Readings.com.au

Bought a book today at Brunswick St bookstore Very happy experience Didn’t have second book I was after Went on to Readings Carlton Very different experience Store not busy Woman behind counter told me quite rudely to get in a line There wasn’t one Belatedly said she could then serve me I didn’t purchase the book Many good experiences Dymocks and other outlets Very unsatisfactory Readings not the first time I’ve seen arrogance and rudeness Show details

' Poetry for the Hungry ' by Denise Le'Anne What a powerful and bold collection of poetry. So impressed. Andrew Van Nooten - Mt Eliza. Show details

Readings Saint Kilda is my local bookshop but I have to stop going. The old guy who works there (tall, grey hair) is just so rude and sometimes sleazy. Even seen him be rude to female staff. Can't believe Readings hire guys like this.

Why are their books so much more expensive than Amazon. I got a book for $75, when I went home Amazon had it for $49.95. Show details

Edited to 5 stars Great customer service when I had an issue – Edit: Readings managed to redirect the order and it was delivered safely and is loved by the recipient Highly recommend Ordered online for Christmas for my autistic grandson. The order reverted to my address, so called them the next day and they said they would change it. Delivery notification came and it was to be delivered here ( in… Read more

a different state) emailed them straight away and “Kate” responded that they would try and redirect and if it was too late would reimburse the delivery costs.

Checked today and they have indeed managed to redirect it. So thank you “Kate” for your help!

Terrible Customer service and misleading stock statements – I don't often leave reviews, but dealing with this website has been such a headache. I wouldn't be using them in the first place were it not for a gift card I received, as their prices are already above market price for most items. The first time I attempted to buy with them, it was an item that would take 7-14 days to be shipped. Obviously I… Read more

understood this going in, and after a couple of weeks nothing had happened, no shipping confirmation or anything. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and ended up waiting another 2 weeks before inquiring. Upon doing so I was told the next day that the product was not available, and I'm sure if I'd never messaged them that they would've kept my money and never have sent anything. The second time I attempted to order from them, I received an email a few days later issuing a refund again for a product they apparently don't source anymore. I assume many of the products on their website function similarly, and that they source to order, however if you order something that their outdated details and prices don't match up to, they'll simply cancel the order as they can't make a profit on it. I understand of course that they can't spend $150 sourcing a limited edition product to then sell for $75, but I doubt they'll ever revise each product on their website and their availability, as they've cast the widest net imaginable, listing thousands of different products, many of which as I have found, they do not intend to deliver on. I've recently put in another order and I assume it is just a matter of time before I receive another email with the bad news.

Amazing work! – Ordered multiple copies of a difficult to find book. Readings not only were able to meet the order at a better price than other outlets but got the order to me in good time. Show details

Not in Stock, but wasn't told?? – Awful online shop, is it any wonder people use the bigger online ordering shops? Ordered 2 books last Friday they were "in Stock" paid express postage, I enquired yesterday to be told only one was actually in stock, if I hadn't contacted them to see what the latest was I doubt I would have been told, Absolutely no communication at all, I am now… Read more

being charged express postage for something that won't arrive when I needed it. They didn't even apologise!

I also got tricked with the ‘In stock’ lies – So as other reviewers have stated I also got duped by Readings for pretend ‘in stock’ books. As what seems to be an alarming trend in many online sellers, they get your money for ‘In stock’ items but then you receive that all too familiar advice email saying ‘your item is not in stock’ So this is a nice trick isn’t it. Remember the days when you… Read more

went to a store, spotted what you wanted to buy, handed over your well earned coin and took your goods home to enjoy?

Well now companies seem to be allowed to state they have the item you want and in stock.. and then THEY get to keep hold of YOUR money (for 3 WEEKS in this case) until they get their next shipment - and that’s before ‘Covid related delays’ so who knows how long they get to keep your money. What can you do about this? Don’t buy from these companies!

I have an 11yo who saved up her money to buy this book and is very very upset.. what do I do? Come here to write a review as I’m so mad, that’s what.

Don't order online from Readings – Ordered an in-stock book from Readings weeks ago and was told it would be sent within a couple of days. No sign of it so yesterday I asked them what was going on. Within a couple of hours I got an email with the tracking and guess what? They posted it a couple of hours after i emailed them. Yep. If i hadn't emailed when i did would the book (which… Read more

is required this week) ever have been sent? No wonder people go with Amazon or Book Depository (which i don't use due to human rights offences) since small shops like Readings can't fulfil their orders in a reasonable timescale.

Complaint – Readings sent three incorrect books instead of the one I ordered . It was someone else’s order . Obviously don’t double check anything . Don’t answer their phones either as I’ve had to ring several times .It will probably take another three weeks to arrive . Show details

Terrible Delivery (again)! – Readings, I love you, but the company you are using for your deliveries is beyond terrible. This is the second time I have had to chase up an order and the delivery company has been infuriating to deal with. Perhaps time to find another vendor or use AusPost! Show details

Books delivered within 3 weeks – Ordered 3 books from Readings.com.au arrived within 3 weeks. Good packaging, and the books are good quality print books. I ordered 3 kids books (Wuthering heights etc..) price was similar to dymocks. Will order again. Show details

List Out of Print Books as In Stock – Completely wasted my time with this business. I've ordered a book showing at in stock online and in the St Kilda store, yet the order was cancelled today as apparently it's not in stock and no longer in print?!? So back to square one. This statement everywhere on the website is total bull: "Our stock data is updated overnight, and availability… Read more

may change throughout the day for in-demand items. "Just another website with fake stock levels so they appear in search results for extra website hits...

Perfect – 10/10 amazing for me pre ordered a book had it the day after it released! Would defiently recomend to anyone

Never Again! – 3rd time order from Readings and 3rd time equally bad as other 2! Yet again, when the books didn't turn I chased up the order for a tracking number. Was advised the book was not in store (the website says it is) and that they didn't have it to post. Reminded me of the 2nd time I purchased from them. The 1st time order some years ago still has not… Read more

arrived (I had to re-order what was never sent).

Such 'online' businesses are more than shonky and need addressing. It is also a crime to advertise what one does not have regardless of the fact that one can eventually access and obtain an item. I could do the same

A pure time and money waster and my friend went without a gift. A bit late now, Readings.

I have asked for my money back.

Buyer beware.

Excellent – Was looking around for a book, checked a number of online retail outlets including readings, found that readings had the best price for the book, was at least $5 cheaper than another well known melbourne book chain for the book, placed the order and within 2 days had the book in my hands. Very good service. good pricing none

Fantastic – A vey wide range and some competetive pricing. I've bought a number of books and all have arrived promptly. The best thing is that online orders attract no charge for postage. They also have an excellent selection of vinyl, at very good prices. Pretty much everything you could want from an independent retailer.

My Favourite – I love this bookshop so, so much. If I'm in the area, I always make it a point to visit a store. But for online convenience - they are the best! Fantastic selection (especially of children's and young adult books!) and it's free-shipping within Australia. Often I will place an order one morning, and receive the book the next afternoon. Once, I was… Read more

one number out in my credit card details and received a lovely, polite phone call to fix my mistake - and that customer service is invaluable.

I also find that the in-store staff are incredible and bookish. They tend to hire staff with 'specialities' - so you'll have someone who is in charge of ordering the children's books, and then there's someone else who has a special love of cook-books. And this also translates online - Readings staffers write blog posts for the website, and give reading-recommendation lists.

Then there are the book launches and author appearances. These are spectacular - good wine, nice nibbles and the Melbourne literati scene tend to fill the bookstores for these events. It always reminds you that the Melbourne writing scene is a lively and thriving one - and Readings Bookstores are often the hub.

If you're in Melbourne, this is the bookstore chain to visit. They're not a Goliath, but rather an independent chain that has done very, very well because they value good books, great staff and a community spirit. Free shipping with Australia, bookish staff, great online presence, easy-to-use online ordering, quick delivery