Category Archives: Birmingham

Birmingham, Book Collecting

#Bham – They Sell Books at The Red Cat

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I had a project-update meeting at The Red Cat coffee house last week and walked out with more than just a good cup of coffee. Down on the bottom shelf of one of the bookcases are… books! Used books at that. Apparently, the owner and employees bring in books, from their personal collections, to sell.

RedCat_bookcase

Hardbacks and textbooks are $5 and mass/trade paperbacks are $2. I’ve had Goldstone’s Used and Rare for quite some time, but have never bought the next two in the series. So I was quite pleased to find a great copy of Slightly Chipped, which I was able to walk out after literally counting out pennies. It’s the kind of serendipitous find that will set your day back upright!

SlightlyChipped

It’s just the one shelf right now, but I am told that turn over is high. So I’ll be checking back to see what’s new.

Also, I want to mention that the Alabama Bloggers group is getting together for lunch this upcoming Friday, August 27 at 11:30a at The Red Cat. If you’re downtown stop by and say “Hi”. If you’ve never been, don’t be shy, this will be my first meeting too.

Birmingham, Bookstore Tourism, Bookstore Travels, Bookstores

Books Etc. – Bookstore PhotoTour

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IMG_00290

*** This store closed in 2017 and the post is being left up as an archive ***

Books Etc. is the latest addition to our chronicling Birmingham-area bookstores. The shop is going on three-years-old and let me tell you, this is my kind of used-bookstore. It’s one of those places that is crammed with books to the point that you just have to meander about, letting serendipity do its thing. But you can also tell that a true book-person is over seeing the store. Most everything is shelved under category signs, which helps when you’re in a hurry.

More photos and details, after the jump.

Continue reading Books Etc. – Bookstore PhotoTour →

Birmingham, Bookstores, News

Books-A-Million Buying Used Books and cd’s

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EDITORIAL UPDATE: Books-A-Million has opened a used-book store called 2nd & Charles, so BAM locations are no longer buying used-books. But you can sell your stuff at 2nd & Charles.

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This is the sign that greets you as soon as you enter the Books-A-Million on Highway 31 in Hoover:

bamm_used

Last week this location started buying used books, cd’s, dvd’s and video games. They only accept used books and such between 11a and 5p and they only pay cash.

I can’t find any information on their website about this new program (which I’m guessing is spurred by the success of their selling “used library books”). But here are the bullet points off of the flyer at the store:

  1. We pay cash for your books, printed or recorded merchandise, and computer games.
  2. We cannot make an offer until we see the merchandise.
  3. Each buy is different and will be evaluated individually.
  4. We will make you an offer based on: a) Supply and Demand b) Condition
  5. No appointment is needed – we buy daily, between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
  6. Sellers must remain in the store until merchandise evaluation is completed.
  7. Sellers under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  8. We may ask to see valid proof of purchase for the items you sell to us.
  9. State and local ordinances regarding buying and selling used merchandise must be observed.
  10. We reserve the right to decline to buy merchandise.
  11. Government-issued identification required on any merchandise sold.

I have no idea if other locations are trying this too or where else this program has been rolled out too. I wonder how many other book sellers will expand their store models in this way?  And I have no idea what the going rate for a used Harry Potter or Steven King book is these days either, but I do have a ton of cd’s I wouldn’t mind unloading, if they’ll take them. Maybe, what… ten cents a piece? Who knows.

So if you have some books or cd’s or dvd’s to sell, take them over and see what they offer. And let us know about your experience. We’d love to know if it’d be worth our while to throw some of our stuff in a grocery sack and head down 31.

Birmingham, Book Collecting, Events, News

Used Booksale, in Birmingham, this Weekend April 23-24

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I was tipped off to the St. Francis of Assisi, Indian Springs event via email from a local Birmingham bookaholic. Here’s the deal for all those in and around Birmingham, AL. It boasts 5,000+ used books that have been donated for this fund-raiser.

1. Friday Night – Preview Sale with Wine and Cheese – 5p-8p – $5 admission :: All hardbacks are $1 and all paperbacks are .50 cents.

2. Saturday – The Book Sale – 9a-4p – Free Admission :: Same price as above, but they have a special “Stuff a Sack” sale planned for 2p-4p which lets you walk out with as many books as you can cram in half a sack for $5 or a full sack for $8.

I have no idea what they’re raising money for, but there is not much that is as fun as cramming as many books into a sack as you can for $8. Though $1 hardbacks comes awfully close.