Complain About Barnes & Noble - learn how to file a complaint

How to Complain About Barnes & Noble

It's not just you. Barnes & Noble has a shocking 1.04 out of 5-star rating on the Better Business Bureau, with over 1,129 complaints filed in the last three years alone. It's a mess. People are constantly getting hit with issues like botched online orders, confusing membership renewals, and customer service that goes nowhere. It feels like they've forgotten how to handle the basics, leaving customers to deal with the fallout. If you're tired of being ignored or given the runaround for a simple problem, you're in the right place. We'll show you exactly how to get their attention and fight back.

Popular complaints flagged on the BBB and Trustpilot include online order issues, problems with payment and charges, and poor customer service.

Official site: Visit Barnes & Noble

Getting a response can feel like waiting for a rare first edition to be reprinted. It varies wildly.

• Try calling early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid peak call times.
• Have your order number, B&N Membership number, and email address ready before you contact them.
• Use their live chat. It's often faster than email and you can save a transcript for your records.

If Barnes & Noble is giving you the silent treatment, it's time to escalate. Your first and best stop is the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Filing a complaint there is free and creates public pressure. Barnes & Noble has a history of responding to BBB complaints to protect its rating, but be prepared to wait, it's not an overnight process. For billing errors they refuse to correct, file a chargeback with your credit card company. Just explain the situation and provide any evidence you have. This directly reverses the charge. If you feel you've been a victim of deceptive practices, you can also file a complaint with your state's Attorney General, who handles consumer protection.

Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Order #[Order Number] / Membership #[Membership ID]

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing again to resolve an issue with my account. My previous attempt to get this fixed on [Date of first contact] through [Phone call/Email/Chat] was unsuccessful, and frankly, my patience is wearing thin.

On [Date of incident], [clearly and briefly describe the problem, e.g., I was charged for a membership I had already cancelled, my order arrived with damaged items, the wrong book was sent]. Having to spend my time chasing this down has been incredibly frustrating and a complete waste of my time.

To resolve this, I need you to [state your specific demand, e.g., issue a full refund of $XX.XX to my original payment method, ship the correct item immediately at no extra cost].

Please be aware that if this issue is not resolved within 48 hours, my next step will be to file a chargeback with my credit card company and submit a formal complaint to the Better Business Bureau.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

[Your Name]

• When you call, if the first representative isn't helping, politely but firmly ask to speak with a supervisor or manager. Sometimes just asking is enough to get things moving.
• Take your complaint public. A well-worded post on Twitter/X tagging @BNHelps can get a surprisingly fast response from their social media team.
• A user on Reddit mentioned they got a resolution by using the live chat and immediately asking for the transcript to be emailed to them. It makes the conversation feel more official and holds the agent accountable.
• Always ask for a reference or case number for your complaint. It's your proof if you need to follow up.

Tired of the hold music on Barnes & Noble's customer service line? Or sending emails into a black hole? Sound familiar? Pine AI handles the annoying parts for you. We chase them down, document everything, and push for the resolution you deserve so you don't have to. No more repeating your order number for the fifth time or explaining your issue to three different people. Seriously. Let us take over the headache while you get back to actually reading a book.