Although we began as a used bookstore, we now carry an ever expanding selection of new books at both locations. All our new books are 20% off Canadian cover price, and if we don't have a particular title in stock, we can usually order it in 2 weeks or less. Our Kitsilano location carries a special selection of new titles on Eastern spirituality, health, Buddhism and philosophy, also at 20% off Canadian cover price.
Most frequently asked questions about the shop are answered here on the website, but if you can't find an answer to your question, please call or email. We are always happy to hear from you.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Poets Jacob Scheier and Sonnet L'Abbe read tonight (30 April 2009) in Main Street's redesigned front room, courtesy of our friends at PRISM International magazine and the UBC Creative Writing Department. This reading is likely going to be really crowded; if you want a guaranteed seat, you might consider arriving around 6:45pm.
Check out our new blog, @PFB! Book world news, buying updates, music we're listening to in the shop, & etc. Updated most weekdays by noon.
OUR LOCATIONS AND HOURS
Pulpfiction Books
2422 Main Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada. V5T 3E2
604.876.4311
pulpbook@telus.net
Hours of Operation
Mon-Wed 10am-8pm
Thu-Sat 10am-9pm
Sunday 11am-7pm
Closed Christmas Day; open all other stat holidays
Pulpfiction Books West
3133 West Broadway (@ Balaclava, beside the Hollywood Theatre)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada. V6K 2H2
604.873-4311
pulpkits@telus.net
HOURS OF OPERATION
Mon-Sat 11am-8pm
Sun 12 noon-8pm
Closed Christmas Day, open all other stat holidays
BOOK BUYING / TRADING POLICY (applicable to both stores)
Buying Update, Spring 2009: We are seeking large quantities of RECENT pocket mysteries, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy and literary classics. If your usual bookstore isn't buying due to economic conditions, we'd be happy to see you and your books.
We buy and trade books on a daily basis. We will consider books for purchase on any day of the week up until 5pm. We pay well for the books we take, and we have many vendors (plus many regular book scouts) competing for our business. It's not unusual for us to see between 15 and 20 vendors in the first few hours we're open. Thus, it's a good idea to come as early in the day as possible if you are looking for cash for your books. (For example., if you come at 3pm on a Saturday, we will be happy to see you, but you may find yourself waiting at the end of a long line of vendors).
We pay a percentage of what we will sell your books for, based on our assessment of how quickly we think the books will sell. In general, we will pay up to 40% of our selling price in cash. We will generally not pay cash for common authors and titles which we are easily able to obtain from other customers on trade.
If you are interested in trading for store stock, we will look at your books at any time. We will offer up to 55% of our retail price in store credit, once again based on our asessement of how quickly we think your books will sell. Store credit doesn't expire, is good at either store, and you don't have to spend any money with it. Store credit doesn't apply to books ordered new from publishers, and a very few collectible or scarce books, which are clearly marked, and less than 5% of our total inventory.
Please note that we need to see your books before we can make an offer of cash or trade credit, which isn't something we can realistically do from a printed or emailed list.
WHAT KIND OF BOOKS DO YOU BUY?
Books We Never Take
Harlequins, National Geographics, Book Club hardcovers, textbooks, damaged or wet books, highlighted or marked books, computer books, encyclopedia sets, kids' series (Goosebumps; Animorphs; Saddle Club), self-published poetry, Time-Life sets, 99% of all sports and business books, stolen books, books we already have too many of.
Books We're Always Interested in Seeing
Contemporary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, Beat writing, literary classics (Hesse; Hemingway; Orwell, Vonnegut; Huxley; most Penguin pocket paperbacks) visual art and architecture, classic kids' books (Richard Scarry; Enid Blyton; Roald Dahl), science, travel, cultural studies and philosophy, etc. Our customers are well-read, unconventional, and bright.
DO I HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SELL OR TRADE MY BOOKS?Not unless you're bringing 10,000+ books.
DO YOU HAVE PARKING?
There's metered parking in front of both of the shops, and we can usually help you bring your books in from your car.
I'M LOOKING FOR THIS BOOK...
If you're looking for a single title, it's probably easier to phone us and have us check the shelves. If you're looking for a long list of titles, it's better to email us a list, or drop in.
DO YOU SPECIAL ORDER NEW BOOKS?
All the time! Please call or email; we'll be glad to help you.
WHAT'S UP WITH THE PLASTIC RATS?
We can't have a store cat because of severe allergies on the part of several staff. A customer gave us the white plastic rat several years ago, reasoning that the rat would be safe in the store because we lacked a cat. The black rat and numerous baby plastic rats have all arrived subsequently as anonymous gifts and/or mystery "births."