Ericka S.
Yelp
I know anti-black racism when I see it.
I will walk you through this sad story step by step. My friend passed away. His mother and I researched local book stores to sell his legacy collection to, in the area to keep it simple. We are trying to pay off their final rent, and all money helps. On 1.15.24, we called book alley. His mother, a small Irish woman with an accent, spoke to a woman who put her in touch with a "book seller." She read off his collection of graphic novels (which includes a fist print hardback copy of saga, box sets of the peanuts collection, walking dead, etc). This man gave her an enthusiastic offer of $150 plus for the lot. JUST the graphic novels. Not even the books. She then lets him know she has 75+ books she'd like have them look at. They said fine, call them again and set an appointment for appraisal. I called the place myself on 1.22.24 to confirm the offers and to set an appointment. I also let them know that he has an additional collection of 80 dvds and box sets we'd also like them to look at. Explained to the woman who answered the situation with my friends death, and they told me to bring everything in. INCLUDING THE DVDS. So we neatly package everything away, graphic novels NEATLY in one bag, books in another, dvds in another. Emphasis on NEATLY. I also have a list of literally every book. So this is a lot of over 300+ pieces of media. 50 pounds per bag. 3 bags. I have a bad knee. His mother is over 70. Physically exhausting to pull off. I manage load everything into a Lyft and take the trip there, while his mother stayed at the house to continue cleaning out his things.
I pull up, unload 150 pounds of media, and as soon as I walk into the spot, an old man, grey hair and beard, who has been mentioned several times throughout here, immediately looks me up and down in the most dehumanizing and dismissive manner. Stared at my bags as if he was so exhausted already, and went back to talking with his friend. It was already bad enough he took some other customer in the slot I had clearly planned out and booked. So then I had to wait. When I was finally approached, he did not greet me with any type of kindness. He crassly asked if I was the 11:30. I said yes, attempted to introduce myself and explained the lot of media. He interrupts me rudely as I'm opening the dvd bag and says "I don't need any of your dvds. We have enough." TF? I spoke with their rep the DAY BEFORE to confirm. Then he tells me to my face "I don't need any books but I'll look through." At that point I knew it was a busy, but I was hoping God would grant grace and when he saw the books, neatly packed, great titles, he'd respond. I let him know he could have the hour while I took a walk, mostly because I didn't want to be in a space where I clearly was not wanted. Before I get back to his house, I get a call back from the store saying that they would offer me $70 for the entire lot, not the dvds. Then had someone try to con me into "donating the rest to them." Insane. SEVENTY DOLLARS. after being given an offer of $150 JUST FOR THE GRAPHIC NOVELS LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AGO. So I know what this is. I tell his mother their offer and she BURSTS INTO TEARS. She's crying because she had a whole other offer, something to pay his light bill. She says, without hesitation, without me even mentioning his horrid attitude, "They did that to you because you're Black, Ericka. If I went in there I could have gotten the money." Heartbreaking to hear her say that out loud, on top of how I felt. But I agreed.
Icing on the cake? When I return to pick up the books, everything is ruined. Disheveled, thrown about, expensive saga first print tossed to the side. Definitely dug through my dead friends stuff, and tossed it any which way he felt when he was done. I'm disgusted at this point, he knows he's wrong and can feel my anger. He then asks condescendingly "uhhh, something wrong?" I ignored it. You know something is wrong. And it's you and your rancid, racist attitude. He then says "take care" and walks away. So this is what it is. This is who they are. They lied to an old woman's face to have her bring in valuable books, probably to fk her over on the sale, and then when I pop up, there is essentially no offer and a disgusting experience. They have wasted my time behind belief. Lyft rides, up and down 2 flights of stairs. For nothing. After a solid offer. Because BLACK. It will not be questioned. I had hope. I thought I could get this done here. Works out, as I have a $450 offer elsewhere. In. SANE.
This was one of my favorite stores while going to PCC. Never again. Not with my following. Not with that energy from that old miserable human.