Two stars for cleanliness and friendly staff…read more Three stars off for the most important aspect of a used bookstore... price. $5 per paperback? More for hardbacks? For a book whose spine is parting? Missing pages? C'mon. Don't even bother looking at most of what they call "Vintage" books. They ask a king's ransom for them. I found paperback after paperback that was priced at over $20 each... for a book barely 50 years old and a cover price of $1.50. Outlandish. I actually performed a reality check and went to Ebay to check on 7 or 8 of those titles. In each case the books sold for much less on Ebay than Helen is asking. They most definitely need to adjust their pricing schema. It's not like they're paying rent in downtown La Jolla for goodness sake. I was originally, upon walking in, going to say their large, diverse selection is a strength. Now I understand it's simply a function of them not selling their books at a good turnover rate at all... consequently, their stock piles up. Shame.

This place has a TON of books and I'm so happy I discovered it! I was able to find 3 books in my…read moreTBR list, which I was surprised with because they're all contemporary authors who are pretty hot right now. I could honestly stay in this place for at least a couple hours; there books wall to wall and they even have a large romance section in the back. I can't comment on the stock as I don't really read romance, unless it's for sh*ts and giggles. They have also got plenty of comfy chairs for you to sit around in, too. Pricing is average as many are half off the cover price. Some books are deeply discounted and are in little baskets scattered in the store. I'll definitely come here again! The only drawback is that they're open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only.

I called to see if they had a book and the man was very helpful. A great bookstore! I recommend!read more

Dark,dusty,stinky place with grumpy guy behind the counter…read more He will yell at you for not understanding price on the tag... Books way overpriced.

I'm super happy this place is still around. My husband and I went here after breakfast with my…read morefamily and the book selection is very good. The prices are a little higher than other library bookstores, but I don't really mind; all the funds go back to the SD County library and I am in full support of that! Customer service was great and they even offer one free book to each child that comes in. Not bad!

Browsers beware! You WILL GO HOME WITH AN ARMFUL OF BOOKS. Go ahead, take a box of old boxes with…read moreyou as your excuse to peruse. You can recycle the box with twice the amount of books you'll take back home with you. If they don't have a title you're looking for, tell one of the friendly volunteers and they will personally call you at home when they get one in. There's something for everyone at "the bottom shelf." Stop at Joes Hardware on the way home. They have shelving for your newly acquired treasures.

If you blink, you might miss this small vinyl, CD, and tape shop, so try very hard not to blink…read more From my many decades of music scavenging, I have learned that there are gold nuggets to be found everywhere. And there are absolute gold nuggets to be found here at incredible prices. The shop is small and the organization of the CDs is so chaotic that I almost believe it was intentional. But like any true music lover, there is a thrill in the hunt. So don't come when you have time constraints. Come when you have time to hunt. And enjoy the hunt. This is well worth a visit. The employees and the owner, Dan, are friendly and parking is plentiful and free. You have no excuses.

This is such a neat record store!! I like the curation they have (lots of modern stuff, which is…read morewhat I'm into). Prices can be a little high but I don't mind paying a few extra dollars to support a local business. Service is solid and always super friendly! Parking is super easy and in a lot right in front of Lighthouse. The few times I've stopped by the store haven't been too busy, but it can get a little toasty in there. Definitely stop by if you have the chance!

I'm so happy to have a family owned bookstore close by! Carlsbad Village Books just opened this…read moreyear, and it's such a charming addition to the area. The building itself is adorable and looks like something straight out of a fairytale. It feels like the perfect home for a bookstore. I loved the interior too, especially the beautiful brickwork, arches, and old-world feel. There's a main display featuring summer themed books, which I'm sure changes with the seasons, and I was happy to see a used book section. The kids' area is absolutely adorable, too! They also have fun and unique gifts for sale, plus a small café serving coffee, tea, and pastries. I didn't try anything during this visit, but I'll definitely be checking it out next time. They also host events like game nights and author readings, so I'd recommend following their social media to see what's coming up. There's a small parking lot on the side of the building as well as street parking. My only complaint was that it was a very hot and humid summer day when I visited, and it was pretty steamy inside even with the doors and windows open. I'm looking forward to coming back on a cooler day when I can really take my time browsing. Such a cute little bookstore, and I'm really excited to have it nearby!

The bookstore of your dreams... Met a friend today at the bookstore because we wanted some…read morecoffee/tea. What a lovely spot in Carlsbad! There is a very sweet children's area with a whimsical vibe. Wonderful gift items and play area. The entire shop feels like you're in another country with beautiful brick arches and old style lighting. The coffee shop matcha with oat milk was just how I like it and I could tell very good quality matcha. The items for purchase were of great quality and were unique. My only request would be to get more items :) I purchased a wonderful smelling candle that helps support sex trafficking! I just noticed on their Instagram they have story time so I'll be heading to one of those very soon with my little girlies. I appreciated the kindness from all of the employees. They were all friendly, courteous and respectful. Somehow I wished I was their age again so I could work there. :) So happy to have visited today and will definitely be returning. P.S. There was also an inviting outdoor space if you want some sunshine. I thought it was so sweet the coffee shop name was after the owners mother? The logo was her signature as well. So special!

Was walking down Main Street and came up on this hidden gem…read more You really don't see a lot of record stores around anymore. So, of course, I went in. The gentleman at the counter greeted us. From what I could see, they had a huge selection of vinyls. Unfortunately, it was a very hot day in Vista, and they didn't have AC! So, I only looked around briefly. I will definitely be back!

One of the best stop-shops for any vinyl collectors, especially for those who like heavy music…read more Despite the statement, this store has some of the most variety I've seen in San Diego record shops - containing a variety of genres such as jazz, r&b, soul, rap, rock, pop, punk, metal... you name it! I will definitely say though, their punk and metal selection is the highlight. I've been able to find artists as popular as Motörhead and as indie as Judas Iscariot. Prices are great, and more importantly - not everything is sealed new. Obviously most record stores have bargain bins, but Standards is also not limited to stuff you'd find collecting dust in your grandparent's attic (newer record stores in San Diego, take notes.) Service is great, the store always has a tight but warm ambiance - and I'm always running back to buy more records every couple weeks if that says anything.

I came here to buy a record for my son I didint even know…read morethat these stores still existed with Spotify and everything It was definitely a hole in the wall type place but I think record stores are going for that I found a classic album Bob Marley the legend lp He's never heard it before and it was really affordable for a such a classic album thanks I'll be back to add to his collection

You spin me right round, baby, right round Like a record,…read morebaby, right round, round, round by Dead or Alive Spin Records is one of our better record shops in North County San Diego. Old school, but old and new music is available and if you are looking for something, they may hold it or order it for you. For those of us who grew up in the 80's and 90's, we saw vinyl die and come alive again. It is still my preference for music at home and it is an extra plus if the lp also had the downloadable device option. Every year I attempt to head out to Record Store Day (RSD). My goal is to pick up unique items that have never been released, but more than anything, those 80's and 90's albums that were only made on CD. After a three hour wait in line this year, with only 380 different releases and only 3000 stores in the country with offerings, I came home with everything on my list, but one item out of stock. A total win. Five stars for variety and good set up outside to make shopping effiient. My only suggestion is to get a couple food trucks and dj or live music in the parking lot, playing something chill. #SpinRecords #Carlsbad #RSD #FortheWin

I know you can get all the coins online, it's all about the same price. But it's really Beautiful…read moreto go in to a place and see how celebrated recovery can be. With the way things are today,It's always nice to Support brick and mortar

About a year ago I left a review about a purchase in which the item broke and I was not given a new…read moreitem or refund. I was suprised on Saturday by the clerk who served me, with an apology and a replacement item. He expressed his regret and wanted to make it right. BRAVO! This was very nice and greatly appreciated. I encourage you to patronize this buisness as they still believe in good buisness!