:
None

Thumbnail of user magalyr24
1 review
2 helpful votes
September 28th, 2023

Ordered collectable Barbie 'Gloria' doll. Package was "stuffed" into an incorrect size shipping box crushing the package completely all the way around Customer Service was of no help. Terrible experience.

Thumbnail of user carterm31
5 reviews
0 helpful votes
January 18th, 2021

Actually liked the store, it was advised by my brother. Reasonable values on the books, wide range to choose from and quite fast shipping. Think I`ll return for more.

Thumbnail of user robertj2006
1 review
5 helpful votes
January 12th, 2022
Verified purchase

Barnes and noble has the absolute worst system for tracking product inventory and managing customers' accounts. I have experienced the absolute worst customer service and support from any retailer large or small with B&N. I hope other retailers put them out of business, not because I am dissatisfied with their service but because I do not believe they deserve market share. They need an absolute overhaul to maintain competitiveness. I will not be spending any money there and I will discourage others from doing so either.

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Value
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Thumbnail of user neeleyh2
1 review
1 helpful vote
February 21st, 2023

If i could give it 0 stars I would. I hate barnes and Noble you stupid little s h i t s i enjoy reading for the first time in 8 years and you take away my book on the last chapter. You are the worst and i cant wait for all the old people to die so that you go out of business, clearly youre already heading there since you can't update your nook site. I hate BARNES AND NOBLE

Tip for consumers:
buy books in real life so barnes and noble wont steal your money

Products used:
i bought a book they made me sad

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Value
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Thumbnail of user falcong3
1 review
0 helpful votes
February 1st, 2024

Carol M. Swain is an author, a retired professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University, and television analyst. Mike Towle is an author, and former newspaper reporter and editor. Their work, "The Adversity of Diversity", mostly written before the Supreme Court's June 2023 ruling eliminating affirmative action requirements in college admissions, "Students for Fair Admission v. President and Fellows of Harvard College", makes the case that other programs or practices such as DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), CRT (Critical Race Theory), and CEI (Corporate Equity Index) are likely on the way out as well. While affirmative actions were originally envisioned as a means of redressing discriminatory injustices, their applications had evolved to cause reverse discrimination, essentially resulting in the same sort of wrongs they were designed to end.

The "Adversity of Diversity" shows examples of how programs such as DEI infringe on constitutionally protected rights, particularly of white conservative men. Conflicts with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibition of discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in any program receiving federal financial assistance) and the 14th Amendment (the Equal Protection Clause guaranteeing all individuals the right to protection under law) were influential in the Supreme Court's decision in removing affirmative action requirements.

Dr. Swain holds the position that Marxism is a driving influence in today's DEI. It is concerned with group identities, affinity groups, and group discrimination rather than group success stemming from individual merit. It channels suspicion, promotes intolerance, and focuses on conflict, and as such, seems designed to break and destroy rather than to heal and bring unity. The social process of ending racial discrimination had been usurped by the political enemies of capitalism, leading to division and tribalism. She believes that proper diversity requires not division, but assimilation. DEI programs do nothing to accomplish any goals important to business, such as adherence to mission, respect for creativity and growth, building morale, and expectation of profit.

Dr. Swain has developed her own program that she believes may solve the problems created by DEI, and calls it "Real Unity Training." Its twelve core values include a desire for institutions to succeed, the belief that customer service should be a priority, respect for traditional "success principles" of hard work, integrity and accountability, and being financially responsible. They also include the perspective that, while our differences are to be acknowledged, what we have in common is greater. More information about Dr. Swain's program may be obtained at: "unitytrainingsolutions.com."

The appendices at the end of the book are lengthy and detailed, and form a valuable and fascinating historical reference. Appendix A contains the entire Supreme Court decisions of "Students for Fair Admission v. President and Fellows of Harvard College", and "Students for Fair Admission v. University of North Carolina." Included is the concurrence of Justice Thomas. Appendix B contains the legislation abolishing DEI at public colleges and universities as reflected is Texas and Florida law, and Appendix C is the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

It was surprising to experience the intellectual robustness and thorough substantiation of the Supreme Court's decision. Justice Clarence Thomas, writing the concurrence, was devastating in his disagreement with the dissent. The legislation abolishing DEI at public colleges and universities in Texas and Florida affirms that equal protection violations are on the decline.

Thumbnail of user ehang89
1 review
1 helpful vote
August 25th, 2023

Ordered a book on 8/25/23, needing it on September 5 for my college course. Expected arrival date is September 5. Got an email there has been a delay till September 12 due to stock inventory. How are you awaiting on stock inventory if its listed on your site and given an estimated arrival date? Called customer service and could not help/cancel order on their end.

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Thumbnail of user milat8
2 reviews
0 helpful votes
October 25th, 2023

I ordered 2 BOOKS, just 2 simple novels from Barnes and Noble days ago. STILL NOT PROCESSED, and definitely not shipped. I've reached out to 'customer service' (which is anything but) several times, but to no avail. All they can say is "it's up to the warehouse and they take 7 days to process. Your order can take 3w to be shipped". WHAT?! For 2 BOOKS. I checked and Amazon has the books in stock and would deliver in 2 days. I will NEVER order with BN again. No sort kf customer service at all, then when they close down, they'll look surprised.

Products used:
BOOKS

Service
Value
Shipping
Quality
Thumbnail of user peggyh727
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
July 25th, 2023

My order did not pass "order verification" process. It was a purchase of an e-gift certificate being delivered via email. Attempts to find out why the order did not "pass" was unsuccessful. I was cut off three times and held for 26 minutes and 20 seconds. Perhaps Books-A-Million will accept my money.

Thumbnail of user mshaw2150
1 review
2 helpful votes
June 22nd, 2023

My son had purchased a vinyl album from our local Barnes & Noble as a Father's Day gift and I already had this particular record. I went in to exchange the product for a different record and the lady behind the counter explained very curtly that without proof of purchase they cannot exchange it for another record. The fact that I have it in my possession is proof and to say otherwise implies that my 25yr old with a wife and 2 kids "stole" the record for Father's Day. Nice job Barnes & Noble but not only did you lose out on the opportunity to provide a positive experience you also lost a customer of over 25yrs.

Date of experience: June 22,2023

Thumbnail of user lenak72
1 review
0 helpful votes
December 29th, 2022

I paid expedited $15.48 shipping for "item arrives in 2-3 days" description. What they don't mention there, it's 2-3 days AFTER SHIPPING, not after ordering. Takes them about a week from ordering day to shipping. Don't waist your money folks. I'm surprised Barnes does this. I thought they are more honest. They didn't refund the shipping cost of course. Stinky customer service…. Eewwwww…. I hope you get really really reach with that $15.48 in your pocket.

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Thumbnail of user audreyf271
1 review
1 helpful vote
September 16th, 2023
Verified purchase

Barnes & Noble has significantly gone downhill.

As a grad student, I've used them since 2014 to order my textbooks, but in the last year or so, my books show up later than what's promised on their website. They have several shipping options like: free, standard (arrives in 6-8 days); $8.99, express (arrives in 2-3 days), and $15.48, expedited (arrives 1-2 days). The first time I ordered from them, I chose standard and my book arrives about a month late. The second time I ordered from them, I chose standard & the book never arrived. I kept checking the order tracking & it showed it was in a town about 20 miles from me, so I kept waiting. I eventually contacted B&N support and they told me the book was lost, nothing they could do.

The most recent time I ordered from them, I ordered the book on Tuesday, 9/12 and paid for expedited shipping, expecting it to come Thursday or Friday. By Saturday, the book hadn't arrived, so I contacted customer support who told me it takes about 7 days for their processing center to even process the order and that I could expect it October 5 -- over 3 weeks after I put in the order. It's extremely misleading to have it in checkout that if you order a book using expedited shipping, it'll arrive in 1-2 business days and to charge over $15 for that shipping if the book is going to arrive 3 weeks later.

TLDR Shipping is an absolute mess, shows up much later than advertised. This is why B&N is losing business to Amazon.

Shipping
Thumbnail of user sw848
1 review
0 helpful votes
July 21st, 2023

They do nothing to assist with an obviously lost package until after the arbitrary "expected delivery date" has passed. I will buy elsewhere in the future.

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Thumbnail of user sharonc2363
1 review
0 helpful votes
January 12th, 2023

Found item for 10 cheaper at Walmart. They refused to price match. Will not order from them again. Have not even received it yet. Shipping takes too long also.

Service
Shipping

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Barnes & Noble? ۪s online bookstore for books, NOOK ebooks & magazines. Shop music, movies, toys & games, too. FREE shipping on $25 or more!

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2.8
164 reviews
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