Planet Books

This post is meant to be more of an informational FYI than an actual review. I enjoy book stores but this place is not some place I’d return to. The books are indeed organized but the selection seemed a bit random. I asked the guy if they bought books and he gave me some snarky remark about only if my book was signed by the author and vented about how the economy was bad and how he’s in the hole on his rent for the place. I just asked a question. I didn’t need a pity party. And he told me to ask «James» because he buys books all the time. He also looked dirty and unkempt.
For all those who hate spiders: there is a tarantula in a glass case in the store. Yuck.

AVOID THIS PLACE AND ITS OFFENSIVE CRAZY OWNER AT ALL COSTS.
«I waste 15K in this place a year, I don’t care if I have customers!» is what the owner of this place screamed at me before kicking me out because I used the public restroom without asking him. Mind you, there wasn’t anybody at the front desk when I was l looking for the bathroom, and I had been browsing for books with every intent of purchasing some.

What a cool spot! I found a book that they listed online (a signed copy) and stopped by to see if they had it, and they did. They gave me a great price for it and were very helpful, directing me to another section with similar books.
The selection is wide and interesting, and the staff were very friendly and funny. Even while I was just stopping in, multiple locals came by and they all knew each other by name.
Be sure to stop by if you’re looking for cool books in Long Beach!

Funny that someone gave this place a negative review for having old books rather than a contemporary selection. If one wants more «contemporary» than their decent selection, go to a thrift store or god forbid, a Barnes & Noble.
For me, the only reason this place gets four stars is because of it’s vintage selection. I’d steer clear of the weathered mid-​20^th century pulp and mass published novels up front, as the sun has damaged them so badly they may turn to dust the moment you crack the spine, but otherwise, the selection is pretty good (old and otherwise) and they have cool vintage miscellanea scattered about (like these awesome and cheaply priced antique MLB pennants last time I stopped in).
I don’t go out of my way to visit this shop but it’s worth popping in if I’m in the area.

Stumbled upon this place while getting my car windows tinted across the street. Probably not the best place to go on a hot summer day (no a/​c though they did have fans) but I will definitely be back.
Cheap paperback books from $ 1 and fairly organized. Noticed most of the literary classics were on the stands against the window and they had an overwhelmingly large selection of science fiction, if that’s your thing. Yes most of the books here have yellowed pages but that’s the charm of used books — knowing that somebody else got to enjoy them beforehand.
The two guys behind the counter did banter a bit but I found it entertaining. Nice guys when it came time to make a purchase.

Great selection of books, but be prepared to wander and search through piles of miscellaneous if you are looking for anything in particular. The guys behind the counter are kind of vulgar sometimes– if you are easily offended– beware.

One of my absolute favorite book stores ever. I love book stores where you are forced to dig. I have found sooo many amazing books here. I miss it dearly. Hands-​down favorite book store in Long Beach.
Side Note (and safety tip): One time when I was exiting Planet Books, I got plowed into by a bicyclist who was riding on the sidewalk. I was okay, but the person who crashed into me was straight shook! I had to calm him down! I gave him a cigarette, talked gently and assured him everything was fine. Dude was, like, PTSD after that, «that» being HIM hitting ME with HIS bike! So make sure to look both ways before exiting Planet Books!

Good selection of books for good prices, but I left before purchasing. While browsing, I overheard a really nasty conversation between the two men at the counter that turned into a yelling match. For a minute I thought maybe they were just goofing around, but the argument escalated to the point where the guys were screaming obscenities at each other. I didn’t want to hide in the back corners of the store anymore, so I dropped my pile of books and left the store. Maybe this was just an isolated incident, but it was truly one of the oddest, and worst, experiences I’ve had in any store.

Great bookstore. It’s like a museum inside!

Yuck! Books look to be from the 60’s with very few contemporary books. One guy sleeping and one who did not want to be bothered

I had been underwhelmed by several of the other used bookstores in Long Beach, but I found more than a few books that I was looking for here, and for CHEAP!
If you collect mass market paperbacks, most of them are $ 1 here — the price is right!
Trade paperbacks run about $ 5 — not bad, right? I would have never found a copy of Pynchons’ Gravity’s Rainbow for $ 5 in Los Angeles. I was able to fill in a lot of gaps in my John D. MacDonald Collection for $ 1 each, elsewhere I have paid from $ 3 to $ 8 for the same editions!
Used bookstores almost by default are dusty and a little disorganized — that is when I know I am probably gonna find a little gem or two for myself… and this is that kind of place! The guys who run this store are very kind, very helpful and very reasonable with their prices. If you think something here is overpriced, you probably don’t know much about the collectible side of books — as a «for instance» $ 45 for a first edition Philip K. Dick (Transmigration Of Timothy Archer) is more than reasonable!
Sci-​fi people should definitely check this place out, as that is one of their specialties.

James was so nice. So helpful and friendly. A nice contrast to some of the other used book stores I’ve been to in the area.

I love Planet Books! Great, unique collection and great prices. I have had many great interactions with the owner and he has helped me find a number of books. I am not a big Unilocal-​writer but I have to give a huge shout out to Planet Books.

Dust? Disorganization? In a used book store??? I am shocked! To those people who are distressed by Planet Book’s dust and shabbiness, «get thee to a Barnes and Noble.» Used bookstores are supposed to be dim, cluttered and disorganized. The charm of a good used book shop is that you will find a wonderful book you never knew you wanted. By that measure, Planet Books is terrific. Lots of paperback mysteries, sci fi/​fantasy and novels …‘but also lots of serious books, art coffee table books and author signed books. My kind of place.

Planet Books has a great selection of books and the prices are decent to boot! The owner, James, is very nice and helpful. Most of the books are used, but are in very good condition. The prices are negotiable and the more you buy, the more the owner will offer bundle prices. One star docked for the hours as it’s only open during the early afternoon. It would be nice to see it open in the morning on the weekends and the evenings during the week. Another start docked, as there’s an odd musty smell to the place. Overall, a very nice bookstore and I will definitely be returning!

Planet Books is exactly what I look for from a used bookstore. Excellent and diverse selection, including lots of hidden treasures. I specifically found lots of great fantasy/​sci-​fi paperbacks and some excellent children’s books. The store is also run by a knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful owner. Ridiculously good prices and deals. I’ll be coming back whenever I’m back in the area.

Dust. Dust. Dust. Cat Hair.
This is the dustiest used book store I have ever seen. I actually did not want to touch the books they were so filthy. There is an area in the back that looks like they take books that need fixing and just chuck them in a corner. There are piles of books everywhere, but not in a good way. The store seems very unorganized and good luck trying to find a used book that has been used since 1975. It looks like someone garage that hasn’t been opened in 30 years.
This store feels like the owners have no pride in what they do.

im not an avid book reader nor the idea of reading anything pops into my mind as something i would rarely approach with a happy and enthusiastic face… but once in a while i like to contradict my own character and has found myself liking a select handpicked books which very much intrigued me leading to the point of buying it for myself to *gasp* READ… but as with everything else these days, i like to find the lowest prices available and with my scavenging around town, i saw planet books which not only sold books but also some of my textbooks i needed for school was there for the picking! OMG! have i met my bookstore? ofcourse i could always purchase my books here and read it in the nearest barnes and noble which i have done!
in all, planet book i hereby call thee my bookstore!

A great independent book store. Ridiculously cheap (so much so I worry about if they’ll be able to stay in business!), and such a wide variety of books. It’s always fun to look around and see books you never thought existed.
The place is packed with books all over the place, and a few cats which gives it an authentic book seller’s atmosphere.
If you’ve got 20 minutes and you still read books, you should definitely invest.

What a fun place to visit!
I’d driven past Planet Books a billion times, but decided it was high time I visited. The sheer volume of books is overwhelming; they’re on shelves, they’re piled on counters, they’re everywhere, accompanied by that nice dusty book smell. It’s very nice that they’re ordered alphabetically so you don’t have to spend forever looking for a particular book, and many are newer editions in good shape. The books are watched over by a rather vocal cat.
I must admit, what drew my attention was the box of old black-​and-​white photos and postcards, often dated on the back. Who were the people? What were they doing? Why were they so happy, or unhappy? I was tempted to ask about the framed set of maybe half a dozen women, looked like it was from the 20s or 30s, but convinced myself not to spend that money.
The definite, unquestionable highlight of the store was the sixty-​something men at the counter playing poker, talking to customers, and just generally being a hoot — that’s the only way I can describe them. They were kind and friendly and funny and asked about my life and encouraged me to go to med school, which I really don’t have much interest in, but they wanted to see me succeed, despite our meeting only ten minutes prior. We chatted for a while until the guy who knew about the photos returned; «Give her a good deal,» the poker players urged him, and for a paperback book and a handful or old photos (which would’ve guaranteed been more expensive at a flea market), I was quoted six bucks. Sold! While I hadn’t originally intended to buy, just to browse, well, I couldn’t resist.
As soon as I finish the pile of books I bought before visiting, I’m heading right back.