Pegasus Books

Nooo.
why is it that the other Pegasus has good old relabel spotty service that i can handle but this one doesn’t!
ok first of all no one helped me as i was looking for my book so as a curtisy to them i decided since im going to wait in this long line i might as well buy something. having to listen to this woman run her mouth i was like «oh gawd» fist it was gay partenrs now its medical marijuana!
i would never have that conversation in front of a child regardless to who brought that up that is in-​decent.
then when i asked her about the book i was looking for she said she never heard of leah remini and said «who is she» keeping a straight face i said she has a book about «then she cuts me off and says we dont carry those kind of books they dont sale very well.
what a dummy who would own a book store that doesnt sell «those kinds of books»
i also noticed a lot of people bring their animals in this store… um i like animals and all but rules are rules for a reason like it wasnt just one person a lot of people came in their with dogs so if you dont like animals this isnt a good place to go.
they have a good selection however id say not to go here looking for a specific book and just mosey around and get lucky with a unique book
but im sorry this womans conversation wa just all around the board in-​appropriate

Always find some good used books here, like supporting smaller bookstores.

Nice, spacious, mellow environment. I found the book I wanted for about half price and was able to wrap a gift I bought at their free do it yourself gift wrapping table! Places like this are why I haven’t been to Barnes and Noble in many, many years.

This is pretty much what you’d expect from a local and slightly offbeat bookstore. From one who enjoys a mainstream, chick lit, guilty read once in awhile, this is not the place to go. I have also both sold and bought books from here and this is a review on both.
Pros:
–excellent location, next door to coffee/​ice cream
–open late, 7 days a week
–usually plentiful parking, but metered on weekday business hours
Cons:
–limited selection: lots of «spiritual enlightenment» and philosophical stuff, but as mentioned, I do enjoy a chick flick once in a while. Do they have any? Almost never. They don’t even have a romance section!
–with the above in mind, the general atmosphere of the place is a little «I’m a hipster and I’m obviously too cool for you», felt judged when I asked for a book recommendation for light hearted happy reading and was referred to a novel centered around a young girl who was considering suicide (hmm… ok?)
–picky buyers: along the same lines, Pegasus leans towards «deep» «smart» books and tends to be very selective with what they buy. I’ve been to another used bookstore on Shattuck and they are much friendlier and broad with regards to types of books they buy. With that said, however, Pegasus does give you more $ for what you sell.
As a conclusion, I probably will return for my more serious book buying and selling but it is not the place to go if you’re looking for fun reads. Their attitude and selection could definitely use a some broadening and lightening up– smart people sometimes want to read fun, un-​smart books you know.

The staff is odd and unhelpful. I agree with other reviewers that the staff needs improving. They just stand at the counter and gab with each other. They have no customer service skills. No thank you no hello. no can we help you find something. Pretty pathetic.

As I live in North Berkeley I try my best to shop local and support businesses in my vicinity. However, there is a reason why corporate businesses like Barnes & Noble have expended and become the industry behemoths they are today. Obviously it should be no secret that «Service» is at the forefront of their success.
I decided to go shopping for travel guides at «Pegasus Fine Books» yesterday Saturday, March 7^th. However, the unnerving actions of the staff on duty quickly decimated my gracious sentiment to purchase the guides locally. The young man who wears eyeglasses at the counter walked right in front of me twice as I was in a focused search for travel guides for London & Edinburgh without even acknowledging my partner and I. I was not bothered by the fact that he didn’t offer to assist. I was vastly irritated by his massive lack of manners. This bloke walked right passed me without saying «excuse me sir, may I get through» and cut me off twice. To make it worst I uttered a few words out of irritation and he just looked at me and didn’t even acknowledge what he had just done.
At which point my partner and I decided it was time to go elsewhere. We didn’t have time to deal with these so called «hipsters» who seem to think their intellect exempts them from common courtesy and customer service.
We went to Barnes & Noble a corporate chain and the staff there were more than willing to assist us and provided the top notch service that we the «consumers» deserve when a retailer seeks our business.
To the business owner, please note I run an effective business and I would never hire staff members who don’t posses at least common courtesy. I would hate to spread the word any further as I am member of this community.

The group was here for a reading out loud story telling night, which is only suitable for adults due to the content of the material being read. Champange was available that evening, I chose not to have any since I don’t drink alcohol.
They have a wide variety, and selection of books and calendars to purchase. Some people in our group by some items, it looks like they made fine selections.

It’s really just an average used bookstore and their prices on their used books have been going up steadily for the past few years. Sometimes it’s just cheaper to order from Amazon and get a new book for a few bucks more.
I agree with other reviews that the staff needs a good talking to as they would apparently would rather talk with each other than help a paying customer. Whatever you do, never bring your good used books here. The money they give you for them is a joke: they have no problem charging someone $ 20 – 25 for a book they paid you about $ 1 – 2 for. The short guy who evaluates the books is a real surly, arrogant individual. I get much better service and selections at the Rockridge Pegasus and Half-​Price in Berkeley.
As another reviewer mentioned, they need to tone down the overly loud music. It’s hard to scan books with some racket coming out of their speakers.

My favorite bookstore. Always worth stopping in. Never lacking in ideas and inspiration. They even buy some of my books sometimes (the rare ones that I haven’t ruined with coffee stains… gah!)
Staff always pampers my dogs with treats. Great vibes and I’ve always enjoyed book readings here. Love that they’re open late!

They had a beautiful out house calendar. What more could you ask for?
Vintage pulp fiction for $ 3? Yes please.

I love bookstores and can spend endless hours if I could. I read on a recent article that they are known for their huge calendar sale in January, so when I happen to be in the neighborhood and saw this place, I had to grab one. Such a wide selection of calendars that it was so hard for me to decide which one to get. What’s a girl to do with multiple calendars?! The calendars were $ 3.99 each or 3 for $ 10. I ended up narrowing it down then paid for it before I change my mind. Pretty cool selections and the woman who helped us was friendly.

Worst experience selling books ever. The older gentleman with glasses didn’t even take my books out of the bag or look under the top two layers of books in the box before he said: Yeah, I’m done. There’s nothing here we can use. We don’t buy computer books.
Well, sir, only half of the books in the box were computer books! Even a few in those top two layers weren’t computer books and there were no computer books in the bag. Sheesh. Anyway, maybe he was having a bad day (hence I’m giving two stars instead of just one)
I’ve bought a book here once, and they were also fairly short with me. Such a difference from the downtown and Oakland branches. If you are hoping to sell some books, try those branches first. They might give your stuff a fair shot.

The music is always too loud here. Why do the employees/​management think that’s a hospitable business environment for a bookstore?
Anyway the staff is really nice and it’s nice to support the local guys.

Affordable discounted books in like new condition I mainly searched the children’s section and found some good used books as well as some brand new ones (at full price).
Another star for the really cool selection of cards I always enjoy a unique card and they had plenty of them.
I will definitely be back.

For some reason, the attitude toward customers has always sucked at this bookstore. I don’t know why. Owner?
They honestly act as if they could take or leave your business. After being told I could not combine a coupon with store credit (?!) no reason given, the employee proceeded to clear out the cash register while I stood waiting to pay. After 5 min of standing waiting, I had to ask if I could pay. This is NOT an isolated incident. I’ve been shopping here for as long as the store has been here. Lately, I try to buy locally rather than order everything on Amazon. But think I may just stop shopping here. It’s demeaning to be treated this way when I’m trying to support their business. I’ve never had to write a review like this for a local business. It’s a sad statement about modern ‘customer service’.

I like ordering my books online and just having my hubby go by and pick them up. I am not fond of going into the book store itself and having to look through the titles because it is always packed and the books are somewhat out of order. Like some already mentioned, you always feel like you’re bothering the clerks by asking them for a specific title or author, so like I said I save myself the trouble and just order them online!
Once they have the books ready an actual person will call to let you know whether they’re all ready or just some of them. They will then follow up with another phone call when your other books arrive. Pretty convenient.

I don’t know about you, but I am sick and tired of having to manage hipster bookstore clerks who can’t seem to summon the energy to assist me– let alone simply and succinctly communicate with me — when I am in need of assistance.
I realized yesterday, after a couple of years of regular service, that I am sick and tired of feeling like I’m bothering the people who work here by asking them — as politely as I can, which I think is pretty polite — to do their jobs.
For the record, I stopped at both the Albany and Berkeley Pegasus stores on Monday, December 9^th, in search of one specific title. After looking for the book myself, I went ahead and decided to risk asking someone behind the counter. I approached said counters and asked if they carried the specific title — I gave them the title and the author — to which I was responded with a grunt and a few mumbles and an overwhelming sense that a) whatever it is that I was looking for they knew all about already and why the hell would I want to read that, and b) I was really putting them out by asking.
Again: I realized yesterday that I don’t really have to put up with this. As much as I’d like to support «local» business, I think I’ll just cut to the chase and start going to ½ Price Books, where at least they’re nice. Oh, and can — as I tell my two year old on a daily basis — «use their words.»
Thumbs down, Pegasus. I’m out.
P. S. I’ve copy/​pasted this verbatim for the Downtown Berkeley store.

Pegasus is the closest bookstore to my home. Ironically, I hardly ever purchase books here because not once have I found a title I was specifically looking for. I’ve certainly stumbled upon some great finds, mostly used books in mint condition but generally, my quirky and insanely particular taste in reading material requires me to go online. :(
I mostly come for my monthly magazine haul. I have to give them props because their music magazine section has most of what I look for, not just Rolling Stone. They stock Q Magazine, American Songwriter, Sound on Sound, Mojo, etc. All that good stuff you can’t swoop up at the pharmacy. I’d much rather buy support an independent shop than go over to Barnes and Nobles.
Aside from books both new and old, they’ve got discounted CDs and DVDs in addition to comic books and a humble selection of postcards. The customer service is perfectly fine. If you’re the type who expects someone to come over and ask if they can help you find something, I can’t say I’ve ever experienced that here but they ring you up quickly and politely.
The calendar sale is the best reason to drop in. There’s definitely something for everyone, ranging from Mapplethorpe flowers to smiling cats wearing dumb outfits. I always manage stumble in here with a raging hangover on January 1^st and get some ridiculous calendar I regret having to look at for the rest of the year.

The Mother and I did some spring cleaning. Much to my surprise, The Mother wanted to try her hand at selling some books. We contacted Pegasus Books and one of its competitors. We decided Pegasus Books offered the best deal. Call for details regarding their buying books. I will say that The Mother and I were quite pleased with what Pegasus Books was willing to buy from us. If your books are in excellent condition, give Pegasus Books a chance to buy them from you.
Fresh Review Number #37 of 100 Unilocal!for 2013.

While I did not find what I was looking for when I came in to this bookstore I did find a lot of other things that appealed to me. Top on the list is that it is locally owned. They do offer a card that they record your purchases on it, and when you reach a total of $ 200 you get $ 10 off your next purchase.
They have a large selection of new and used books. They also have a nice selection of magazines, just not any that I was looking for. I guess I might have to subscribe to some of the ones I want to read