"1"^^ . "2012-08-04T00:00:00"^^ . . "2"^^ . . . "5"^^ . "3"^^ . "I need an intervention. \n\nI had to limit myself to no more than once a month because whenever I go in here I never walk out with just one thing. Or two things. Or six things. Without fail, I always find something. \n\nThe DVD selection has always been spotty for me, but when I do find something, it's something good, and the music selection (both CDs and vinyl) usually yields up some nice surprises. \n\nWhere I always get into trouble, however, is with their comic selection. No joke, I'll take a bullet for Carol & John's, no question about it. But as an example, I went in here the day after Christmas and found the Savage Sword of Conan collections from Dark Horse, vols. 2 - 9. They retail for $20 each but were marked down to $9.99 (meeting the \"half price\" requirement) AND they were on sale AND I had a coupon, so I ended up getting all eight of them for the price of three. I felt guilty for not shopping at C&J, but you can't say no to that. And don't worry, I'll go give myself a wedgie for being a total nerd. \n\nThe rest of the book selection is awesome. Each genre is well stocked and they have equally impressive hardback and paperback selections. I've found some really rare gems in the display case in the middle (very reasonably priced, especially when I looked up my purchase online and saw that the cheapest I could find it was more than twice what I paid here). Throw in the awesome art section, the spinner racks of pulp paperbacks (usually between $1-$3), and the random assortment of \"stuff\" littered throughout the store, and you've got a recipe for personal financial disaster. \n\nBetween this store and the one on Center Ridge in Rocky River, I have to say this is the better of the two. The Rocky River store is bigger, but I always find more stuff at this location. I will say that when I do find something at the Rocky River store it's something totally awesome and unexpected, like the time I walked out with a box full of Heavy Metal magazines from the 70s. It's just more hit-or-miss at that store. Regardless of the location, the staff has always been friendly and helpful. \n\nA word of warning about selling books here. I've never sold any, but I've watched lots of people get angry when they don't get offered a lot of money. I've seen people cart in box after box of books and get furious when they're offered $15 for all of them. Look, they're going to turn around and sell that moldy paperback that's been sitting in your basement since 1986 for MAYBE $1. Factor in the mark-up so they can make a profit, and you're looking at $0.25 at the most. If you've got a legitimate first edition or rare book on your hands, then of course you'll get more, but don't expect a goldmine for a box of mass-market paperbacks from your attic. \n\nI try and avoid chains whenever possible, especially when it comes to books and comics, but this is the exception. If you read their website, as far as chains go this is a pretty benign one. They do a lot to promote literacy and to fight censorship, both of which get a thumbs up. \n\nWell worth a trip! Just bring cash or leave the credit card at home, otherwise you might get yourself in trouble."^^ .