The crafts section was so great. I could have spent many hours there. I didn't notice a bathroom so had to bail. I understand the homeless situation makes bathrooms scarce around here but I wish I could have stayed longer. Very helpful eager and kind staff. There was a lady who asked for "fiction that's not depressing for grownups". I would have had no idea! The young man working didn't even hesitate and helped her until she was happy. read more

I have been going to tin can mailman since I was a kid in the late 1980's. I love this bookstore fiercely and have found so many fabulous treasures here over the years. Used to be an easy 5/5 stars. Recently I visited in late August 2026, and was completely appalled at the lack of books, empty shelves everywhere and total disorder of the entire store, especially upstairs (ommmg the art section??? The architecture section? The automotive manual section???????? Wtf) There are hundreds of books everywhere in the process of being damaged due to neglectful haphazard organization and what I can only attest to current workers not doing their jobs, AND not enough books being acquired by the store since they implemented their slow-paced book intake by months-out-appointment only policy, which has had the result of tons of empty shelves all over the store. The disarray of upstairs book sections was just unbelievable, shocking and deeply upsetting- what was once neat and tidy was just a huge awful careless mess. I was compelled to prop up diagonal, fallen-over stacks of books all over the store when I was visiting which was highly distracting from my usual positive book perusing experience there. There are books all over the floor and books too tall being shoved into short shelves, which causes all of the books that fit to shift over diagonally . What the heck, please please please hire someone who is highly skilled at organization and actually cares about the state of the shop, and get more books on the shelves by bringing back your old book intake policy to fill the shelves up so there isn't room for things to fall over. Get it together, this shop is such a treasure, and currently it just feels like something is deeply wrong and some cog in the machine is missing. I have a big pile of awesome valuable art books I have wanting to bring to sell to the shop for the last year and a half but I keep getting put off by the months long wait. This scheduled waiting system does not work for forgetful folks like me who live in the moment and have a helluva time keeping distant appointments in the future. I'm sure I am not the only one. read more

I have been going to tin can since they were in their old location and I used to read books in there non stop. I loved the old tin can, the community spirit and friendly staff. Today I took a half dozen new books in to get credit on, and was informed that exchanges are by appointment only. No one else in the store, one clerk, 10am, no interest at all in being helpful, just doing his "job" and following the "rules" The old tin can is gone, next time I have extra books I'll donate them to Miranda's rescue. read more

It's always closed. I've come into town several times to shop here, and it's been closed every time, during hours of operation they have shown online read more

The ultimate independent used bookstore, two stories of books upon books upon books... Not a huge place, but once inside - all the little alcoves and bookcases and reading nooks come alive and are brimming with all kinds of reading material, literally from the floor to the ceiling - books upon books. Travel up the staircase, and they just continue on with more books... TCM has been on the Arcata landscape for decades and is a fixture within the community here, providing a source for used books and reading material that will not usually break your bank. Customer service is good, no data base but the staff pretty much knows where everything is surprisingly, and they offer a buy and sell program on use books so that you can trade in and get credit on your old reading material for things you have not read. Its old, dusty and crammed full - two stories to wander through and peruse - one of the largest selections of environmental and college text books around. As well, volumes and volumes of great art books - I always find one or two to add to my own library every time I visit. 3 1/2 Stars - rounded up for local support. 00169 read more

I've been going to Tin Can Mailman since I was little. I love that you can trade in your books for store credit or cash. They take COVID seriously and keep a clean environment with limited capacity. They have a huge selection and have something for everyone. New books too! read more

My favoritist bookstore in the whole wide world. I'm seriously thinking of leaving my review at that. I love the way the place smells and it's quiet stillness. Enter Tin Can Mail Man and you can get lost in the quirky nooks and crannies. You're likely to find any book you're looking for. I often took advantage of selling and trading books at Tin Can. read more

Tin Can Mailman - Bookstores Near Me - Arcata, California

See all

Two floors of Tall overflowing book cases, it's heaven. They have one of the largest selections of art, nature, environment, and text books. I would love it if their were more seating areas but I can see that could be dangerous in arcata, fortunately it super lax so you can find a place in the floor. They buy or give credit for books and their fairly speedy with this process. Customer service is great, since they don't have a database it's hard to find books but the crew know their stuff and can help you find what you're looking for. What thing that I found interesting is I was away for about 10yrs and I swear some of the same books were sitting in the same spot! I think a little purge would do tin can mailman good. read more

Tin Can Mailman - Bookstores Near Me - Arcata, California

This is a solid stop if you're hunting down a quick read or looking for an adventure to dive into. The really only complaint I had was that the staff was not welcoming or offered any help. Solid place all around besides that. Would I go back? Yes Would I recommend? Yes read more

My 12-year-old daughter found this place and we loved it. Ah, the smell of used books! Staff immediately welcomed us and offered help-- and no joke, they really know the stock, no easy feat in a (mostly) used book shop! Mareilles (sp?) let us know about a sequel to the book my daughter wanted to buy and knew exactly where it was located. Good vibes and great emerging from Covid shopping experience. 10% off for vaccinated folks! read more

YES!! This place is amazing! After getting chemically burned at the Hampton Inn Suites pool- 4750 location, for our weekend stay, we needed to get out of that place....so upon coating our faces with antibiotic gel, we opted for some indoor fun. WOW, this place is absolutely amazing! A true gem! Will forever visit this place if coming through the area!!! Best book selection I've seen in a very long time!!! read more

I miss and love the ole Tin Can. I remember picking up my third copy of Don Quixote here (I hope to get through that book before I die). I remember coming here for used text books back in the olden days (when I was a college student). But I think what I like most about this awesome used book store are the other treasures. Sure, sure I've found some really good books ranging from fly fishing books to romance novels (I kid....or do I). The bookstore isn't super huge, but with all the nooks and crannies over it's two floors of booked shelves, one can get lost in here for days...years. There's something about used books. I really like finding the ragged ones--especially the ones with little notes in the margins or love notes at their beginnings. I digress. If you're in Arcata, a stop at the Tin Can is a requirement. They have great selection, super good prices, and give you good deals when you sell them books. read more

This is a great little used bookstore. It's in a great location in downtown Arcata next to everything. The shelves are filled with all kinds of used books and are labeled in easy ways to find. Expect to find very tall shelves filled to the brim with all kinds of good used quality books. I came here searching for two books and only found one that I wanted. But for the price I paid, it was a great deal! The staff was warm, welcoming, and promptly found me the book I wanted. I'll definitely come back to browse and make a couple more purchases. read more

As a primarially and strictly comic book buyer I must say that this bookstore, while knowledgeable and diverse, sells their archival comic books really badly. There is no maintence whatsoever and all the titles are tattered and in "Good" condition at best. There is a friendly staff, but the attempt to portray a .309 cent comic book off as a high-priced rarity is totally evident. read more

I've been coming here for years. I've found everything from textbooks, cookbooks, comics; they have everything. It would take you a while to go through the entire place. It doesn't look like it from the outside, but between those two floors, it's huge. read more

Ever go to a used bookstore and see a ton of books you want to buy? Usually, no. But here, I did. I was really impressed the quality and selection here. I think the castoffs of a college community product a good selection. Nice looking place too. read more

This is a great little used bookstore in downtown Arcata which, like all the best used bookstores, is a maze of tall, overflowing shelves and cozy nooks. There is minimal organization (books are grouped by topic/genre, but not entered into a database. So if you want, say, a particular book on land art, no one can tell you if it's in the store - you have to search through the entire art section trying to find it... Bonuses: textbook buyback, a large wall of windows, a satisfyingly clunky wooden staircase, and bike racks right outside. read more

Best bookstore in the world possibly? Well, at least as to the humor section. Personally I like this better than Blake's books in Berkeley or Powells in Portland. Check it out and get lost in the stacks. read more

Great collection of books and helpful, friendly staff. The aisles are pretty narrow and every conceivable area is crowded with books old & new, cheap & collectable. Great place to go in with an extra ten bucks on a rainy day and leave with a good new book. read more

It's a great bookstore with that Arcata vibe. The store is full of past required reads from Humboldt State students. They do take a good number of books in however don't expect to get a high price for them. If you plan on buying hardbacks...be prepared to pay more than what you would at other Humboldt County used bookstores. Even with 3 stars...I still go her a lot for books. read more

Really cool looking bookstore with awesome plants everywhere. It's two story full of all kinds of great finds. You can also find your school books here and sell your books back to this store when you are done. If you like used bookstores this is a really cool one to check out read more

I love this book store. Such an amazing selection! Such a quaint store! Nice people to!

I love to cruise through here when I have time to spare. There are LOTS of books. There exchange/buy prices are decent but there is so much they already have so they often do not want what you have to trade. Being located in a college town there are tons of books on research and politics, all the sciences and arts. read more

We've been coming up to Arcata for over 40 years and always make a stop at the TCM. The store has declined in quality over the years. Good for picking up paperbacks, but the selection is mostly run-of-the-mill. There used to be a small room you could go into where they had rare editions, but the last time I was there they claimed they'd had too much theft and had closed the room. Hardbacks are a rip-off, especially the texts. I saw a copy of a used text -- in so-so condition -- on coding theory where they'd marked the price at $45, yet I've seen this book for sale by Springer for less than that price. Recommendation: come here for the paperbacks, although the selection has gotten rather so-so over the years. But buy your texts online. read more

This was one of homes away from home during the 30 years I lived in Humboldt. In my affections it ranks up there with Comic Castle in Eureka and Moe's Books on Telegraph in Berkeley. Owner Wadeth & crew run an excellent, cozy little two story shop that has a fine selection of reasonably priced books on every subject. Situated right off the Arcata Plaza, it's also convenient as part of a shopping/dining daytrip if you're so inclined. Really neat bookstore. I miss it, having moved. read more

Helpful staff and is more likely to have the book you need than the new book stores across the street. Now I always come here first.

This place is a classic. I've been visiting bookstores for many years coming from a family of used bookstore aficionados. We all agree this store is unique. There is a treasure waiting for you here on the shelf. One of my favorite pastimes is to browse the shelves and finding a new window of knowledge to bring home with me. read more

My favorite place in Arcata...possibly even in Humboldt County. I've never sold my books to them, so can't really comment on that. But they literally have what everyone's reading...because they buy books from people. With the exception of a couple textbook instances, they've pretty much always had what I've been looking for at a MUCH lower cost. They've knocked off at least $20-30 from textbooks compared to HSU's bookstore price. It may not be the cheapest if you consider Amazon or Half.com, but if you don't have time to wait for shipping and love just browsing this place is perfect. They're never hiring which makes me sad, but their staff is kind enough and is always willing to look for stuff for you. If' you're looking for periodicals, go to Northtown across the street; this place is more like a little library, complete with little nooks to hide in and a keep-your-phone-on-vibrate policy. read more

Large, rambling, and not without charm. Scarcer books are segregated into a room by the cashier for sale on the internet; however they're physically completely unorganized, so good luck browsing. The staff were helpful. Better for picking up a quick read than for finding interesting or rare books; I was hoping for a bit more from the only used bookstore in a university town. read more

Two stories of used books, on all sorts of subjects, fiction and nonfiction. You may not find specifically what you're looking for, yet you will find something you will enjoy reading. Check it out! The bookstore is in downtown Arcata. read more

I love this little used bookstore! I love that I can still walk in to a quaint place and find good paper books rather than just e-books. This store surprisingly carries a huge selection of different subjects. The staff there is so friendly and helpful. And the owner is very knowledgeable and accommodating. Every time we travel pass this town, we make a point to stop off and visit the Tin Can Mailman. read more

I spent my first year in Arcata spending most of my time here. I came from an area where Barnes and Noble was THE bookstore. This place offers titles for cheap and has a large selection. I like that the books are gently used and belonged to someone else. This place is awesome to wander around on a weekend and spend hours searching for new reads. read more

Freakin awesome. Some many texts. As a visitor, I am stoked to find a used store in a college town. Gaurantees of treasured finds lure me in and their realization bring me back. Especially extensive ethnic and women studies and environmental studies. read more

Back in college, I might not have given this place four stars due to the former lack of hospitality I received everytime bought or sold, but the atmosphere had largely improved. I visited last fall with a friend, and I got a good price a few books I wanted to sell, and I had nice chat will the staff. A few years prior, I bought a book via Amazon, and I surprised these guys were the seller, and I was pleased that the book was also signed by author. This 2-story bookstore is a local icon with a wide selection, and you can waste a day just brousing. Look for them online. read more

I'll keep this one short and sweet. The staff very helpful at least the lady that helped me! Huge selection of many books I mean I've never seen so much books in one small space! Reasonable prices! This is my spot! read more

This place was filled with books, so my initial excitement was dashed when I finally interacted with staff. I had one new book to trade and they were edgy and dismissive when I politely asked about it as I was ready buy three of their very junky looking used books. My book was new ($25 last week), just read on an airplane and by a famous woman writer. They gave me $4 store credit for it and didn't look all that happy to have a transaction with me. I was polite and respectful an even complimented the sales girl on her glasses. She didn't bother to make eye contact with me as she mumbled thanks. They rushed through the transaction even though there was only one other customer in the store, and were very dismissive. It's such a disappointment to be treated rudely when I'm trying to support a local business. Overall, a very disappointing experience. I will not be back. read more

This is a great used bookstore in downtown Arcata. Two stories and packed to the rafters with all kinds of books. The whole store is divided into clearly marked sections and each section is alphabetical by author, so it was easy going. Prices were fair--some cheap like the dollar table outside to some of the more expensive collectible types. The average paperback was about half the cover price. I don't know anything about comics, but the ones I looked at were just a dollar. The best part of this store is the staff. Those girls are hilarious. There are two who seem a bit grumpy but in a funny, sarcastic way and they sit in the back office barking out orders or author names to the eye rolling crew running the front. I saw the funniest interaction between the staff and one of the "arcata locals" who was looking for books about reflexology because "someone was messing with his big toe and he wasn't sure what to do about it." read more

Good enough place to by books just for fun reading, but textbooks are another story. I bought one used textbook from them for about what they were selling for online ($60), but the other book I needed they wanted $30 for but was completely highlighted and written all over which was selling online for $45. I brought in textbooks to sell because I wanted to support a local place, but they only offered me a total of $30 for two books that were selling for $70 and $50 used online. I understand that they want to make a profit, but that just seemed ridiculous. Overall, not a bad place, especially if you are just looking for your next casual read. read more

This is a nice place to browse. However, if you live in Arcata year-round for any significant period of time, you will eventually just start shopping Amazon.com used or at the new Borders when there's something you know you want. If you're just shopping for the sake of shopping, this is a a great bookstore destination. Pros: Nice, clean store, "old book smell," very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Organized well and books are generally where you would expect them to be. They usually pay fair prices for textbooks (if you get there RIGHT at the beginning of finals week, or if you tend to take out-of-the-ordinary classes) and their textbook selection is usually adequate (at least in the humanities) if not excellent. Healthy potted plants, great evening light, especially in the summers. Cons: No turnover in anything but textbooks. I lived in Arcata for six years, and could generally count on there being a a gap at the exact place where I'd bought a book a month ago. There is no rush to buy anything other than textbooks or recent bestsellers/recent paperbacks-- whatever you want, usually the exact same copy you're looking at, will be there next month. So don't start any series here if you don't plan on buying the rest of the series anywhere else. Sometimes I got lucky but the majority of the time I didn't. Also, if you're mobility-impaired, it'll be difficult. There is no elevator access to the second floor, and many of the aisles are narrow enough that it would be difficult to maneuver yourself, a chair, or crutches, especially if you have to get around a browser. They do provide a reasonable ramp over the steps at the front door, and would probably be happy to fetch stacks of books from the second floor (classics, nonfiction) for you. Although I imagine that would get to be tiresome real quick. Prices: Usually a little high. Prices are mostly okay for the quality that is offered; sometimes I ran into a disintegrating, needs-rubber-band vintage paperback for around the same price as a newer one, $2.50 to $4.50, which is overpriced. A particularly clean copy of an in-print trade paperback from the last ten years? $6 or so, up to $15. There are no stellar deals, but it's still cheaper than new, and you are paying for ambiance and the privilege of not having to wait for your book to come in the mail. Trades/store credit: You can usually expect around twice as much store credit as you would get in cash. (Example: new hardback mystery that came out last week: $4.50 cash, $9 credit.) It's reasonable, especially if you're just trying to rid yourself of textbooks you'll never use again-- the anthropology doorstop to paperback fiction exchange rate is reasonable and satisfying. They'll hold onto your credit in an account under your name if you don't spend it all in one day, which is helpful. read more

I love it. A great place to spend a day browsing the vast selections and oddball people watching