She Said Boom!

Love this place. I can’t think of a used bookstore (actually, of any bookstore) in this city that is so carefully curated and fun to spend time browsing in. I always find something I was looking for, and often I’ll also find a copy of some cool book I’ve heard about and wouldn’t have remembered if it wasn’t for seeing it on a shelf. I’ve also found some good music here, and enjoy how they always have something interesting playing in the store. Definitely worth checking out!

Cool shop located on the north side of College about a 5 minute walk west from Spadina… Was a little hesitant when entering as there were few CD’s to choose from compared to most of the used stores I have visited in the last few years and a great abundance of books to choose from, but was surprised by the quality of artists and the selection of musical varieties in the CD section… Found 3 CD’s to purchase… A good selection of vinyl also available… Asked about a particular artist that I did not recognize and was offered to have a listen if I wanted… The store employee was courteous and helpful… I would recommend taking the time to check out this store when in the area…

Yep. Didn’t even get a hello when entering or a good by on exiting empty handed. Small selection of vinyl. Good selection of jazz. But I wouldn’t waste my time going back. Too many better stores out there happy to help

This is the kind of community bookstore that could be great. but it’s not. While the books are reasonably priced and the selection is okay, the vibe is weird and uncomfortable. Coupled with the fact that I have never had a pleasant interaction with the staff. They always look like they’d rather be dead.
I’d rather go to BMV

The absolute worst customer service ever!!!
Went in the store, the clerk was playing avant garde jazz music very loud. It was grating. I asked her if she would play a record I was considering purchasing. I explained that I bought an album previously from the store that although looked great, played terribly. Crackles and pops throughout. She said «well the records only 10 bucks and it looks good to me, so I’m not going to put it on» wow, I thanked her for her fine customer service. I found about 5 albums that I wanted to buy, brought it up to the front and decided, nah, they don’t deserve my money.
This took place Thursday June 4 at 5:30 pm the female clerk had a tattoo of a naked lady on her arm. I hope the owner reads this and fires her.

She Said Boom! The first non-​claustrophobic used bookstore I have encountered in a long time. The floor was wide open, and allowed easy browsing of materials. The lighting was bright and welcoming, unlike the lady behind the counter (who seemed rather unconcerned about her customers, and annoyed that her reading was being disturbed).
The store has a wide selection of items, with a mix of common and unfamiliar titles with the typical genres. Books line the walls, while the center is open for bins of movies, cds and records. Prices were a bit steep in some cases ($ 11 for a paperback book from the 1990s), and were inconsistent. Two copies of the same edition of Dracula of similar quality were marked $ 10 and $ 6.

This is one of those stores I find an excuse to go to the College/​Spadina area for, especially since getting into jazz.
The book and record collections seem good but I go here, like all stores of its ilk, for used CDs*. (Somebody please wake me up when the 80s-​90s end!)
I had stopped in prior to this jazz phase and it was usually a 50 – 50 chance I’d find something. Nothing anything terribly rare or WOW! Wait. Wait just a second. That is lie. I found a Klaus Schulze double CD here (Essential 72 – 93) for $ 16.99. So yeah, there is treasure to be found here.
My first stop in for jazz left me very impressed. There were a good dozen gems up for grabs. Interestingly, the next one yielded zip. I think there has been one visit since and that bore fruit. So yeah, this shop is most certainly in my regular rotation for scrounging.
Prices – I feel like this is one of the cheapest shops in the city for your average used CD by a buck or two. I might be wrong – haven’t analyzed it or anything – but if memory serves, it always seems like I’m getting a slightly better deal here.
I’ve never tried to sell anything back.
The shop owners (guy and girl – guessing they are married) are nice and friendly and will chat if you want to. I like the idea of supporting them. My guess is that they are locals and have been so most of their lives.
Highly recommended!
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*2^nd bonus Boxing Day 2013 rant of the day!
If you have been reading my reviews – I have no idea if anyone is – this site really needs a view counter – then you know by now that I’m way into buying used CDs. When most people have gone back to proper records, or forward to MP3s, why am I still stuck on CDs?
A proper response to such a question would probably take the form of an essay and perhaps not a short one. So here are a few summary points:
1. Nostalgia. This is the medium I grew up on. As a preteen/​teen, back at the end of the 80s and until the 90s, vinyl was dead. A lot of albums were only released on CD. In fact, I still remember long boxes. There was no vinyl culture, at least not in suburban Los Angeles. The CD was king and naturally all of my purchases were on this format.
2. Ease. CDs can take a beating. They are easy to clean. And easy to store! Compared to records they are smaller, hold more music and last way longer. A CD, from 1985, assuming no scratches, sounds identical today. Playing records actually destroys the surface of the record, albeit microscopically. The idea of a record NOT lasting forever boggles my mind.
3. Availability – well, mostly. While there is lots and lots of great music that will never make it from old records onto a CD, there is no shortage of excellent music on CD. And right now, with everyone moving their collections to MP3, it is a golden age for the used CD buyer. You can find nearly anything you want, in good condition, for a good price.
4. If I don’t pay for something, it is hard for me to take it seriously. I just can’t «love» an MP3 – they just seem worthless to me. They don’t exist. They are just 0s and 1s. (I know CDs are too but on top of a physical format).
5. There is no joy in collecting MP3s. Ok, I guess there is some aspect of having to hunt down various sources but you don’t have to leave your living room. As a CD collector, I have to get out there and get my hands dirty in the used bins. Or I have to track things down online. «Nothing worth having comes easy», right?
6. CDs are like the best of both worlds. They sound as good^ (no pops, clicks, hiss, skips, etc.) as MP3, are as easy to use as MP3s* but are still a physical medium. You still have to handle something. You still get to go to your collection, find a CD to play, insert it into the player and press play – while not as tactile as vinyl, your hands still get to do something. (I spend my entire working day in front of a computer – no need to spend any more time in front of one once I get home)
7. CDs (like records) are finite. That is, you press play and listen to a single album, as it was meant to be heard. This is a hard one to explain to non music geeks but some of us actually don’t like, at least not all of the time, the idea of non stop music in the form of random tracks that were only recorded as singles.
8. CDs, unlike records, are fuss free when it comes to playing as well. No need to adjust, no concerns about your tonearm or cartridge. You just press play.
^Yes, yes, yes. I am very familiar with the argument that CDs sound «cold» and not «warm» like a record, especially in the early days of CDs. With a tube based amp and a modern, audiophile level CD player, this argument has largely gone away. Besides, many people argue that the CD sounds better as it can store more of the «data» (higher res) and bring out that performance when played on good equipment.
*OK, CDs are not portable like MP3s. I can’t argue this one – and this is why even I have an old iPod for travel.

The thing I like most about this place was its CHEAP prices!!! I found an original copy of Sgt. Pepper on vinyl from 1967 for only $ 15…other places charge up to $ 50 for that LP!
It’s a decent size, big selection of books, and it’s all neatly labeled by theme, makes it super easy to find what you’re looking for.
Plenty of CD’s and records to choose from too, Records are also neatly labeled alphabetically, or by artist (Major Bands have their own sections).
However, customer service here isn’t great, the lady behind the counter was so focused on reading a book… hardly even acknowledged me when I came in and looked around.
Good prices, But pretty bad customer service…

Great local book store. Seriously awesome. We have to support local places like this or we’ll lose them!
Cheers

She Said Boom! isn’t a large store, and its prices can be a little high (for instance, trade paperbacks are rarely less than $ 8-​$ 10 each), but the selection of books is top-​notch. One time I emerged from She Said Boom! with three books in my bag and a handwritten list of 15 others that I now wanted. It’s also a well-​lit, welcoming store with friendly, funny employees. Going in is always worth it!

A great bookstore, with a surprisingly wide selection for such a small shop. I recently found a few things here that I had been unable to locate at larger chains or even online, and for extremely good prices. Hooray!

It can be tough to showcase a mixed collection of used items while maintaining a singular air that is palatable to the customer. I found She Said Boom to be inviting and interesting.
When I came through the doors sounds of Dylan played over the speakers getting me in the mood for artistic discovery. Immediately I was greeted by interesting book-​titles laid out before me.
Easily I was able to navigate the small store and marvel at both their collection and its condition. I predominately spent my time in the vinyl section and was happy to find a wide variety of music in decent condition.
The books may have been priced slightly high (as a result of their almost un-​cracked bindings) but the vinyl was priced just right.

Good selection of books.
Unfortunately the customer service at the College street location leaves a lot to be desired.
I made the egregious mistake of peeking behind a half-​opened curtain that is right next to a book shelf — there was no sign saying customers are not allowed to do that — and the ‘gentleman’ (actually a short, bald homunculus-​like figure) who works there approached me like he was trying to intimidate me asking «Can I help you with something?» I said I was just browsing and he kept saying in this intimidating way «Can I help you?»
I left quickly because it seemed like he was trying to escalate the situation. I have no idea why any businessperson would treat a customer like that. Big time loser. They’ve lost my business. Anyone with as little respect for return customers as that doesn’t deserve my business. I would suggest they probably don’t deserve yours either.
There are plenty of better, more deserving bookstores in the city.

Used Damon + Naomi and Galaxie 500 CDs? Someone on staff certainly knows what they’re doing.
All right, so it’s not the most well known of all the used shops in the city, but for a random collection of used material, both music and literature, SSB does a good, discerning job at picking out quality material that’s slightly off the beaten track. Though the CD collection has simmered down a bit (I admit I haven’t looked at this section in years), they’ve focussed on their vinyl section, which attracts plenty of fans.
Their solid selection of books is really what amazes me, especially on a browsing level. it’s not a large store, but they’ve got every important contemporary writer in stock. Even the random books on display in the front are well worth flipping through.

She Said Boom is a solid store for used books, cds and even comics. I often come in here just to take a quick peek at what’s on display, because they seem to have a pretty high turn over of interesting books. These on display books range in topic from literature to cultural theory to all sorts of other interesting stuff.
They actually have a great selection of books too. Books you want to read. Books you’ve heard of. Books you’re looking for. It’s nice, y’know? Finding books you’re looking for in a bookstore. A rare feat amongst used book stores. I think that (and the other thing) are a real testament to the people who work there