- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Book-Off
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
21712 Hawthorne BlvdDel Amo Mall
Torrance, CA 90503
Neighborhood: Torrance
(310) 214-4800
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for Book-Off
Review Highlights
-
"They also sells cds, games, and dvds." In 10 reviews -
"All items are recycled, but kept in good condition." In 4 reviews -
"Great selection of kids books too." In 3 reviews
Loading...
29 reviews in English
-
Review from Ruben M.
Carson, CA
3/30/2012
Usually find the best of everything and at unbelievable prices!
Twilight zone, that girl, zatchbell, etc. amazing book collection! Superb video game selection and electronics!
Plus the cute, nice and animated workers don't make it any worse :) -
Review from Ellen N.
Torrance, CA
3/15/2012
It was better when it was still in the Rolling Hills Plaza.
When they just opened this at the Del Amo mall, I was thinking... "Great! It's much closer to me now and maybe they'll have more varieties of Japanese manga I can read and buy!"
Nope.
This store has only English materials and has greatly disappointed me because now, I have to drive all the way to the Gardena Book Off to get myself some mangas and Japanese books :'(
But it's for the best. Everyone else can save up on English books and I'm pretty sure there are more English readers than there are Japanese so they'd be able to make more out of it.
They also have used DVDs and CDs for cheap so you might be able to find a few movies there and save some money by purchasing it from there :) -
Review from Stoofanie R.
Torrance, CA
2/15/2012 26 Check-ins Here
[+1] Great place for browsing but keep in mind that this isn't a Japanese Book-Off. It's pretty much English material.
[+1] $1 books make me scream for joy and their selection is pretty good. Looks like people get rid of all kinds of books here. Was able to pick up a 2nd copy of Harry Potter books here so I can keep them in my car.
[+1] Convenient way to get rid of books you don't want to donate. I still think donating books seems more worthwhile than selling books for less than a dollar. But you sell it at a -CONVENIENCE-. And to all the people whining that they rip you off, if you don't like it, go somewhere else that will pay you better then. If some other place will give you more why would you even accept the cash here? There's Craig's List, Amoeba, Amazon, eBay, Facebook Marketplace.. on and on.. Sometimes I wonder at the logic of some people. ;)
[+1] They're a bit picky of the condition of the books they take in and I'm glad of it because the stuff I pick up usually look new.
[+1] Great place to browse while you're waiting for a movie time or if you're waiting for your mommy/sister to finish their boring bra shopping @_@;; -
Review from Linda T.
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yay, for an economically friendly store! I just went yesterday and bought 3 books for a dollar each, Brain Power, Baby Laughs, and STori Telling. I also bought Lost in Translation for $3. They had some N. Sparks paperbacks in good condition for $5, and many English books from Shakespeare to Norton literature anthologies. It would be a good place for high school and college students to look for cheap books for their classes, and sell books they don't want anymore.
The store was pretty full, but it was nice and organized, which I appreciated (I hate when shopping at bargain stores, like Ross, means shifting through disorganized chaos) and the staff was very friendly. I left spending a little over 6 bucks for 3 bucks and a movie dvd, I was extremely pleased. -
Review from Jake S.
Torrance, CA
3/24/2012
Amazing. I bought an Atari 2600 and the original Super Mario here, and it was flawless. They bought my DSi for nearly twice as much as Gamestop, not to mention it was in cash. Nice people and fun to look around in.
-
Review from Andy P.
8/16/2011
Pros: Merchandise are cheap, great condition, clean store, friendly staff, organized.
Cons: Limited selection -
Review from Jennifer J.
Torrance, CA
4/28/2011
This is the quintessential independent bookstore.
This isn't a store for a random assortment of yellowed, dated books you buy to make yourself seem more interesting.
This isn't a store you go for Amazon-like slashed prices for your new books that you will pile onto a shelf and never read.
Truthfully, it doesn't appear to be a store for Best Sellers, either.
This is a smart bookstore for the people. You will find something you WANT to read in here. I love this place and anytime I am here, I will more than gladly pick up a read to support this business. -
Review from Vittoria L.
San Pedro, CA
6/27/2011
Book-off!! Super cheap books, CDs, DVDs, games, and more! They have a good selection of fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, sci-fiction, and manga. Most are in very good condition too!
It's a pretty decent place to sell stuff that you no longer want. I had a bunch of old CDs to get rid of, some DVDs, and a few books that weren't selling online. After evaluating my items, I got:
CDs = 50 cents
DVDs = $1
Books that were worth $30 = $2
So about $17 for my junk. Not bad.
I would definitely check this place out before going to a regular bookstore. The prices really can't be beat. -
Review from Erin N.
12/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
DVDS, CDS & BOOKS-- new and used.
for cheap! there is even a dollar section. as an elementary school teacher this is definitely the spot for me to find some new books and not go over my budget! if you have some time on your hands, check this place out before heading to your usual bookstore-- it might save you some moolah! ;] -
Review from celeste t.
Fontana, CA
1/2/2012
I have never been to this store and not come out with at least one thing I was actually looking for. I love the $1 section. I always find the series I'm reading in there. The employees I've encountered so far are polite and that's always a good thing.
-
Review from Sharon K.
Rosemead, CA
12/26/2010
Great selection on different types of books from fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, sci-fiction, etc. They have different sections ranges from price. $2 to $5 and they have a few sections with the newer books that cost a bit more $7-$10. (But hey, it beats paying full price at Borders)
They also sells cds, games, and dvds. Oh, if your looking for a place to sell your stuff (books, games, dvds, and cds) They also do buy back.
But your bound to find a good deal, if you take the time to look. I found a book that was still in good condition, only for a $1. -
Review from Celeste E.
North Hollywood, CA
6/20/2011
It's not fair to call this place a Book-Off. And nowhere on the website or chain flyers does it state that this store doesn't carry Japanese texts. Such a disappointment.
If you're looking for used ENGLISH books, go here. Otherwise, go to the Gardena location. -
Review from Jennifer S.
Carson, CA
11/21/2011
If you are looking for used books/DVDs/CDs, etc Book-Off is the best place!!! The price is super cheap. Last time I bought book (not paperback story books) last time and they were $7 or $9 per book. The quality is really good considering they are used. Book-Off carry a lot selections of everything. If you ever go to the store looking for a specific book and they don't have it, they will most likely have something similar to the genre of that specific book you're looking for. I see Book-Off as a mini library. Overall I loved it!!!... btw I am kind of a nerd so i get excited when there is a second hand book store :P
-
Review from Mariam Z.
Torrance, CA
9/1/2010 3 photos
Yesterday, I just walked in for the first time, and was impressed with this second hand bookstore. All items are recycled, but kept in good condition. Most everything is cheap compared to the Borders or Barnes and Noble next to the Mall, priced from $1 and up.
My husband found a new book he just bought for $15 up the street, but sold at Book-Off for $5. So it is possible to find what you want, cheaper sometimes.
They have a great selection of secondhand dvd's, cd, video games and even a Wii or PS3.
I think the inconvenience of the store is the location. It's a small place that houses a variety Manga, comics, educational books, and media entertainment. Searching for what you want or even looking around could be overwhelming. One good thing, is It being in the mall. It gets a lot of walk through traffic, but we didn't even know it was there until we stumbled upon it. -
Review from Justin P.
Merit-Carson, CA
11/15/2010
Wait, so you're saying it's a used bookstore AND it's well kept and easy to search through!? You mean they DON'T just throw everything in a pile under a vague genre header? It sounded too good to be true.
Book prices range from 1 to 5 dollars, and it has a lot of the fodder that you find at other used book stores, but more than a lot of good books, too. In addition, it carries games and music and DVDs and comics, which are priced cheaper than their retail counterpart, but their selection isn't as wide as the books. You'll see the last 5 years of Madden but not a wide variety of old games. It also seems they don't know how much to charge for comics - ancient comics that would be 25 cents at comic shops are at $1, and some are even clearly labeled "free comic book day" - meaning whoever sold it to them, didn't pay for it. I've even seen a program from San Diego Comic Con being sold there.
Go here for books and games released in the last year. You might get lucky with their random assortment of DVDs and music too, but the books are the star here. Also, selling. They pay good money. -
Review from TWOdMa X.
Torrance, CA
9/21/2010
When I first heard Book Off was going to be in the Del Amo mall, I was thinking 'epic failure'. Parking is going to be a hassle, the anime and japanese books are limited to a certain type of clientele..etc
But the marketer's did their research and found a location in Del Amo where parking isn't too bad. You can park on the Joanne's side and walk through with no problems.
The feel here is more like a secondhand Borders, but they didn't have used magazines. If you're looking for anime and japanese books, you'll need to go to Gardena or the other Torrance location.
I'm not a gamer, but they have a good selection of used gaming consoles and games.
What would have been nice is a little seating area to browse through a book with a cup of coffee, but 'hey' that's what Borders is for. -
Review from X S.
Torrance, CA
10/1/2011
Dropped by Book Off randomly today and we're quite impressed! We picked up 12 board books for the little man for about $1-$3 each. I scored 3 books for myself for about $18. The books are in great condition, some look brand new (no creasing on the binds etc.). The store was clean, organized, and the staff was friendly (and there were quite a few working today). I definitely will come back and spend more time browsing the shelves as I didn't even have a chance to make my way to the Fiction section! Oh, be sure to check the drawers below the shelves, there are even more books in there!
-
Review from Quisha H.
12/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
WHAT an awesome find while Christmas shopping yesterday!!!
began browsing the DVD selection, I think you can find movies just as cheap or cheaper other places.
The real find is in the book section. Lots of $1 and $5 books. Some more popular titles/authors and pretty organized, atleast alphabetically so you don't feel like you're on a wild goose chase like most bargain book stores.
Also noticed they sell discount game systems (PS3 Xbox360 etc.) though I'm not sure that they offer a guarantee with those. -
Review from Jennifer T.
Anaheim, CA
1/15/2011
It's okay but the manga section sucks here try the one a westminster mall for manga.. but the dvds here are nice.. especially the anime.. I'm giving it 3 stars just because I love book off but I'm never going to this location again...because I perfer the other one..
I did find a cardcaptors dvd number 7 used.. it was 7 dollars. -
Review from Debbie E.
10/26/2010
I find the selection at Book Off overall very good, the quality very good, and the prices moderate.
Books - good selection, separated fiction from nonfiction and 'sale' ones in a different section. I think the pricing is high on many of the books, especially the fiction. Many of them you can get cheaper on eBay including shipping. I did find a fairly recent new fiction release for only $5. An aisle of children's books, too.
DVDs - Mainly DVDs, limited Blue Ray. Prices are all over the place and if you're looking for a specific title, look in different locations. Separated by title and category. Most are $5+ but some are $3. Decent selection of TV series and Manga. The Disney movies are typically $7-$10 each.
Games - an entire aisle of them but have not browsed.
Store is fairly crowded in the evenings and weekends however I don't see too many people buying. I see some people selling books back, but when I brought some books in to sell they were offering 10 cents to 50 cents for paperback and hardback that were read only once. I get a better return off of my taxes by donating to the library. But everyone else - please keep selling there so I continue to have a good selection for when I browse! -
Review from Matthew J.
Palos Verdes, CA
9/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
I have been trying to find a place to sell back movies and cds since the local wherehouse closed. Book Off is great. Good prices (for selling and buying). I even sold back my used Playstation.
Looks like I may be frequenting this place a little more often. -
Review from A.J. M.
Fremont, CA
11/19/2010
Nice little store. It's very well kept, organized and clean! The DVD selection is great and I like how they sell games and consoles along with books, mangas and CD's. The prices vary from a steal to somewhat overpriced. If you're willing to dig around, you'll most likely find something good. Overall, the staff is friendly, but of course there's the occasional grump that makes the experience less enjoyable.. Nobody ever really asks if you need help, but it's not too hard to find an employee if you have a question. The location is pretty good in terms of parking. It's in the part of the mall where there's not as much traffic. Easy to get in and out.
With bookstores everywhere disappearing, Book-Off is a nice one to go to. -
Review from Jonathan H.
San Pedro, CA
2/20/2011
I have sold DVD's and such back to Amoeba before and received a fair price, so I figured all stores operated the same way. Man was I wrong. I took a bunch of DVD's and Blu-Ray discs in to sell, and was pretty offended by the extremely low ball price I was given. For a new unopened Blu-Ray of Toy Story 3, I was offered an amazing $5 while they were selling used copies for $19. I understand making a profit and such, but come on give me a break.
Also, I had 3 or 4 seasons of TV shows on DVD (Entourage, NUMB3RS, My Name Is Earl etc) and the most I was offered for one season of these was $10 and that was unopened. I looked at the store and the prices did not seem to be that much better than what one could find online.
Lastly, I sold some books and I could not be given an exact answer on the different conditions and why they were low balling so much for hard cover books. I can understand for paperback, but you know when you pay 15 bucks for a hard cover book and they offer you $1.50 and they sell them for $10 they are gouging the customer a little bit.
I will not be back to this store just on the principle of what they are doing. They make you wait to get gouged and ripped off. -
Review from Eugi H.
5/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love used books stores, and this place has a wonderful ORGANIZED selection! I used to go up to Burbank and there are a couple of used book stores there, as well as a 'rare' used books store near my apt, but they are always such a mess to comb through! It gives me a headache and I never make it more than halfway through. This place is great! They've got tons of stuff to choose from, and everything is well organized and clearly marked in sections. Instead of digging though piles of random mixes of books, everything in one genre is all on one shelf, etc. Love it! They also have a ton of cheap books, lots of stuff in the $1 or $2 section! And most of the books are still in new condition! Love it!
-
Review from Diana L.
12/29/2010
I wouldn't go to Book Off if I were looking for something specific. But if I just wanted to browse, this would be the place to go. Two of my favorite things--books and DVDs--on the cheap?? I'm SO IN!! I could spend an entire afternoon here and be in total bliss.
-
Review from jess m.
Torrance, CA
10/11/2010
Ripoff is more like it. The claim to pay you cash for books, dvds, etc starting at $1 & up...what a scam. I brought in 115 brand new books & 29 dvds ... then left this store with $68.00.
Ripped off? I'll let you decide, you do the math. -
Review from Jiaqiao S.
San Diego, CA
4/30/2011
Kind of disappointed in this BookOff. First of all it was very difficult to find, as the shopping mall that it was located in had no maps anywhere. And when comparing this BookOff to the one here in San Diego, this one doesn't have any Japanese print books, magazines or anything. This one completely caters to the market that it was intended for, so in this way it is good, which means catered towards the English only market. Not for Japanese speaking/reading customers.
But they will still buy your stuff and then sell it to someone else. Great way to recycle your old books, magazines, videos, cd, dvd's, and movies as well. Great concept! -
Review from Derrick D.
Inglewood, CA
10/1/2010
The DVD selection at this store is insane! Same with CDs and manga. But they are English only. There's nothing Japanese in this store. Sucks. You have to go to the one in Gardena if you want Japanese music/DVDs/books. Still the $3 DVD does damage to my wallet on a consistent basis. So I try not to go in there that often.
-
Review from Holly G.
Redondo Beach, CA
11/20/2010
I was thrilled when I accidentally found this place! Aisles and aisles of used and discounted books, some as low as $1! I meant to just pop in, but spent well over an hour and a half browsing the shelves. They are sorted by catagory, however, whomever shelves them has a very unique sense of what belongs in which catagory. You can be browsing cookbooks and stumble across "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" (a fiction book) or strolling through classic literature and find a copy of "Cybill Disobedience, by Cybill Shepard.". So, you end up spending far more time hoping you find a gem hidden away, and sometimes you do! Not B&N in anyway, but it's a used book lovers delight. Great selection of kids books too. I wasn't impressed with the video game or DVD/Blue-ray prices. You can find cheaper on sale elsewhere. What keeps me from giving a 4 star rating? No returns, not even for the holidays. No place to sit to browse or look through the books and decide what you would like to buy (no returns, you have to be selective), you can find the same book for two different prices, and the employee who helped me tried to charge me $10.00 for a $1 book. But, if you are a book treasure hunter, this is a place for you.
