Goodwill Industries of San Diego County – Bookstore

Actually, the reason for this post is not so much a review, but a heads-​up that the bookstore is closed temporarily as they are moving to a different location. This location will reopen as a donation center and continue to do document shredding as well.
The bookstore is supposed to re-​open around December 19^th, and will be located in the strip mall at Shawline and Clairemont Mesa Blvd, behind McDonald’s and Soup Plantation. Not sure which suite it is. However as I was told by the one lady on the staff, it will be a bigger store, which means a larger selection of books and other items.

I recently donated about 13 boxes of books, including textbooks, to them and it all went smoothly and efficiently. The young woman at the door even helped me hoist some of the boxes (although I don’t want to make that promise for someone else). I would not hesitate to donate to them again.

In 2013, one of my goals was to get rid of 50% of my stuff. I know, you’re probably picturing my house packed to the gills with crap. But Chun P. runs a pretty tight ship, so we actually don’t have too much clutter. Though — my downfall — has always been books. You can keep you fancy handbags, Jimmy Choos, and sportscars. I’m a bibliophile and nothing revs my engine like a classy library.
So back to my goal. This year I realized that many of the books I enjoyed — I would likely not be reading again, and that just keeping them on my shelves for show was really selfish. After all, some were great stories… some… not so great. But hey, they deserved better than to be left to the dust bunnies. Every book deserves a warm lap!
Chun P. and I went through our bookcases, and one by one began making piles. Ones we absolutely thought we might read again we donated to the University Community Library by our house, that way if we really did want to read them again, we’d have the chance. All the others we dropped off at the Goodwill Bookstore! They even took our old college textbooks that we didn’t know what to do with and hopefully shipped them off someplace where they could go to good use.
Goodwill Books is a great place to peruse and pick up a copy for a lot less than you’d buy brand new, and it’s a wonderful place to drop off your old titles and make sure they get a little love. Pay it forward and drop by — Goodwill is a great organization!

The bookstore looks lovely and its great that its organized. But the thing that makes me give this bookstore 2 stars is that well, the selection is quite small and the pricing sucks. I mean, the other Goodwill thrift stores that I’ve been to beats this one when it comes to that
In the other Goodwill thrift stores that I’ve been to, it’s normally $ 1 for paperbacks and then $ 2 for hardcover.
It’s not like that for this bookstore. I found the book «Spain…A Culinary Road Trip» by Mario Batolli and Gwyneth Paltrow. The condition for the book was good but it cost $ 12.99.

I would first like to point out that I was present in the store when another reviewer below named Christopher W. was there and I have to say that he seems like a mean spirited person and a racist. The employees did nothing wrong and have always been nice to me. He came into the store with a chip on his shoulder and an axe to grind on anyone within reach. He also stated that the employees wouldn’t sell him a item. Untrue, as I saw him purchase said item and leave in a huff.
This place has a great selection of books especially since they supply the shelves based on donations. If they don’t have a book you want it’s not their fault. :) The prices are good compared to other used bookstores in San Diego. The employees are fellow readers which is a plus if you need help finding something to read. Excelsior!

Pretty poor selection. You’re better off just going to Bookoff.

I love this store for my kids books and parenting self help books! Why pay full price when you can search out a great price?
It’s also organized very well. They decorate with books and the theme of them, very cute idea.
The staff is very helpful too.

Great selection of fiction! I’ve been here a couple times now, even donated and it’s cool to see some of the books you donated up on the shelves. They have a plethora of popular books in stock like Harry Potter, the Twilight Series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I even saw one Sarah’s Key which is relatively «new». You just got to be lucky, check it here every now and then. I’m just really impressed with their selection of fiction. They also have a couple knick-​knacks, some jewelry and great 80s, early 90s looking earrings located in a woven basket up front. CDs, DVDs, board games and informational books. The ladies who work here are awesome and are more than willing to help you out! Will frequent this place as soon as I finish all the books I have waiting for me on my own shelf! Donate out back (ring the doorbell). Though located in a plaza filled with many stores, I usually have no problem finding parking right up front.

Nice selection of surprisingly new books. Small, but spotlessly clean store, easy parking, friendly staff, good hours. It is a little pricey for a used bookstore, especially when all their merchandise is donated, but it’s still way cheaper than buying them new!

The person who thought this was cheap must not go to a lot of cheap used bookstores. Outrageously, insultingly high prices for a goodwill store. My local one, to give a comparison, is $ 2 hardback and $ 1 paperbacks.

i don’t want to dis a place like Goodwill so I’ll just say that you shouldn’t come out here specifically to go to this one unless it’s to make a donation. 98% books but the selection is not good.

This place is the best. They always have a wide selection of books in great condition and they’re super cheap. Highly recommended!

If you are in the UTC neighborhood search out this store. The front of the store looks like a regular bookstore. The books are arraingned by subject and everything was easy to find. The staff was very helpful. It is hard to believe it is a used bookstore.
There is a bonus to this store and that is that the back of the store is a regular donation center that takes all goods not just books.
It doesn’t have the selection to make it worthwhile to seek out from a far, but if you’re in the neighborhood stop.