What are your hours?
Regular hours are 9am-8pm to shop, and 9am-7pm to trade. For holiday hours, see details at https://mckayusedbooks.com/about/ and also look at the top of the page for a banner announcing anything unusual.
Do you offer online shopping?
We do not sell our used merchandise online.
You may purchase physical gift cards for use in McKay Used Books, located only in Manassas, VA. Please visit our Square site to purchase these gift cards.
Bookshop.org is a great way to do some online shopping as well. You will find new books at this site, priced accordingly by Bookshop.org and supplied by Bookshop.org. McKay Used Books does receive a commission from sales purchased at our affiliate site: bookshop.org/shop/mckayusedbooks
Libro.fm is an option for digital audio books. Mckay Used Books does receive a commission from sales purchased at our affiliate site: libro.fm/mckayusedbooks
How does trade credit work?
There are two types of trade credit at McKay Used Books:
Unlimited trade is issued when you trade in records/LPs, LEGOs and retro gaming consoles and controllers. Unlimited trade credit is issued on a custom white slip of paper, and may be used on anything in the store.
Limited trade is issued when you trade in anything else that we accept. Limited trade credit is issued on a blue slip of paper, and may be used on books, video games, Funko Pops, other figures, movies, CDs, audio books on CD, board games, beanie babies, and comic books.
A small number of books will have pink stickers, and may be purchased with the white, unlimited trade credit. Items with pink price stickers are those purchased brand new at a higher price; these tend to represent items that are high demand that aren’t being traded in.
Can you help me find a specific book or movie?
McKay Used Books is best experienced by browsing the aisles. If you do have something specific in mind, yes, it is worth coming in to look for it, but there are no guarantees in life (nor in used bookstores).
We can point you to the correct section to start your search. The lookup stations are located in the center of the store, and will direct you to the section and aisle where that book and similar items might be found. We do not have a live inventory, so the lookup shows you if it has come in before and where it was categorized. With tens of thousands of unique titles at any given moment, many of which we have only one copy, it isn’t possible to maintain a live inventory with 100% accuracy.
I need a NEW book, or I need a particular title right now. What should I do?
Bookshop.org/shop/mckayusedbooks is a good option if you need a new copy – or if you haven’t found it used at McKay’s yet. We are an affiliate and purchases on Bookshop.org do support us. The books are shipped from Bookshop.org, and do not represent the inventory at McKay Used Books.
Search for NEW books on our affiliate, Bookshop.org.New books, shipped directly to you and benefiting independent bookstores! The search above will lead you to an external website.
Does McKay Used Books offer a teacher discount?
McKay Used Books is happy to offer a 5% teacher discount on used books to those teaching Kindergarten through 12th grade in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.* One of the following forms of proof is required:
- A current school identification badge bearing the school’s name and your photo.
-OR-
- A home school letter of intent to home school with a photo ID matching the name of the requestor.
* Teacher’s discount is not eligible on non-book merchandise, nor on books with pink price stickers. Teacher’s discount may not be combined with any other promotions or discounts. Form of proof will be necessary each time the discount is requested. Discount only available at the time of sale, and will not be granted after the transaction has been completed.
Are you hiring?
We are not always hiring, but we are always accepting applications.
You may complete an application online on this website.
Applications are available at the Greeter station which can be completed on site and will be kept on file until the next hiring round.
My pet parrot is a big reader, can she join me to look for a new copy of Treasure Island? What about my dog and cat?
Sorry, we only have books and toys for people, nothing for pets at this time. Service animals trained for a specific purpose are certainly welcome, but not your pet.
(P.S. True story. Someone did bring a pet bird in to shop once. On their shoulder. Not in a cage.)
Do I need shoes?
Yes. Shirts and pants or skirts are also important for going out in public. Call your Senator or Representative with any further inquiries.
Can I buy stuff from you and then turn around and sell it for a higher price online? Are there special rules if I am a professional Book Dealer or Reseller? What if I’m just an entrepreneur trying to earn enough for _____?
So glad you asked! Yes, there are some special rules for Resellers, whether you do it as your career or just a hobby. McKay Used Books prioritizes the shopping experience of individual readers over resellers. A Reseller is permitted at McKay Used Books only if they comply to all of the following policies.
- Resellers and those shopping with electronic devices may shop from 9am to 10:30 am Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and at no other times.
- You agree to purchase any items you place in your cart or basket or box. You may not collect items in a cart to look through them later. Check items as you shop and return them to their original location if you do not intend to purchase them.
- Merchandise may only be shopped from our shelves. Staff must be given space and time to put items on the shelves when shelving. Please wait for staff to vacate the area prior to shopping where a staff member is actively shelving.
- Shelves must be left clean and neat
- Price stickers may not be tampered with in any way.
- All electronic devices must be on silent mode at all times.
Can I volunteer at McKay’s, or bring a client for on-the-job training at McKay’s?
We love to support our local community at McKay’s! We work with a couple of local schools, as well as the local community organization, FRESH reads. At this time, we are not accepting additional community volunteers. We are always accepting applications for paid employees in the store at the front desk, and the online application is often open as well – check the menu above for a ‘Now Hiring’ or ‘Apply Now’ link to the application.
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