Books-A-Million Review
America's second-largest book retailer with 260+ stores nationwide — physical, digital, and everything in between
Last reviewed: 2026-05-11 · By GBBR Editorial Team
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Rankings are never for sale.
Our Top Pick · Bronze Tier
Books-A-Million
Free plan available
The Bottom Line
Books-A-Million (BAM) is America's second-largest physical book retailer, with 260+ stores across 32 states. While online book retail has contracted dramatically around it, BAM remains the go-to destination for readers who want to browse in person, pick up same-day, or participate in a loyalty program tied to physical stores. The online store at booksamillion.com covers books, ebooks, toys, games, puzzles, collectibles, and plush. It's not a technology product — it's a bookstore — but the BAM+ Premium membership at $25/yr unlocks meaningful savings for regular readers.
What is Books-A-Million?
Books-A-Million was founded in 1917 by Clyde Anderson in Florence, Alabama as a newsstand selling magazines. Over a century later, it has grown into America's second-largest physical book retailer by store count, operating 260+ stores in 32 states — predominantly in the Southeast and Midwest. BAM sells books across all formats (print, ebooks via their eReader app, and audiobooks), alongside toys, games, board games, collectibles, plush, puzzles, stationary, and pop culture merchandise. The BAM+ membership program offers two tiers: a free Basic tier and a $25/yr Premium tier that includes free shipping on qualifying orders, exclusive coupons, and member pricing in-store.
What does Books-A-Million offer?
BAM+ Basic is free and gives access to member pricing and the loyalty program. BAM+ Premium is $25/year and adds free shipping on orders $35+, exclusive coupons, and in-store bonus offers. Books are priced at standard retail (typically $10–30 per trade paperback), with a price-match guarantee against Amazon, Target, and Walmart. The online store covers physical books, ebooks (via the BAM eReader app), audiobooks, toys, games, puzzles, collectibles, and pop culture merchandise.
BAM+ Basic
$0
/year
BAM+ Premium
$25
/year
Is Books-A-Million worth the price?
BAM+ Premium at $25/yr pays for itself in 2–3 purchases with free shipping and member coupons
BAM competes with Amazon on price via price-match guarantee; the real differentiator is in-store browsing and same-day pickup
Solid value for regular readers in BAM's physical footprintHow we scored it
Overall score: 68/100
Millions of in-print titles plus a strong selection of toys, games, and collectibles — breadth is excellent
Price match guarantee makes BAM competitive with Amazon; BAM+ coupons add additional savings for members
One of the best physical book-browsing experiences outside of independent bookstores — comfortable, well-organized, community-oriented
Functional website but behind Amazon and Barnes & Noble in personalization, discovery, and digital reader integration
BAM+ Premium at $25/yr delivers solid ROI for anyone who buys 4+ books per year in-store or with regular online orders over $35
107-year operating history, BBB accredited, no major controversy — one of the most trusted regional retail brands in the South
Why Books-A-Million is Bronze Tier
Bronze tier reflects BAM's position as a solid, well-established retail option with strong brand recognition in the Southeast US — but one that competes in a difficult category (physical book retail) where Amazon dominates on price and convenience. The 2% commission on a typical book sale of $15–25 produces very low EPC vs. digital subscription products. BAM earns its Bronze rating for: 100+ year operating history, price-match guarantee, physical store presence that no digital competitor can replicate, and a functional loyalty program that rewards consistent readers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓260+ physical stores — the only way to browse and buy same-day without shipping
- ✓BAM+ Premium membership at $25/yr pays for itself quickly for regular book buyers (free shipping, member pricing, coupons)
- ✓Price match guarantee — BAM will match Amazon, Target, Walmart, and other major retailer prices
- ✓100+ year operating history — one of the most established booksellers in the US
- ✓Broad product mix: books, ebooks, toys, games, collectibles, puzzles, pop culture merchandise
- ✓In-store events, author signings, and community programming at many locations
Cons
- ✗Amazon typically undercuts BAM on everyday book pricing — price match required to stay competitive
- ✗Store locations concentrated in Southeast and Midwest — not a national footprint for all buyers
- ✗Digital products (ebooks, audiobooks) are secondary to Amazon Kindle and Audible in catalog depth
- ✗Free shipping threshold ($35+ on BAM+ Premium) is higher than Amazon Prime
- ✗Website and app UX lag behind Amazon and even Barnes & Noble in discovery and personalization
- ✗Low affiliate commission (2%) on an already low-margin product makes economics challenging
Ready to try Books-A-Million? Free plan available — no credit card required.
Get Books-A-Million →Bronze tier reflects BAM's position as a solid, well-established retail option with strong brand recognition in the Southeast US — but one that competes in a difficult category (physical book retail) where Amazon dominates on price and convenience. The 2% commission on a typical book sale of $15–25 produces very low EPC vs. digital subscription products. BAM earns its Bronze rating for: 100+ year operating history, price-match guarantee, physical store presence that no digital competitor can replicate, and a functional loyalty program that rewards consistent readers.
Get Books-A-Million →Free tier available — no credit card required
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