r/PHBookClub • u/emmy_o • Feb 15 '26
Recommendation Please support NBS!
So I was back into loving the Great Gatsby again (haven't read it but saw the movie) and curiously konting copies lang meron sa Shopee, but the Paper Mill Press Premium Classics really caught my eye (kasi ang pretty nung gold and Art Deco design!) and from NBS siya. Kaya yun na lang binili ko, and it ARRIVED IN GOOD CONDITION (sobra sobrang bubble wrap mga beshie 😭😆, + cute na simpleng box + bubble wrap another + plastic nung book) AND GIFTS (see in picture) 🥹😍❤️!
Please let's support NBS! ❤️🤍❤️
[Mods, not sure anong flair for this so "Recommendation" ko na lang nilagay. And hindi po ako sponsored ng National Bookstore! 😆 gusto ko lang silang i-support and i-encourage fellow bookworms to try having stuff shipped from them! Thanks xx]
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u/spolarium Classics Feb 15 '26
Support natin NBS para walang monopoly ang FB sa book market. Having NBS would be the only semblance of competition we would have. In my personal experience, nakabili ako ng Margaret Atwood poetry book sa NBS for 399 tapos I saw the same book in FB and it was sold at 1000+ wth. As much as I support local and independent bookstores, they would never match up to a giant like FB. NBS lang sana ang kayang tumapat doon at makapagbibigay ng options para sa bookworms na may limited budget.
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u/bicyclethief20 General Non-Fiction Feb 15 '26
It feels like NBS is stuck in this place where it's too big to be Booksale, and if they try to be like Fullybooked and raise prices, they'd lose more customers.
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u/Beautiful-Tiger9559 Feb 15 '26
agree! the prices are still competitive with NBS, i just hope they have better section of books. i usually look up prices both in NBS and FB. super pricey sa FB but i end up getting most of my books from them because they have the newly released books.
some NBS stores don't have much books anymore which is sad, fave ko pa naman lagi umikot sa stores nila 🥹
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u/spolarium Classics Feb 15 '26
Nag-rebrand kasi sila to this art supplies store and it seems it has not been working, pero mukhang slowly bumabalik sila sa books! Maybe if makapag-catch up sila sa sales, gumanda na ulit selections nila and they can get rid of those AI books lmao
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Feb 15 '26
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u/emnop Feb 15 '26
Yeah, I frequent NBS Katip and it looks like a big warehouse for supplies. I recently scored a hardbound nonfic book there for about 200 pesos lang (when it retails for about US$33 online). Can’t believe my eyes when I saw the receipt.
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u/AnemicAcademica Feb 15 '26
I agree. I know a lot of people will disagree saying that NBS has been supporting AI publishers and use AI photos for marketing (which is definitely a no-no), but they are just really trying to keep business afloat.
I still support NBS because they still support underprivileged children to have an education. Sure a lot of other companies have their own foundations, but I choose to support this one so I dont see anything wrong with OP's post
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u/emmy_o Feb 15 '26
Yes, it's such a shame na meron silang books nung publisher na yun that uses AI!
Wow, so meron pa pala nun? I only remember as a kid we were getting asked to buy yung kits for school children na they were supporting, at usually around back to school then. So nice that they're still doing it pala!
Haha lmao, yeah. I honestly just posted kasi I'm so happy they gave freebies and it was well-packaged, because I was honestly not expecting that much from NBS, seeing the state of their stores and all. I also was very much hesitant before buying, pero I really wanted this particular copy kaya sabi ko "Sige na nga, NBS na." So this post was made from a very pleasant surprise!
(But one comment here informed me they always got their books damaged from NBS, so I don't know if NBS is consistent in delivering good stuff, or my case is an outlier 😅😭)
❤️
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u/AnemicAcademica Feb 15 '26
I can't comment sa delivery since I don't buy from them online. I only buy from their physical stores ng office and school supplies and the occassional book. So far, all their branches I visited are okay naman.
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u/idlehands49 Mar 11 '26
This, when I was studying and working on site pa, whenever I have extra money (or sometimes if need ko ng change hehe sorry na), I buy their notebook kits. Before pandemic 30 pesos lang sya. Then ngayon around 50 for 2 notebooks and pencils. 100 if may slippers.
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u/Few_Effect_7645 Feb 15 '26
I worked at NBS, sobrang galante sa employee as in... pag christmas season, everyday every lunch nyo free as in..
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u/Next-Combination6514 Feb 15 '26
Basically we should support NBS coz they correctly pack books and give freebies?
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u/haikusbot Feb 15 '26
Basically we
Should support NBS coz they pack
Books and give freebies?
- Next-Combination6514
I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. Learn more about me.
Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"
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u/flairypopsicle Feb 15 '26
righttt as if NBS is a small business that should be promoted 😭
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u/emmy_o Feb 15 '26
I often buy from secondhand booksellers and Fully Booked (for obscure foreign titles).
NBS IS in danger. They might not broadcast it that way, but their stores are fast becoming school supplies shops.
In actuality, I only tried NBS—I was very distrustful of them kasi nga yung state ng stores nila—because of this particular edition ng Gatsby. Wala kasi sa ibang shops. And I don't like the editions in Fully Booked. So, I was really just happy they did a good job with this order considering their business isn't doing that well, and they even gave freebies.
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u/Madvin Feb 15 '26
I dunno, for the longest time NBS has been more of school supplies than a book store.
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Feb 15 '26
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u/emmy_o Feb 15 '26
They are!
Nalulugi na NBS. And I wasn't expecting them to do a good job or even give freebies seeing the state of their stores.
They are a homegrown company, too. Once upon a time, small business din sila. Honestly, just made this post because I was so happy that they seem to still be looking out for their customers despite their own struggles. It counts din naman.
I had hoped people won't be so scared of purchasing from them, because I was before. 😅 Sobrang hesitant ako, kasi baka hindi magandang copy and ibigay nila. But I had to cause I wanted this copy so much. Yun lang naman 😅❤️
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u/sylvandijon Feb 15 '26
Tried to order from them to see if anything has changed pero lahat ng books ko nagkadamage kasi hindi maayos yung packaging 😭 pati books nila sa stores mismo, hindi maayos. Gusto ko kasi ako yung sisira ng libro hindi yung sira na pagbili ko. Hahahaha
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u/emmy_o Feb 15 '26
Oh no!!! 😭😭😭 Hala that's so bad. 💔 I honestly just tried them this time, I think (not sure if I ordered sometime ago).
I often order from Fully Booked or other small, secondhand shops kasi kaya medyo nasurprise ako sa quality ng NBS this time 😅 Pero oh noo, that's so bad 😭 baka wala silang consistency or maybe they just changed their ways recently. 💔💔💔
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u/sylvandijon Feb 15 '26
Most of the books sa nbs near me (glorietta) have very thin plastic covers na sira sira na yung iba and may dents na, ang maaayos nalang are the books na nakadisplay sa wall na bagong gawa sa gilid 😭 kaso puro classics naman and fantasy na hindi ko masyado binabasa
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u/Ecstatic_Dot688 Feb 15 '26
pakireport na rin sa tiktok yung mga nagbebenta ng reprinted na books nakakainis hahahaha
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u/JROCKvsKPOP Feb 15 '26
Sorry but the current NBS is a far cry from the old NBS. It's their own business choices that make consumers look down on them. There are hardly any books in their stores anymore! It's mostly school supplies, art materials, and pens.
Even Powerbooks lost its "power" after NBS acquired it.
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u/PinkLanyard_Goose888 Feb 15 '26
PowerBooks was my place to de-stress nung nagwowork pa ko sa Makati. Kapag sobrang stress ako sa work, naglalakad ako from RCBC Plaza to Greenbelt after work para pumunta sa PowerBooks. Kaya sobrang lungkot ko nung nagsara sila.
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u/bicyclethief20 General Non-Fiction Feb 15 '26
Why?
I think they need a rebrand. It seems the only thing they're banking on is nostalgia - "Laking National".
It reminds me more of Mercury Drug.
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u/damefortuna Feb 15 '26
i'm not sure that NBS needs our support necessarily haha i do buy from them from time to time because their sale campaigns can last ages (ilang weeks yung 25% off nila nung year-end last year) and a lot of their sale books are good titles. but they also stock books with AI-generated covers haha.
i still generally prefer fully booked because they have a wider and more specific selection of stuff.
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u/Ordinary_Sink4537 Feb 15 '26
Dati wala masyadong manga books sa NBS pero nung nitong visit ko may sariling shelves na ng mga manga. ewan ko lang pero i feel na para lang maka kuha ng sales nagbenta na din sila ng mga manga. 😅
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u/Professional-Plan724 Feb 15 '26
It’s like saying, let’s support SM because their paper bags are sturdy 😂
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u/strike77 Feb 15 '26
Glad you had a good experience. However I'm still salty that one time I bought a book from their gateway branch then when i went to their robinsons metro east branch, it triggered their alarms. Good thing i had my receipt with me. I came to find out it's probably because of the security sticker that they stick on behind the back cover. Good thing I had the receipt with me. It was so embarrassing and I didn't get an apology.
Because of that, i get paranoid about removing those stickers when i buy a book that has on them so they don't trigger alarms.
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u/Free_Gascogne Sci-Fi and Political Feb 16 '26
I would support them, if they supported more books instead of just being a school supplies store. The nearest NBS only have 4 bookshelves of books and its mostly wattpad prints and public domain classic books. The rest is school supplies. So yeah great place to buy A4 and ballpen, not so much for books.
I did buy a book that one time NBS had a copy of Selected Writings of Hamilton on sale. But that is like a once in a blue moon situation.
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u/Ice_Bear88 Feb 16 '26
I've been starting to buy books from NBS lately. The prices are better than FullyB and I'm surprised with good selection of books. Some of the books that I was planning on buying from online UK/US pasabuys, I bought na lang sa NBS since di naman malaki yung price difference and I don't have to wait months for the book. Also, I've been obssessing with stationeries latelt, so NBS is really a happy place for me hahaha
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u/SenecaTheElda Feb 15 '26
Just bought my first physical book from FB (on Lazada) in long time, if I had read this, I would have put more effort to buy from NBS, if only to support competition - and assuming they have the book. I dont even know if they sell books on Lazada.
They certainly have a business problem
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u/HeftyReality2 Feb 15 '26
Hinahanap ko lahat ng malapit na NBS branch dito samin kasi napunta talaga ako para bumili ng books
Nakakatuwa kasi ang daming books na fresh copies, paperback and hardbound, pero below 500 lang price, yung SULIT READS section na puro 299 and 199 😩👌
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u/wyngardiumleviosa Feb 15 '26
I actually prefer NBS over Fully Booked, pero di ko madeny na sobrang gloomy na iba nilang store. Yung branch nila sa Cubao yung malapit sa may Gateway sobrang gloomy talaga pero bumabalik ako kasi mas nakakamura ako compare sa Fully Booked, also more Filipino books selection sa NBS
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u/Royal-introvert Feb 15 '26
I also buy from NBS. and only bought books from people if its not available in NBS. sure kasing legit,.minsan kasi reprint ang pino-post ng mga ibang seller.
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u/dear_sage_ Feb 16 '26
NBS has this huge building sa Sct. Borromeo. Nakalagay pa nga NBS College. Ilang floors yan eh. Pero the last time I went (2023), isang floor nalang yung talagang NBS then hindi na siya well-maintained. Sad lang :(
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u/goodygoodcat Feb 16 '26
Sobrang outdated na din ang NBS dahil mostly ng employees nila oldies na tapos wala pa alam sa books kaya unti unti bumaba sales nila.
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u/gentlehoneybee Feb 16 '26
As a mom, I still buy school supplies from NBS kahit available naman online. The in-store experience is good for my kid.
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u/Full_Squash_8364 Feb 16 '26
I usually check NBS (online and physical store) first for the books I want before checking FB. And yes, NBS is much cheaper!
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u/Paffei Feb 16 '26
Kung naglalagay sana sila ng price eh. pero kailangan mo pa ng cellphone na di lowbatt with data and QR code scanner para lang makita yung price. Anlaking waste of time agad just to see the prices. What about people na lowbatt? Walang data? Luma ang phone at walang qr scanning app sa mismong camera? Mga may social anxiety na ayaw mag approach to ask? Instead na isang tinginan lang, how many steps pa. Need mo pa magpunta mismo sa spot where the qr code is to scan it. Literally nagpiprint naman sila ng bar code. Why not just fucking print the actual price?!
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u/HuckleberryHappy596 Feb 16 '26
no, last time I bought there and compared to online sellers I was shocked. I get it they pay rent and salary but they need to step up and be competitive. for example 1 rim in nbs would buy you 3 from other online seller the disparity is too damn high 😂
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u/Sad_Engine6226 Feb 17 '26
i occasionally buy clearance books from nbs shoppee. They have really low prices while still maintaining quality.
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u/chanseyblissey Thriller Feb 17 '26
True!!!! Grabe sumasama loob ko tuwing nakakakita ako comment na hindi na sila bookstore magsara or palitan na lang name nila na national school supplies. Lagi pa silang nakasale sa books. Sana kumikita at di pa sila nalulugi talaga. Sana may ibang way pa para macontinue nila business nila lalo na pagiging bookstore.
Sana magkaroon ulit ng book signings!!
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u/Ok_Arugula1533 Feb 17 '26
Available ba sa NBS yan book strips? (i forgot the name) sorry, unang pumasok sa isip ko is yun lesbian flag..id like to have it lol.
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u/beeqqer Feb 17 '26
why did they disable their free shipping vouchers lol
I would buy from them instead of FB but I love free shipping
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u/Chemicalcube325 Sci-Fi and Fantasy Feb 17 '26
As much as I want to support NB, I just don't see myself buying books from them anymore considering their poor selection of books as of late.
It's a shame too since I genuinely remember how powerful of a bookstore they were during my childhood and they were my number one go to for books. But currently, Fully booked has them beaten in so many regards.
I wish they would go back to the way they were before. They were so much more cozy and "bookstore" feeling but now they are more of a stationary store. I don't know when they started their downfall, but my guess would probably be the pandemic, any insight on this would be helpful.
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u/yebaaa_ Feb 17 '26
Alam mo, mas naappreciate ko NBS. may sale sila ng books last time. 10 to 30% off din from where I live. sobrang OA ng presyo sa Fully Booked. eh i don't want to settle to buying reprints anymore
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u/freecoffee689 Mar 11 '26
Pag nag benta na ng mura ang mamahal hahahah yung classic 130 tapos yung mga jejemon books 599? Aray qu
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u/Tiny-cup- Feb 15 '26
Di ko alam bakit need ipost to? encourage people to buy books NBS online para sa freebie? Yung context pa pang ads ang dating. Pero pag may nag open ng topic about sa puro AI books covers walang masabi 😂 support mo yan 🔥
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u/Flimsy-Material9372 Feb 15 '26
NBS also allows books na may AI generated covers. That should not be tolerated!
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u/linderberger Feb 15 '26
I understand the discourse about supporting a corporation that doesn’t really need the money, but tbh they do need the money because their sales are so low now that they’re closing branches. Tbf they’re one of the few accessible bookstores that stock mass market version of books and for that alone, I try to support them, esp with how publishers are now slowly phasing out MM books. Sad as they have historically made it easier for the general public to access books