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Mon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
I LOVE this bookstore for these following reasons:
-it's located in downtown Campbell!
-has a HUGE selection
-knowledgable staff
-AFFORDABLE!!
Also, you can trade in 3 books to get 1 free. Books are usually half off depending on the popularity. They have limited copies on some books though, so I would call ahead of time if you have plans to purchase a certain book. They can also order it for you, but you'd have to pay full price. Anyways, try it out! You can save a ton of money here if you're an avid reader :D
This review should be honestly called the Confessions of a Trashy Reality TV Fan.
It's just horrid how brain-numbing certain channels like VH1 can actually be (Real Chance of Love, Part Deux ring a bell??) In this world where New York is America's sweetheart and the Housewives of Atlanta are considered "real," I'm turning off the drama and putting on my nerd glasses. It's proven that reading can enhance your vocabulary and overall success in school and life. So, I'm calling this place my second home for awhile.
This store is nicely located in downtown Campbell next to eateries and stores. Great selection of books, very cozy interior, and folks that actually know a lot about books. I love it particularly because it relishes my three favorite things:
1) Young Adult Adventure books-- I'm not a Harry Potter fan, but Percy Jackson and the Olympians rocks my world. I'm pretty sure I'm still a middle schooler at heart.
2) Cookbooks-- I don't cook ALL the time, but I sure love looking like I do. They say food is the way to a man's heart, but baking is a sure way to become everyone's best friend. And yes, being popular still matters to me.
3) Old classics-- In the end, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, and Ayn Rand are still the O.G.s of literature. There is a reason why they're called classics. Plus, there is something carrying around Ayn Rand that makes you look like a real smartie.
So forget Barnes or Borders, come support this store!
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My vocabulary hasn't been up to par as of late. I blame it on my new found love for reggae. Now I'm no rastafarian; but I dig the message and the duality expressed within the movement pitting Zion vs. Babylon. Jesus could have been black, right? I'm not going to discredit the belief because there is no solid scientific proof to demerit the assertion. Back to the music: I've been listening to some grassroots reggae, like: Linval Thompson and Trinity, Errol Dunkley, and Sugar Minot. They are gifted and talented artists, but they tend not to completely enunciate their words; so I find myself humming along to the songs wrecklessly like some of those old Bone Thugz 'N Harmony songs. This has reflected on my writing and speaking. We are what our brain eats, right?
After many nights of staring blankly at a list of incomplete reviews and lacking motivation due to an enflared case of writer's block, I figured out my problem: food. I hadn't been feeding my grey matter its daily doseage and it was malnourished. I hadn't read a substantive book in a couple months. Mainly because of the weather, and when Mother Nature turns the heat up, I need to get outside and bask in her effervescence. That was the cause of my intellectual anorexia. However, that is no excuse for slacking. Shame on me.
The Recycle Bookstore in Campbell is golden. Normally, I walk in with a faint idea of what to purchase; then walk out with a bag full of novel's from a wide variety of genres. Prices range from $2.99 and up. If you're a soft cover fan like me, you'll be in heaven. I'm more for what's on the pages than how cosmetically appealing it looks.
My last visit was on Saturday and I bought, "The Canterbury Tales", by Geoffrey Chaucer, and, "Meditations on First Philosophy", by Rene Descartes.
After an afternoon of spent reading at the Orchard Valley Coffee shop right down the street -- boom! -- back in the literary game.
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My wife and I went to a bookstore on our first date, and since then we've always enjoyed visiting the bigger names as well as small, independent stores.
I'm giving this book store 2 stars because of our loves of books in general and our affection for the yellow cat that wanders around.
However, I've received much, much better customer service.
One of the employees I spoke to was helpful but only pointed in the direction of items that we requested. The other I overheard talking back to another couple that had brought in their books to sell. Overall the atmosphere was "Get in, buy your books, and get out." If you expect to survive, especially in this economy, where do you get off treating your customers with such indifference?
I have almost never experienced eye contact, a friendly smile, or a "Have a nice day" at this store. The employees seem more interested in bad mouthing their customers behind their backs rather then helping them with their shopping needs.
My wife and I have also visited the store in San Jose and, despite it being much more disorganized (or an organized chaos), we've often found the help there pleasant.
I don't see how the two stores can possibly be connected with such a drastic difference in attitude. Surely this store is operating at a loss. There was barely anyone in the store when we visited last time. And it's no wonder.
Maybe they should hand the management over to the cat?
Love this store. great place for used books. They have some great hard to find books. Also, many editions I've found are no longer in print. It's like a treasure hunt whenever I'm here. I love that they have a section of the wonderful leather-bound library quality books with the golf edging. I bought a folio quality copy of Walden here at a reasonable prices. They even have a shelf of rarer books. This store does carry some new books that are currently popular. I always stop here for a visit when I'm in Campbell.
Okay, I'll admit it. I give the bookstore itself 3 stars, but they definitely get an extra star for having an awesome store cat, ISBN!
Recycle Bookstore has been in Campbell for as long as I remember, but I didn't really start to shop here until recently. They have a very good selection of used books across a variety of genres. I'm especially impressed by their cookbooks and food-related books. Tonight I found two gently used books by my favorite mystery author, Ruth Rendell, as well as a new (but discounted) copy of Michael Pollan's Botany of Desire.
There were a lot of other books I would have liked to have bought, but I distracted myself by petting ISBN, the resident feline, who had happily crammed himself into a box half his size for a little catnap. You've got to love a bookstore with a cat--especially one named after the International Standard Book Number system.
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I really wanted to like this place. I like to read and I only live two blocks away. I went in today to check the place out and I was underwhelmed.
The store was nice and neat, not something you typically see at a used anything store let alone books or collectibles. I was jazzed when I walked through the door and right there on the counter were a bunch of graphic novels (comic books in a trade paperback format), that was until I saw the prices. I can usually find older graphic novels at comic shops for a MINIMUM of half off and if I search around I can find them in the bargain bins for a few bucks. Here it seemed like the starting price was half off and they went up from there.
I wandered around for about 10 minutes looking for business books. The store doesn't seem to have any kind of rhyme or reason to the way it's laid out and the sections are only identifiable by what seem to be type written pieces of paper at the end of the stacks. I finally approached an employee for some help (a little disappointing since the store was not that busy and I hadn't been greeted or approached in the time that I was there) and was pointed in the right direction.
As I was perusing the selection of books I was again taken aback by the prices. Everything was essentially half off the list price. I'm sorry but half off the list price for books that are not even recent or in high demand seems like a bit much.
And as if to rub salt in the wound of my disappointment I overheard an employee talking on the phone to someone that was obviously interested in selling some books..bottom line was they offer 10% of the list price. So let me get this straight you offer to buy at 10% of list price and sell them for half off of list or more?!?
I understand this is a business but I have owned comic book and collectibles stores in the past and the way it usually works is you buy collections at 10-25% of what your going to sell them for, you sell the high demand stuff for more and the low demand stuff for cost or maybe a few percent over. Having everything out for half off the list price just seems like gouging to me, especially when you can get it off Amazon or Ebay for 75-80% off list price.
Bottom line - Nice store, customer service leaves a little to be desired, and the prices are no bargain. If I was in a pinch and needed a book asap I might check this place out...but I'd probably be more likely to head over to the library on the next block.
The best. THe may not have exactly what you want, but they always have something that you didn't know you wanted.
The Cat is really cool.
Love it. There are times when I am WAY too impatient to order books online and then wait for days just to save a couple of bucks. This place had every book I'd been looking for, used and cheap. I couldn't be happier, and bonus: I'm selling 'em back when I finish!
(As a general rule of penny-pinching, I would go to the library first. But would you believe the book I wanted had 116 holds on it?!? I'm not prepared to wait until next YEAR to get my hands on it.)
I'd definitely prefer to spend my book money to support a local business than giving it to Amazon or Ebay. When I finish the three books I just bought, I'm going to trade them in for come more.
Honestly, I used to hate bookstores. Especially in college. Overwhelmed and frustrated by the sheer number of great works and the little time I had in which to read them, I would often (shameful as it may be) turn to SparkNotes and other such taboo (yet useful) sites.
I've now realized the error in my ways. I missed out on the point of so many lectures by doing what was necessary to bullshit my way to a B in the class. Sometimes even an A...but that's beside the point...
Depressed at having done this, I'm constantly playing catch up. Whenever I see anything by Keats or Byron or Shelley or Chopin I snatch them up. Luckily for me--and my guilty conscience--bookstores like this are here for me.
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I must admit I was sad to see Silver Buckle become a used book store. My past experience with used book stores is stained tatty carpets, dirty walls, harsh florescent lighting, and shoddy shelves so crammed with falling apart paperbacks that you couldn't find anything even if you wanted to. Not the kind of place I like to shop!
While killing some time last Thursday I decided to stop in to affirm my notion that all used book stores are awful graveyards for books. Not only did they throw my preconceived idea back in my face, but they made me a super fan of this store. The atmosphere is warm, hushed and inviting. The shelves are superbly organized and they have a great selection. Around every corner I found a book on my list of to-buys. The prices are at least a few cents off the sticker price for currently popular books, and you can get a great deal on general fiction.
While I'll still probably buy the currently popular books on Amazon for a greater reduced price, this has definitely become my favorite bookstore for browsing and stocking up on my vast reading agenda.
Recycle Bookstore, thanks for giving me faith in used bookstores again.
When in need of inspiration for more writing material, I'm always in need of old and new books to read...best fits my brainstorming when I need ideas to fit into my tiny little head and scribble down lyrical sentences or haikus that I have to...really have to....jot down onto a scratch of paper, napkin, receipt, or type away on microsoft word or whatever. I have a big heart for this place, but I'm sure of it that I have a big heart of loving any recycled bookstores that carry pop culture fiction all the way down to my first childhood book that I love so much! Walking inside and the smell of old pages or new books that haven't been roughly thrown around, I just love it. Not the cat so much....since I'm allergic, but this bookstore I know I can definitely fall back upon and leave happy with one or two books in hand.
They do Buy and Trades during Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11am-5pm. Books that are priced orange tag are 10% off.
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A pleasant find in downtown Campbell. I'm not particularly a big fan of used book stores, mainly because they have little to none bestseller books or have outdated books in very poor condition. This place proved me wrong.
They seem to carry a mix selection of old books and some of the latest. The condition of most of the books is actually pretty good, with many of them looking brand new (they probably are). I was able to find several of the books I've been wanting to read and they were all in excellent conditions. The prices are a relief... very good discounts. And the cat... well, it was cute plus.
I'm thrilled to find out that there is another one, a bigger one, closer to my place. Must check it out some day.
I really enjoyed this place, they have a ridiculous collection of books that I don't think can really find anywhere else other than at a used bookstore. It has that old school, quaint, small town feel. And I think it's great that you can sell and/or trade books also. Though they are extreme selective. Living on a budget but I found a lot of great books that I would love to buy in the future.
a geeky girl like me could totally live in here.
with ISBN.
that makes me a crazy cat lady (with glasses and books). oh holy mother.
The Recycle Bookstore over on the Alameda in San Jose has branched out, and the branch is now almost as big as the original store. They keep up the same quality as the original, and even have a friendly cat there (whom I met snoozing on the counter and accepting adoration from people waiting for service).
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For someone who could easily drop a hundred bucks in a bookstore, this place is a godsend. You can still get those same books, but at a great price.
I love the feel to this bookstore and there is a great selection to choose from. A bookstore cat is always a plus, keep an eye out for ISBN.
The staff is a little bit gruff, but they do know their books and will help you with anything.
Recyle West is convenient to my home, and I can always pop in on a Sunday after getting stuff at the Farmer's Market.
Most recently I was in before Christmas looking for a book for my stepdad. A young man helped me look for specific books my stepdad wanted, and was very pleasant.
I like the selection, and the prices are pretty good. Of course, to me, the written word is priceless so cost isn't really an issue for me.
Great used book selections. I am glad that they've moved to a larger space - more books to browse around!! I get my favorite paper book series here and they always have them in stock and in good shape too. Paperbacks half price from the original. Reading other yelper's reviews, I will try to bring my used book sometimes.
The cute kitty in the store adds a character to this place. It reminds me of the small used book store back home in Japan- the only difference is the cat was an old lady back home. This old lady was always nodding off in mid day at the entrance of the store sitting on a small chair. Something relaxing about books, cat and old lady I guess :)
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i'm so not a fan of reading... seriously. i think my "library" really consists of about 200 cookbooks and a few non-cookbooks. however, i stopped by this store during a blind date, and i was super impressed at the quanity and quality of books here.
they have new books here for cheap, the selection is definitely hit or miss. the used books are abundant. i bought a few used books, i think they were 1.99 or 2.99 a book. what a great deal.
this little treasure is a great place to find bits and pieces that remind you of your school days... i'll be back.
the clerk was super nice and friendly too. the house cat just sat there, which is kinda cool too.
Great prices on books. Surly service. When customers are contributing to your bottom line, the least you could do is thank them.
After a great morning and not-so-great lunch at La Pizzeria in Campbell with a friend, we set about strolling downtown Campbell. I used to have a shop there and so we kind of wanted to stroll down memory lane.
My friend indicated that she goes to this bookstore alot and spends about $50 to $80 each time (today she spent about $30 and said it was a lean day for her). She was not greeted nor thanked.
If you can't be nice and courteous to your customers, get someone else to work the front.
I give it 3 stars for the cat. I really hope there is a better used bookstore in the area because this was sad. I was trying to find a classic, Catcher in the Rye, and they didn't have any Salinger books! Won't be going back. Really bummed because I love used bookstores.
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I love browsing in bookstores!
When they're open, they often (always?) have a shelf of books outside, usually recent bestsellers, etc.--to draw you in...it works for me. There's a bookstore cat, ISBN (gotta love the name), who sometimes sleeps in the front window. Oh, so no dogs allowed inside, keep the door shut, & if you have cat allergies, be careful. Well, if you have lots of allergies in general, a used bookstore is probably not the best place to be going anyway.
They have more recent bestsellers up front, along with chick lit (OK, I admit to reading this at times, ...there goes my intellectual facade). General fiction/literature is along one wall. Mystery/science fiction is along another wall. Those are their largest sections. Various non-fiction is in the middle--science, sociology, history, travel, etc. The small middle room has hobbies--art, crafts, food & cooking, sports, etc. The back room has romance & children's. Hmm...interesting...not sure if I'd want my kids (hypothetical; I don't have any kids) to catch a glimpse of that steamy romance novel cover.
If you bring in your books for them, you can get store credit.
I think the last time I popped in (I happened to be downtown at the farmer's market), I ended up leaving with 3 books, for the price of one!
Located in downtown Campbell, on the north side of Campbell Ave., between First and Second St.
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Edit 2/3/08:
Last time I was in there (1-2 weekends ago), I found out that they were going to be moving soon down the street, I think between First St. & Central.
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Edit 6/2/08:
They have moved and are now located on the northeast corner of First St. & Campbell Ave.
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The only reason I went inside of this store the first time is because of the cat that lives in there, and that is pretty much still the reason. I do always pick up a book or two while there. :)
This is a good recycle bookstore. My son loves books and looks forward to going in there. I think they have a better cookbook section than most new book stores. I've found some incredible cookbooks there! I like that when you trade in they give you a cash option or a higher value trade option. They are my first choice when looking for something to read.
I love RBW! I like the open-ness and the lighting in the new location better, but wish that the organization had remained more organic and straight-forward.
ISBN is the best name for a bookstore cat ever, and he's quite personable with regulars, it seems.
The staff can be a little growly sometimes, which is unfortunate, but they're all quite knowledgeable about their product and what's in stock. They all strike me as well-read, and I've never asked about a book that they didn't have some information/recommendation on.
Keep on rockin, RBW!
The new location is HUUUUUGE ! It's been a long time since I've been to the Alameda store, but I stood in the new location trying to figure out which was bigger. My memory does not serve me well.
I freakin' loooove books. I used to have a BAD book habit (Bookbuyers in Mountain View was partially responsible for that), and despite working in a library, I can still walk into a used book store and find tons of books I want. I almost walked out with two Meg Cabot paperbacks, a book on serial killers, and a Penguin paperback with an interesting cover. Then I remembered my (shameful) library fines, and put them all back.
Seriously, this place is for crackheads. But I rarely find exactly what I'm looking for when I come in; I usually end up leaving with something I wasn't expecting to find.
I love this used bookstore. It is much better than the Alameda location because it is clean and neat. It is a relaxing atmosphere that is perfect for browsing. There is a cat named ISBN who is usually sleeping when I visit. The books are better quality than the other Recycle Bookstore. You are more likely to find a used book of a more recent title here than the other store.
Love this place. I'm a book lover. I have a library of over 1000 books and I'm sure that over 10% are from Recycle.
I come in here just to browse and find myself walking out with 5 books. This happens way too often. I find fascinating books that are out of print that you couldn't find at BN if you wanted to. And the books are from all eras new and old. I think there's something really amazing about living in such a cool area where books like atomic physics and witchcraft share a shelf.
Every employee I've met here has been super cool. ISBN the cat is friendly. The new place next door to the old place is bigger and more relaxed.
Good selection of books though not nearly as big as Recycle Books on The Alameda. Still its fun to go to "historic downtown Campbell" and browse and its MUCH easier to find things in the Campbell shop - very organized.
As for the staff, it depends on who's there as to whether the help is good or (as one poster put it) surly. Buyer David is great, friendly, takes his time, doesn't make you go away while he goes through books brought it for sale. If you get Buyer Stacey, well...welcome to SurlyVille. It seems like she's annoyed that you've brought in books.
Another bookstore with a kitty!
Ok selction, ok prices. But it's the closest to home; so when I need a fix I usually end up here once a week- mostly on Sundays when I go to the Farmer's Market.
Staff is always super nice.
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Is there another set of reviews for this location? Strange... Only one other review?
Anyhoo... It's not that big, but that doesn't mean you won't find something. If anything, they seem to be picky on what they shelve and buy used. They have a list of authors they *need*.
Some of their new books are cheaper than the listed price and of course, their used prices are a good deal.
It's a good place to stand and explore through some lesser known authors. There isn't a good place to sit, otherwise you'll block the aisles, but you can go to at least two great coffee shops around the corner.
And look out for the kitty cat that roams the shop.
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If you're a book fiend and want the instant gratification of trading in books for more books, you need to come here. I'm trying to be better about using the library instead of spending ridiculous amounts of money to buy books I read in one night. This is a good compromise. If you love the book you can keep it but you didn't pay full price. If you need some good trash reading to take on vacation you can find pretty much whatever paperbacks you want here at half price or less of retail.
They have lists on the walls of the books they are especially interested in buying and reading the lists is a good way to learn about new authors. I had never read Jodi Picoult until I saw her name on the want list. Now I'm hooked.
They do have some new books too at a little off retail. We bought the last Harry Potter here because hubby just couldn't wait to get it used. But at least we were supporting an independent bookstore and it was at a slight discount.
The new location down the street should allow a larger selection, and it means that people ARE still buying books! Whoo hoo - check it out.
April 2008 - I've been to the new location now. It's definitely larger - doesn't have the atmosphere of the old place but has room for more stock so that will be good. Also is a much more visible location so should increase their business which is also a good thing.
Support your local independent book store, people!
I found the greatest books here to complete my collection of Stephanie Plum novels...yes, I read in my spare time. Also I found great books to give as gifts. I think I spent about $20 and walked out with 6 great books from The Kite Runner to a cookbook that is suppose to be a gift but I might keep it.
While I can always find one or two books there I do find that the staff can order a book too which is a great service.
Honest selection of books and honest people that's why they get 5 stars.
This store provides a refuge from the weary world. Where else, aside from its sister store on the Alameda in San Jose, do furry feelines with darling names like ISBN (Iz-Ben) roam the aisles and curl up to sleep in the windows?;)
Recycle Bookstore West is a comfy niche bookstore in downtown Campbell. (Look for the bright yellow facing and book-filIed windows). I''ve found some classic hardcovers here as well as paperbacks like "Wicked" for ridiculously good prices. You're never hassled, you're free to peruse historical texts, fiction, and whatever you like for as long as you like. They even buy items back or allow you to trade, although don't expect big bucks for your books.
It's so heartening to find a store that doesn't expect you to shell out ridiculous amounts of money for texts that didn't cost anywhere near that much to print. Visit today!
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Reduce, reuse, recycle! So excited to finally find a local, independent used book store nearby. I spend ridiculous amounts of money on books so its nice to be able to swap some in for new selections. I brought two huge bags of books and they bought back at least half - you get a pretty decent amount back is you use it towards store trade in (I got $58 for store credit and left with 6 new books). No commercial chain bookstore feel here, the atmosphere is intimate and the selection is pretty huge - found tons of books from some of my favorite authors like Paulo Coehlo, Isabelle Allende as well as many recent best sellers. And they have an adorable cat mascot (who was sleeping in the front display window) ...so cute! The bummer is use can't use your store trade in credits towards most of best sellers (that is a random rule and bad way to discourage trade ins). One tip - they won't buy any hardback book that is now available in softcover (unless it is a classic). They also had a great selection of childrens books. Quite a few folks here on yelp compained about the service but I thought they were very helpful - helped me find a few books I wanted (even offered to call the other location when they didn't have it) and gave me tips on the types of books they like to buy and pay the most for.
Note...book buybacks are only Tues-Sat from 11-5 so plan accordingly. I'll definitely be back!
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Hubby loves books so we went in. Used books are great, I wish they were dirt cheap but the prices were fair.
I saw many books I wouldn't mind getting.
Hubby got: Patrick O'Brian's Treason's Harbor $5.5, regular price is like $13.50
I got:
The Man Who Ate Everything for $6.99 - ok price.
After eating dinner at Twist, we stopped in to check out the bookstore. It's got a great selection of books. My husband wasn't too impressed with it as he liked the Bookbuyers in Mtn. View and this used bookstore in Santa Cruz in the downtown area much more. I thought it had a great selection of fiction and it had a decent selection of one of my father-in-law's favorite authors - Charles Bukowski. Pretty reasonable prices for their books.
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Decent selection and most of it is interesting and high-quality. It is very well-organized and neat. I think it is even better than the original Recycle.
Highly recommended!
Positives
- Cute kitty
- Clerk was helpful and pleasant.
Negatives:
- Loud-ish commercials being played in the background made it kind of stressful.
- Not quite as big of a selection as some other used bookstores I've been to.
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