Bookstore of the Friends - Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Anthony Campa

Update: The bookstore is no good after the remodel. Tiny selection and every book has at least doubled in price. I haven't bought anything since the remodel.

This book store is great. People working are always very nice, courteous and helpful. (Remember people, they are volunteers) If you can't find what you're looking for, they will even put your name on a call list if the book comes in! Prices are outstanding. I can walk away with 6 paperback fictions for $3 bucks!! They have a very large selection. They also have like-new, newly released hardback books that make wonderful gifts. (Yes, as another poster has complained about, they are in the $4-$10 range.) But, since they are in like-new condition and figuring the retail price is around $30, this is a great deal in my opinion. I stop in every couple weeks and have never been disappointed!

brooke stahl

The used bookstore is great - I don’t know of any others in this area. They just reopened and I was happy to find all of the trilogy of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for only $4 total (one of which being a hardback cover). Lots of books in good quality at a low price! I can’t imagine how much it would have been to buy them new at a retailer.

Benjamin Franklin

This is the worst Friends of the Library bookstore I have ever been to and I have had the worst experiences there of any that I've visited.

I am an avid reader and have a growing library that I am always expanding and curating. While I purchase the occasional new copy on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble, I try to spend my money at stores like this. Not only are the prices generally great, but it's nice to support our library systems and know that the funds are being used for a good cause within their respective communities.

For whatever reason, all my negative experiences have been at this store:

1) My mother dropped off a box of books to donate and the staff was very rude to her. Apparently they have very specific guidelines as to what they will and will not accept (most of which are reasonable, but the average person cannot be expected to know those in detail). They treated her very poorly and almost acted as if they didn't even want the donation.

2) Their pricing is some of the highest and confusing of any Friends bookstore. There are routinely books tagged for $5,6,10 or even higher! Out of curiosity I looked up some of these more expensive ones on Amazon to find out why and there doesn't seem to be any correlation between the online price and what they were charging. To me, this is against the spirit of a used bookstore and what the mission of the organization is. It would be one thing if there was a rationale for the higher prices, but upon further scrutiny, there was no valid explanation.

3) My last and final visit, I was about to purchase a handful of books that interested me (a couple for friends & family). Upon checking out they told me that several of the books were mispriced and that they were actually more expensive. A couple of the $1 or $2 books they said were actually $3-6 and they said I would need to pay that price even though the books were priced lower based on their own color-code system. One lady was apologetic and nice, but a couple of the others practically treated me like I was trying to steal from them and one even hovered over watching me while I was shopping! It was extremely uncomfortable to be in a place that I've spent probably $200+ over the years and be treated like I was some kind of criminal. I kindly paid for the ones that were priced correctly and left, vowing to never return again.

I've noticed as time has gone by that the store seems to be a gossip corner and hangout for retired women who like to talk politics and socialize. Nothing wrong with that, but the larger mission of the organization seems to be neglected and the service, courtesy, and attitude displayed toward patrons and donors is off-putting to say the least. There are so many great Friends of the Library bookstores around Orange Co. to shop at. Save your money and time for those and skip the RSM store.

amy mendelson

Great local resource for affordable books.

Lori Miller

I tried to volunteer for them and they gave me at least 10 large books to put away. They only gave me 30 seconds to do it in I wasn't able so the lady said I was too slow and she told me it was because I had epilepsy! I would recomend this place even if it was the last place on earth!

BlessednGrateful 247

This is a great spot to pick up used books in great condition for a price that is so good, I can't even mention !!

Luis S

they had manga and it was cheap 5 stars?

Cynthia Bonner