Barnes & Noble Reducing Orders of New Trek Books?

[CaptPapa]

Sxottlan wrote:

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I called the Barnes & Noble back tonight and asked if I could order a copy of Devil's Bargain for pick-up. I was refused. The employee told me the store computer system did not give her that option. I did not ask, but I assumed it had to do with this feud with Simon & Schuster.

All she could do was order it for home delivery. When I asked when the next copy would be in, she did not know. I was told to call back in a couple days. Useless.

I figured I would just go to Amazon tonight to, I kid you not, buy my first book off the internet. I dissemble a little bit. I've bought CDs and blu-rays off of Amazon before, but never an actual book.

The S&H brought the total to nearly $13, an extra five dollars for a book that I wasn't even really excited for. No thanks.

So I guess I'll just wait and keep calling B&N and reserve it once it actually gets in.

Try Walmart online. That's where I buy new Star Trek titles now, at 25% or more off and get free shipping to the store. I'm in the store once or twice a month anyway, so . . .

[Sxottlan]

When I asked a B&N employee over the phone if the one new Trek book per store was because of "this thing" between them and S&S, I was told an emphatic "no." They don't even have the courtesy to be truthful to the customer about negotiating over more money.

Therin of Andor wrote:

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You'll end up spending the $5 in phone calls and petrol.

That is not a issue. The nearest B&N is just a few minutes away. Besides, gas is going to get used up either way.

Therin of Andor wrote:

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Do you not have any department stores with book departments? Apart from the B&N/S&S feud, any bookshop should be able to order any book by ISBN.

There are no more book stores besides B&N. At least around here. I was under the impression that B&N was the only chain of book store that remained in the country.

And department stores never sold books here. Walmart used to carry them and that's where I went to buy them, but they stopped carrying them at least eight years ago.

B&N is literally it, which is what is so frustrating about this. I've never had to pre-order, which I guess is besides the point here since B&N will not do it for Trek books because of this feud. I've always been able to pretty much walk into a book store and get what I want. You'd think B&N would keep the same amount of books on the shelves during these negotiations, but all this will do is drive people to online.

And since I apparently don't buy enough from Amazon right now, I still have to pay S&H. Which makes that book $13 for now. And I'm not a part of the B&N membership and probably won't be after this because why bother if it's going to be such a hassle to even locate the book that I want?

[cardinal biggles]

Sxottlan wrote:

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When I asked a B&N employee over the phone if the one new Trek book per store was because of "this thing" between them and S&S, I was told an emphatic "no." They don't even have the courtesy to be truthful to the customer about negotiating over more money.

B&N's corporate offices are notorious about not communicating information to their store-level employees. It's more likely the bookseller you spoke to had no knowledge of B&N employing any 'tactics' (like reducing the quantity of orders) during their negotiations with S&S and hadn't heard of the situation until you asked about it.

[Christopher]

Sxottlan wrote:

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I was under the impression that B&N was the only chain of book store that remained in the country.

No, not the only one, though maybe the only nationwide one. There's also Books-A-Million, which has a couple of hundred stores in the south, northeast, and midwest US and is the second-largest surviving bookstore chain. In my part of the country, there's a local chain called Joseph-Beth Booksellers that has four big stores in Ohio and Kentucky -- although it used to have more stores and has weathered a bankruptcy filing in recent years. I'm sure there are others holding on as well.

[bfollowell]

Christopher wrote:

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In my part of the country, there's a local chain called Joseph-Beth Booksellers that has four big stores in Ohio and Kentucky -- although it used to have more stores and has weathered a bankruptcy filing in recent years. I'm sure there are others holding on as well.

Your part of the country? What part of the country are you from? I'm originally from central Kentucky and have shopped the Lexington Joseph Beths many times. You wouldn't happen to be another country boy would you?

- Byron

[Christopher]

I'm from Cincinnati. In fact, when the Cincy Joseph-Beth store first opened, I lived just a couple of blocks away from it. I'm a few miles farther away now.

Oh, and the J-B publicity guy has talked to me about the possibility of arranging a signing event for me and other regional SF/fantasy authors at the Lexington store. Nothing solid yet, but hopefully it'll come together before long.

[BillJ]

King Daniel wrote:

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How I'd love Trek to have such prominence all the time!

ProwlAlpha wrote:

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I haven't seen a sight like that since early last decade. Ever since the cancellation of ENT, book shelf space has gone down and less. Now, even WOW books are on top and get multiple copies while the newest Trek book is on the bottom with a lone copy.

Haven't seen Trek books stocked like that since the late-90's.

[bfollowell]

Christopher wrote:

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I'm from Cincinnati. In fact, when the Cincy Joseph-Beth store first opened, I lived just a couple of blocks away from it. I'm a few miles farther away now.

Oh, and the J-B publicity guy has talked to me about the possibility of arranging a signing event for me and other regional SF/fantasy authors at the Lexington store. Nothing solid yet, but hopefully it'll come together before long.

Too funny. I lived in Georgetown and worked at the Toyota plant there before transferring to Indiana 15 years ago. I was just down the road from you. Of course, I didn't know anything of you then...

Keep us informed if you head to Lexington. I could always plan a trip in to visit Mom & Dad. I'd love to get you to sign a book. Well, how do you sign an ebook?

- Byron

[Sxottlan]

Okay, personal crisis over.. for now. First location again did not have Devil's Bargain (despite the computer implying that they did), but they were actually able to call a second nearby location and found a copy.

And I was able to pick it up the same day I finished Allegiance in Exile. I almost had to start reading a non-Trek book!

cardinal biggles wrote:

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B&N's corporate offices are notorious about not communicating information to their store-level employees. It's more likely the bookseller you spoke to had no knowledge of B&N employing any 'tactics' (like reducing the quantity of orders) during their negotiations with S&S and hadn't heard of the situation until you asked about it.

Fair enough, but doesn't seem very fair to the employees.

[Christopher]

bfollowell wrote:

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Well, how do you sign an ebook?

I once saw someone ask an author to sign the cover of their Kindle or Nook or whatever it was.

[ATimson]

bfollowell wrote:

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I'd love to get you to sign a book. Well, how do you sign an ebook?

One idea (that I'm shameless stealing from... I believe Terri Osborne) is to simply make a binder of printed cover images.

[Allyn Gibson]

ATimson wrote:

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One idea (that I'm shameless stealing from... I believe Terri Osborne) is to simply make a binder of printed cover images.

Actually, I did that first. Terri then nicked the idea and ran with it.

Cover on one side of a white unlined index card, marketing copy and/or contact details on the back.

[JD]

^So that is OK then. I've had that idea before, but wasn't sure if it would be considered OK. Although if I did it, it would probably be on a sheet of regular white paper or photo paper so I could frame it.

[bfollowell]

JD wrote:

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^So that is OK then. I've had that idea before, but wasn't sure if it would be considered OK. Although if I did it, it would probably be on a sheet of regular white paper or photo paper so I could frame it.

This.

I was really just kidding with my question. I think what I would do would be to have the author sign a blank sheet, scan it, and then insert it in any of their books that I had.

- Byron

[E-DUB]

A little OT, but I went into a "Books-a-Million" for the first time today. They have "Star Wars" titles separated out at the end of SF, but "Trek" books are integrated in with the other SF by author's name. WTF is that all about? It's "Franchise Discrimination", I tell you.