Good Barnes. The place is tumultuous: there were kids who pulled the fire alarms.. Usually what you need is sold out or 'unavailable'. Not sure who it is that makes decisions here on what is ordered.. Up front the 'new' books never sell! I bough items at the bakery a few days ago and there was a long wait as a box delivery was happening.. at 6pm. Review: 4 read more

Barnes & Noble - Starbucks inside Barnes: wide assortment of cakes, pies, crullers, cookies and sandwiches - Bookstores Near Me - Albany, New York

Barnes &:Noble has been in decline for years. From obnoxious managers who selectively harass people, to know-nothing clerks, blatant political displays and poor customer service. They deactivated my Nook account and voided my password because of infrequent use. Well making it harder for me to access books I BOUGHT, on a device I already OWN does NOT endear this company to me.I am getting out of digital media and will buy books online where I can get them cheaper. Buh bye Barnesy. read more

Such a large selection and Starbucks cafe inside. Parking is ample and the employees are helpful and plentiful! It's always a joy for our family to come and spend time in here. read more

Excellent place! Service was excellent! Selection was plentiful! Value was standard. Starbucks was expensive but the people were awesome.

Beautiful Barnes & Noble location with a shared parking lot, an attention-grabbing café, and rows and rows of books. Going in, I was impressed. This store is busy! Lots and lots of people, various staff members, and the customer service representative nowhere to be seen. Probably off helping someone. Unlike anything I have ever seen. I have visited this lovely chain before, even on the days nearing Christmas, but I have never seen the commotion I saw at this place. People genuinely wanted books. We actually waited close to half an hour to pay. While I didn't get help finding my Cards Against Humanity, I had previously called and a nice gentleman had confirmed they were indeed there. Got in, found them, and paid for them. The woman who attended us was sweet and surprisingly came from my neck of the woods: Miami. If in the area, I would love to return. This store made me think of what a bookstore should truly be. Full of life. read more

Hung out at the registers with the items I wanted for several minutes, nobody was available to ring me out. I called out, "hello," a few times, nobody showed up. If there's a ring for service button it isn't noticeable. Finally left my items on the counter and walked away. It occurs to me that any idiot can walk in, grab what they want and leave, it's not like anybody is paying attention. read more

Surprise! My review on Sunday, June 23 has been removed! I wasn't aware B&N could do that. A bit of background. For the past 30 years have purchased books for the libraries I have worked as a librarian. I visited the Colonie Center B&N Sunday afternoon. Found books to purchase. Showed my school ID. The older woman at checkout asked me what grade level I taught . I told her the range of grades in my school. She clearly and condescendingly told me that since I wasn't a classroom teacher I wouldn't be eligible for the educators' discount. I questioned this decision indicating that I had purchased before and at times with school purchase orders. She held firm. I left and ordered from Amazon. They are easier to deal with. read more

I was originally disappointed to see Barnes & Noble close across the street and congest Colonie Center even more. Yet I must say I believe it was a good decision. I still prefer to shop at smaller, independent book stores, but I do like this store. I like its layout, particularly that it doesn't seem to have quite as much "Overwhelm you with Nook products" in-your-face-ness as many other B&N's when you walk in - or maybe I'm desensitized? They have, IMO, very good magazine selections and a good games area, particularly during the holidays. I also like that their cafe section is somewhat sectioned off. Barnes & Noble is never going to be my first choice for the types of things they sell, but they at least get it right here in terms of how to present it and appeal to the customer. read more

My get away spot from reality. Always a good place to get loss. The service team is quiet and pleasant which is excepted from a book store, if you need anything go to them, don't be shocked if they don't confront you. It's a quiet environment for a reason. The genres are properly sorted logically. For example you are too find biographies next to history related topics. You won't see romance next to sci-fi. Restrooms are spotless and properly lighted. Lighting through out the store is dead on, no squinting your eyes here to see the font thanks to no dark areas. Overall, it may be a chain retail store but they retain a peaceful atmosphere. read more

I am an avid reader, and I love the concept of an "all in one place" bookstore. However, my last couple of trips here have left me very dissatisfied with my experience. First off, they have a bit of everything here besides books (games, toys, a coffee area, dolls, electronic devices, etc.) and as a result, I find it difficult to find where things are. Second, their staff are usually very busy or nowhere to be found. I admit that I am in the store most often on weekends or perhaps around the holiday when I know it will be a zoo, but I have waited in line at their customer service area for 10+ minutes waiting for the employee to return to help me (or the next person, as there was a line.) If I don't know what I want, and there is no person to ask for help, I might as well just shop online. Third, it is frequently crowded and trying to navigate the aisles while reading book bindings while avoiding others is tough. And loud. Their bargain books section is great, as is there large coffee table books.. these areas are good for general browsing. But, if I am looking for a specific book I have a much better chance of finding it quickly online at EBay or Amazon (and at a discount too). I love supporting local book stores, but this isn't local- it is a chain store. And if they cannot offer me service to correspond with their mark-up of the books I will go elsewhere. read more

Love Barnes and Noble...love being around real books you can touch and feel. The staff are very helpful, the prices are great and they even have a Starbucks! Please don't close!!! read more

A good place to lose yourself for a couple of hours just reading books or magazines. And every now and then I'll even buy one. Kinda like going to the library but you don't have to be quiet, haha. Plus the free wifi is great too! I like it here read more

Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - Albany, New York

We love Barns and Noble!!! Every weekend we go and sit and play or tablets, look for new books and have a cup of tea and a treat at the bake shop. Its an awesome place to find the newest releases in books and for me a place to purchase the most delightful soaps in the most beautiful European boxes!! Every week I buy a new soap! They have the most beautiful kids section where kids can sit and play, read books and just hang out in the most magnificent learning environment available anywhere. Its just the most awesome place on earth!!! read more

It's usually a very dangerous thing to let me loose in a book store while I'm in possession of any legally-accepted form of currency. Although I do a fair amount of book shopping on Amazon, I'm a huge fan of Barnes & Noble and I like this store in particular. I do miss the old place across the street, mainly nostalgia I suppose, but this location works nicely. They have a lot of stuff, and I've found that when I want something immediately (as opposed for waiting on Amazon to deliver it), I can generally get what I'm looking for at B&N. It's unreasonable to complain that this store is crowded or busy. It's not a small store and it's located in one of the busiest shopping malls around. If you don't like crowds, you should probably just refrain from going to Colonie Center entirely. read more

This is a very well appointed B&N, with four times the titles of the Mohawk Commons store, a good-sized café, a major league periodicals rack, somewhat confusingly organized sections, and lots of staff. So in terms of big box bookstores in this area, it looks like it's the biggest left-standing and fwiw probably a decent destination for mainstream browsing. I've commented elsewhere that the original unique charms of a Big Box Book Store -- the surfeit of titles, mildly discounted pricing, and public-square-style coffee haus -- have largely been eroded by the advent of Amazon and Starbucks doing these things better, albeit separately, to the point where it's hard to remember how exciting these places were when they first opened a generation ago now. That said, there's probably interest and commercial space left for one chain, and B&N appears to be that surviving chain, without any hint of reinvention (sorry to say this to Nook users, but B&N advertising that Angry Birds Space is now available on the Nook isn't going to sell more books, it's likely just going to sell more iPads when the buyer stops and thinks about it for a minute.) So: decent, useful to have around, not exciting anymore. That said, I give major downgrades to this particular location for the atrocious parking situation on the "storefront" side of this mall, which adds, even during a relatively light weekday morning, extra minutes on to a trip here that could be better spent, well, reading. read more

Book store gets five stars however Starbucks gets 0 stars , slow, unfriendly and I ordered a tea lemonade not sure what she did but it wasn't correct took 10 mins to get an iced tea that tasted like I am not sure maybe dishwater with a little lemon. Wrong size, bad drink not worth it to ask for it be corrected as the line behind me was 10 people deep. And oh we are a Barnes and noble not a Starbucks we can give use your member card but not your Starbucks gift card next time I will go down to Panera on my way home. read more

If it's one thing about the Barnes and Nobles in the city, they don't add the great dimension of cds and dvds to their rep. Maybe that's because there's enough cd and movie shops in the city to fill the quota, but with this Barnes and Noble across from Colonie Center, as well as the Borders across the street, their music selection is huge, dvd selection moderate, and both stocked with some very good stuff, especially jazz and world music. This Barnes and Noble is also just a great place to sit down for a couple hours and read, they have plenty of space to sit and most people don't mind if you're just sitting in one of the aisles reading. It's upstate, that's how we do. It's hard to grab a staff member sometimes for help, but if you can catch one they are very helpful and friendly. Because of the amount of space they have, the amount of books really is unending here. read more

I sat in the cafe and had a Pumpkin spice frapaccino which was nice but the place was a mess on a Monday afternoon. The supplies station and all the tables were dirty... Staff seemed to be untrained but friendly. read more

Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - Albany, New York

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Book selection is both broad and deep: lots of genres, and plenty of choices within each genre. They have local topics too: New York history, maps, travel guides, and wildlife field guides. They can also order books from their warehouse for you, which takes just a few days. read more

Horrible return policy. My son received a book as a gift and they don't do returns without a receipt, not even a store credit. They suggest going back to the person who gifted it and ask for a receipt. How tacky! read more

I guess I'm still mourning the loss of the Borders on Wolf Road next to Colonie Center. In my opinion, was the best book store around until it closed and the chain went bankrupt. Barnes and Noble is just different somehow. I don't get the same comfortable feeling when I try to browse here. Also, they don't have the same great sales & coupons that Borders did. The cafe here isn't as good either. Depressing. read more

Prior to my visit today, I had wanted to go in this location so many times. Well, today I tried. I got a little less than what I bargained for. On a whim, I was looking for a crossword puzzle dictionary as well as a dictionary(mediocre-sized for a present for someone). Although I found the dictionaries, I wasn't thrilled to not find any crossword puzzle dictionaries nearby. And when you add in the fact that no one employee ever came around and asked "DO you need any help?" I got discouraged and walked out not buying either item. I know Barnes and Noble is much better than what this visit was like, and even when this store had another location across the street), it just wasn't like them to not have someone out looking to assist customers when needed. It wasn't too busy, but for the day before Mothers Day, I thought it was a bit busier. read more

The new Barnes and Noble Store at Colonie Center was actually somewhat disappointing!!! It's still a great store...but I don't see that things have improved that much...if at all...over their former stand-alone location across Wolf Road. For one thing, the parking is terrible. The store is almost adjacent to the main entrance to the movie theatres and that probably says enough!!! If you want to park close to door to get inside (like if it is raining, snowing, blusterly cold or hot and sultry, (these weather descriptions are probably correct about 70 percent of the time!!!) you have to go around the back next to Macy's or to the other end near Sears. And I still can't find things in the store. I was used to the arrangement over at Wolf Rd. Based on what happened at the mall they must be paying a pretty penny in rent! And it just seems like they lost some things in the design of the store, like they could have done so much better with the cafe, made the store 2 levels, etc. etc. I'd give the former store 4 stars, this one only gets 3!!! read more

Eh, it's just way too crowded and loud to be considered a bookstore. People use it as an entrance/exit to the mall so there's way too much mall traffic. Not a place to relax and enjoy a good book. Check out the one in Wilton if you want some peace and quiet. read more

I bought a pen, then sat down in the cafe to grade papers. I was kicked out of the cafe because I hadn't purchased any food or drink. I showed the kid who was kicking me out the pen & receipt, and he actually laughed at me and then directed me towards the chairs laid out in the store proper. They were all taken, except one seat which was next to a family of crazed children, so of course I just left the store. Anyway, this is a public service announcement to anyone like me who enjoys grading, writing, & that type of work in the bookstore atmosphere - you'd better be thirsty or hungry or you are not welcome at this Barnes & Noble cafe! p.s. - I've spent countless hours grading at the B&N in Saratoga & they've never kicked me out, so I can recommend that one, at least. read more

Once again pleasantly surprised to find a nice place to shop in Albany. I love b&n and it's especially nice when it's attached to a mall!

This is a relatively new B&N. A beautiful store with terrific customer service. If you visit Colonie on a Sunday, note that B&N opens at 10am, while the mall opens at 11am. Nice to get in here before the mall opens to leisurely shop. You must have the sales associate give you the full NOOK demo! I never thought I would be an e-reader but I love my new Nook Color!! I find the lighted page so much easier on my eyes. read more

Typically I go to Barnes and Noble quite a bit, but I have noticed the prices rising.

Not a happy camper! I ordered two books online for pickup at the Colonie store. I paid for them only to find they cancelled one of the books. I checked store availability BEFORE I ordered, so it should have been a smooth transaction. I didn't need them for a day or two but they said ready in 1 hour. Well, clearly the second book wouldn't be ready at all, so I called the company. BTW, the online HELP button on their site doesn't work. It takes you to a Bad Notice page. Anyway I was on the phone with them for 2 hours and I got passed from one person to another. Then, while waiting for a manager, I was cut off. So, I dial again and go throught the same rigamarole. I wanted the second book shipped to me without having to pay 3X the cost for expedited service!!! I don't think that was unreasonable. They were willing to ship in standard delivery which meant 7-10 days. I needed the second book for a gift this weekend! I got nowhere with them so while listening to their nonsense, I checked Amazon and yes, I can have the book in 2 days...no shipping because I have prime. Obviously my review is aimed at the online B&N, more so than the Colonie store.....but that's where it all fell apart! read more

Same as before, they pretty much are always out of what I'm looking for. It's still always busy, especially the Cafe. They also have only like 1 or 2 computers you can use to search for books. read more

yes, i know. they are big and have a good selection. but they have rude employees. or at least not helpful employees. kenz and i went there last night because borders didn't have the book in stock that we needed and i thought maybe b&n would. so nope, not on the shelf. apparently it was a popular christmas gift or something. an employee walked by (strolled, i could understand if he was busy or such) and i said 'excuse me' he looked at me and kept walking. i said it a bit louder and he looked at me like i was bugging him. i asked if they had books somewhere else or if what was on the shelf was it. he looked at me blankly. so i asked if i used the nearby computer to search would it tell me if there were more in the store or in a another in the area. he said abruptly 'yeah. it will tell you' and walked away. and no, it didn't tell me. it only confirmed that there were none in the store and that i could order it online. so we left and went to borders... see the borders review for the rest. read more

I'm buying new books at Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza from now on. And my buggy, outdated Nook will be going in the trash and I will replace it with a Kindle very soon. Hello Amazon!! Last straw was Store Manager unbelievably rude to me while I was seated in the café area, sipping water, not one of their overpriced sugary coffee inventions. On another occasion, she was deliberately straightening in an area in which I was attempting to browse. I had an employee refuse a return on an item clearly of their "impulse buy bookmarks" inventory, because it had been a gift and I did not have a receipt. It went to Goodwill. Maybe I just didn't spend enough to be a valued customer. I certainly was never made to feel like a valued customer. Even called the Corporate 800 number and filed a complaint, on which I followed up, and was subsequently told there were no follow-up notes on my complaint. So clearly their corporate culture is to not give a d*mn. I miss Borders Books and Music. read more