Bookstore Horror Stories

Now that Ed has kicked this shit off, I'd like to ask everyone to chime in with your Used-book Store Shopping Experience Horror Story.

I'd also like to ask why it is that the people working in these places are so unerringly grizzled and angry, and why they so often direct their anger at us, the customer. Seriously, now, they do know they're part of a business, right? Okay, I mean, I don't want them to slap on a fake smile because management is extorting it out of them, but still, these people do know that I'm more likely to come back if I'm treated like a human being, right?

I'll give Ed credit for actually getting a conversation out of his grumpy used-book store employee/owner. Most of my bad experiences revolve around being grunted at, most often for not being able to psychically divine their bag check-in policy. For example:

Me: [Enters the store with a backpack. Sees no "Check-in bags" sign and continues to the books]

Angry employee/owner: Mumph!

Me: [Turns, looks around confused] Excuse me?

AE/O: MUMPH!!!

Me: Oh, you want me to check my bag.

AE/O: [losing patinece] MUUUUMMMPHHH!!!

or

Me: [Enters the store with a backpack. Sees no "Check-in bags" sign. Searches long and hard for a sign anywhere of any size. Approaches AE/O] Uh, excuse me, do I need to check this in?

AE/O: Hmp.

Me: [furrows brow] Ummm, I'm sorry does that mean "yes" or a "no"?

AE/O: [shoves numbered clothespin at me, grasps at my bag]

Me: [handing over bag] Thanks (asshole).
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UPDATE
I see Sam's in. Excellent.
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UPDATE II
Marginalia has turned the tables, and has links to some used-book store bad customer stories (as well as links to the bad store stories)

Comments

[Beth]

My worst used bookstore experience was at a shop in LA (Canoga Park, to be exact). After being told that we were rude and inconsiderate for bringing in a large bag of books to sell near closing time, the ownere consented to look through the bag. She then told me that "I just want you to know that no ethical bookstore would look withdrawn library books." I had actually purchased them from another used bookstore.

[Sandra]

My most surreal moment came in the Poetry Bookshop in Hay on Wye (city of used bookshops). Being a poetry fan, and realising that the man behind the counter was the owner, as I paid I complimented him on what a great book shop it was.

He looked at me glumly and replied 'I suppose it's ok' [pause] then (said with real bitterness) 'if you like poetry'.

[tito]

I wonder if bookstore staff isn't some mutant hybrid of record store employee?

bad bookstore employee: I was at a reading at A Clean Well-Lighted not too long ago for a Marilynne Robinson reading. Their was a decent line for the signings so "Employee X" was going through the line and Post-It Noting the name of who the book was to be signed for, as is not uncommon.
For whatever reason, a lady in front of me was uncomfortable telling Employee X, and politely asked if she didn't have to use a post-it and could tell M. Robinson herself - a reasonable request in my view. Employee X said that she really should tell her, but Shy Lady uncomfortably, nervously said she'd rather not. To which Employee X huffed loudly, that the reader was "very weird". The whole exchange was very bizarre.

[Scott]

I can see it now Tito. We'll do High Fidelity, but with a used bookstore.

[Chris]

Ah, the Strand. From the cattle pen of the entryway, which is brilliantly designed so that those reclaiming their checked bags have to fight the current of those flowing out of the bottleneck created by the turnstile(!) one must pass through to enter, to the stacking of cartons of books in the narrow aisles so that they block the shelves, to the dogged refusal Ever! To! Cull! Any! Stock! (anyone for nine hundred foxed and yellowing copies of Edisto? Zuckerman Bound? A Shorter Finnegans Wake?), to the clever disarray of each of the store's sections, to the no-bargain-at-all quality of the review copies, to, finally, the gloriously somnolent clerks, who snap out of their respective iPodular trances only to bark at the customers ("Next!" one snapped at me once, and, when I advanced beyond the red line painted on the floor(!) that instructs customers where they should stand while waiting to hand over their money, held up his hand and said, "Not *yet*!"), the Strand has single-handedly driven me into the arms of internet booksellers.

[hazez laolu]

HELLO,
I WILL LIKE TO PURCHASE FROM YOUR STORE AND I WILL LIKE TO KNOW YOU DO SHIPPED TO NIGERIA AND MEANS OF PAYMENT IS BY CREDIT CARD INFORMATION.