Chapters

From the few times that I’ve purchased a book from here, I’ve enjoyed the experience through and through. The little random knick knacks and journals on the bottom floor are a great gift/​stocking stuffer idea. In particular though, I LOVE the Local Interest section! It’s got a wide variety of books to help one learn more about the city in which they’re situated! Going to be very sad when it closes up shop.

Hear the closing day is coming to near sometime in June but they will still have downtown location. Rumour is they will swap spaces with sports check… I will miss chapters :(

I love this Chapters. It’s is by far my favorite in Vancouver. I know where every section is and I can find the books I look for (or more often than not: don’t look for but eventually end up buying) very quickly.
People are always willing to help you find what you are looking for if they see you with a lost face and if not they enjoy you read and look for the books yourself.
And it always helps that there is a Starbucks eight inside so you can enjoy coffee while buying your next book!

Chapters on Robson is by far my favourite Chapters store and I’ve visited every single Chapters in this city, along with the Chapters locations in any other city I’ve visited. The Robson location is large, spacious, and always well-​stocked. The employees are usually very helpful and courteous.
Although parking is an issue, I will go out of my way to visit this location because they recently added an improved Indigo Kid’s selection, an American Girl shop, and the best selection of Native Studies books (although still small for my needs) I have ever encountered at a Chapters.
On another, but still related note, I am very disappointed to hear that Chapters on Robson will be closing in June. It will truly be a loss to the downtown core and will mean that I no longer have a reason to go out of my way to shop on Robson. I hope they will reopen at a different location and if they do, I will certainly visit the new location if they continue to offer the same amazing selection and provide the same service.

John Cleese
I was mildly annoyed that John Cleese cancelled his Vogue performance for reasons not disclosed, however, he did make up for it on Friday night when he did a personal meet and greet and book signing for his new book, So Anyway.
I am a HUGE Monty Python fan, therefore, this was the holy grail of meeting comedy royalty. The brand of comedy is dry and obscure. The turn out proved, mostly of bad teeth English older folks, that John Cleese has a cult fan base. Many of those who showed up were passers by and walk ups. I think less than 50 people actually paid for the Vogue appearance (very badly advertised). I am guessed this number by snooping over the shoulder of one of the Chapter’s worker’s clipboard. It listed those who had pre-​paid tickets from the night prior.
I was amused by the group of 20 somethings that arrived dressed as Monty Python characters.
When it was my turn to get my book signed I said, «Are you sure that this going to be your last tour before you die?» It got a laugh out of Cleese, one of the few that fans were able to get out of him.
He was very sweet and engaging with his fans in the 10 seconds he had with each. I am sure that he’s heard all the Monty Python one liners recited back to him.
His autograph was legible, however, it resembled a grandmother’s signature on a Birthday cheque.
The line went smoothly. If you had a ticket for the original Vogue show you were able to line up in the regular line up. They distributed group assignments in increment’s of 45 people. John took 3 hours to get through approx. 500 fans everyone.
The security at Chapters was pathetic. They allowed people were in the later groups budge in line. Of course I tattle tailed and so did others and they shrugged their shoulders. I managed to create a scene with my best friend Peter and shamed them out of line.
You weren’t allowed to take any pics with him, however, managed to get a few in from the side lines before security politely signaled us to move along.
John Cleese made two life long Monty Python fans happy.

I don’t know how many times I’ve been here over the years. I certainly am glad that this store exists though. This location is a great getaway from the rain when you’re downtown and they have lots of tables and chairs to preview books you are thinking about buying. With a large selection of books and now, toys, games, trinkets, stationary and electronics this place has actually filled a void in downtown Vancouver as a small department store. They have almost every magazine you can imagine and did I mention the book selection?
Although it may be a dying business… I’m glad this place exist. It’s definitely one of my go to places for gifts.

I think I might just be incapable of giving a bookstore anything less than 4 stars.
The good:
— Everything was clearly laid out and I could find the genre I was after easily
— Big selection so I found lots of books I now need to read
— They do have animé, graphic novels sections etc which I was pleased to see (Too many places put in a token bookshelf for these with 3 copies of the Walking Dead and nothing else)
The bad:
— Why does fiction have to be on the third floor? I guess so I will then walk past everything else in the store to get to it (cha-​ching for Chapters) but still.
Overall, definitely worth a visit if you are after a good bookstore.

The shop is a combination of a gift shop, a book store, and a toy shop. The place is not big, muti-​levels. There is Starbucks at the ground level. I went there trying to find toys for my kids and found what I wanted.

One of the more compact ones, compared to metrotown’s, which you can get lost in there… anyways, i digress.
Simpler, less wider layout, with multi-​levels as usual. Service generally good, help you find stuff, if that self-​serve computer can’t.
typical dt parking struggles esp during rush hour.
but convenient location, after a day’s of shopping, as there’s a Starbucks here.
another good drop-​in place after Future Shop/​Winners a block away.

I like this bookstore. For whatever reason, I end up here almost every time I visit Vancouver. The first floor is WEIRD. Like, is this a bookstore, or what? There’s a bunch of candles and stupid lighthouse calendars and, strangely, electronics on display. Just skip all that and go upstairs.
They have an amazing selection of cookbooks here — I scored 30% off Rene Redzepi’s cookbook/​journal combo book thingy on a recent trip here. Lots of board games, too, and a huge kid’s section! Up another escalator and you’ll find even more books and magazines. They have a great magazine section.

It’s a Chapters. Books, stuff. You get the idea. At least I hope you do.

Great customer service, most recently, and every book I’ve been looking for has been in stock AND in mint condition! Such a refreshing change.
Staff — very friendly and helpful when I came in to inquire about exchanging a gift I had received (without receipt) for something that I will read. No attitude, no problem. Quick exchange!
Books — A fan of horror, I’m thrilled to see a better selection and expansion for the genre, as well as the books being in perfect condition. I hate going through piles of a bestseller to find one in pristine condition. I also hate having to settle and make a choice between bad condition and worse.
Online Orders — My most recent orders arrived… all books were in pristine, crisp condition. As they should be :) Prices also rival Amazon, which is great.
Thank you, Chapters! Big difference from years and years ago :)

Although Bookstore overall may be in decline this Mass Market Book has lot of idea and image in print for you to browse and buy in safe helpful environment. When you get in take the escalator to the third floor where the fiction and magazines are and work you way down to the first floor.

I had just missed the bus and Google Maps was telling me the next one would be in 15 minutes. Just then, my brain decided it was the perfect moment to purchase a book. Before I even had the time to thinker about that, my feet were running into the Chapters. I told the first employee I saw I was looking for «What color is your parachute» and that I only had 10 minutes to grab it, pay for it and get out, otherwise I’d miss my bus. She told it was on the 3^rd floor in the business section while gingerly escorting me to the elevator. The elevator was already at the ground floor (as if waiting for us), she signaled me in, pressed the 3^rd floor button and up I went.
The real surprise was when I got to my destination. Magically… when the elevator doors opened up, another lady was standing right there, with a broad smile on her face and my book in her hands. I was awestruck and at loss for words when gave the book. I mumbled what sounded like a «thank you», she pressed the Main floor button for me, and down I went. I got out, paid for my book, ran across the street just in time to get on the bus.
Only when I was in my seat, did I realize: «I had just stepped in and out of a customer service fairy tale»

«If you go home with somebody, and they don’t have books, don’t fuck ‘em!» — John Waters
Words to live by. Reading is cool. Knowledge is power. (Although sometimes ignorance is bliss). Chapters is a huge bookstore that I can easily spend hours in picking out all the books I want to read, and flipping through glossy magazines. This place is a time vampire, so I actually try to avoid it because I don’t want to get sucked in. You can find me in the fiction section with a dreamy far off look, and my nose stuck in a book. However, I do love reading biographies of washed up rock stars…
I just finished reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and stopped in quickly to pick up the second book and noticed the third was on sale for $ 7, so I bought them both. The staff signed me up with a points card so I can get discounts on more books (aka be entered into a database and receive junk email), and I was on my way. There is a Starbucks in Chapters but don’t forget to pay for your books before you get too comfy in the plush chairs reading your new treasures, we wouldn’t want you to accidently walk out of the store with them.

This Chapter is pretty awesome because it has a huge children’s area on the second floor. They have a Thomas train table with trains available for children to use and play. On a rainy day, this is a great place to go and spend time with your little ones. They will also wrap a gift for you at no extra charge if you buys something there.
I don’t go there just for the kids’ sections; they also have a huge section on latest books, best sellers and also cute home furnishing ideas and items.

Where are all the books?
Is it just me or has the collection of actual books for sale at Chapters dramatically declined recently? The first floor has a couple of displays of bestsellers and sale items, but then it’s all scrapbooking supplies, Starbucks, and greeting cards. The second floor is now all kids and teens (don’t get me wrong, it’s great that booksellers think this is a growing market, but that doesn’t help me). The third floor has books, but it seems like there are way fewer of them than there used to be. Lots of displays that look like they have many different books actually just have 100 copies of some bestseller or «staff pick». Also, I find it interesting that the fiction section is vastly bigger than the non-​fiction section… I suppose if you want factual information you can just look it up online.
And one last complaint: now that the Canadian dollar has been at or near parity with the US dollar for at least 5 years, can we end differential prices on books? Why would it cost $ 4 more to sell a book in Vancouver than in Bellingham? Maybe they need more books on logic.

How do you not love Chapters? The magazine section is worth a few hours every month. I feel a pang of guilt though whenever I grab a few and relax in the couch area without any intent of buying it. Oh well. I’m not alone.
You can find a gift for just about anybody here. I like the selection of nice gifts to the weird and wacky.
Their bargain books second on the second floor is awesome too. I just bought four books for $ 9! Granted, it was the buy three, get a fourth free sale. But still! And they weren’t crappy books priced cheap, they were good ones that I can’t wait to start reading.
On time that I was here on the weekend, they had a singer singing on the first floor, which was cool. Speaking of music, that’s the one thing I’m not a fan of, the music they play in the store. I’ve heard that song «Oh what a night, late December back in ’63» like way too many times to count.
One beef I have are the bathrooms. It’s connected to a Starbucks but I don’t like having to go to a place just to use the bathroom! Sometimes I’ll buy a drink but usually I don’t.

I stopped at this Chapters while in town, mostly because I needed a starbucks (thank you very much).
I really like this location — it’s really bright, and I picked up a calendar for 2012 (yes I’m probably the last person left on earth who buys paper calendars). Love the selection. The people were nice.
Can’t ask for more.

I hadn’t been here for a few years, and was disappointed to find the Foreign Language section smaller than before. My language of choice never had as much selection as the popular ones (like Japanese, Spanish, French), but I got my Oxford Grammar book and an extensive verbs book here. Now, they only have «phrasebooks» and audio lessons and beginner dictionaries — stuff that are quickly grown out of.
What added to the insult is that it feels like it got displaced by a Children’s section, which is less than half books… though I guess that would be a good place to keep in mind if I need a gift.
I like the computers they have lots of, to check inventory. I was able to ascertain that the grammar book I was looking for was not in stock in about 10 of the closest Chapters, Coles, and another sibling brand I forgot the name of.
The gifts they have are neat. I got two «staple-​less staplers», and though only one of them had a $ 2 sticker on it, the lady at the till gave me that price on the other one, too.
They had on display a eReader device called Kobo
. Sure, the screen was easy on the eyes, but it’s not for me. The button felt much too cheap. Not the fact that it doesn’t have touchscreen, which is fine, but the button has a cheap-​feeling rubbery texture and a heavy «doink» kind of click. (By the way, I’ve never touched a Kindle, so I don’t know how they would compare.)