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Barnes & Nobles, Borders near end of life

Itisnotlogical

Itisnotlogical

Commodore
Commodore
NEW YORK — The two largest U.S. bookstore chains have offered up a compelling cliffhanger this holiday season that will seal the fate of brick-and-mortar bookselling.
In the latest chapter, Barnes & Noble Inc. has put itself up for sale, while Borders Group Inc. has put its hand out to lenders in hopes of avoiding a cash shortfall early next year.
Click to expand...

The full story is here.

This makes me very sad. Reading is one of the things I probably couldn't live without, just like another person couldn't live without their BluTooth or iPad or whatever technical doodad is the newest and most expensive. The written language has been around longer than any electric device and I'm very sorry to see it taking it's first steps towards dying out. Half the people I go to school with couldn't tell "no" from "know" if it was written on a page.

I'm nostalgic for the 1500's. So sue me.
 
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Borders has been back and forth for a while now and it's still stuck around. I have faith B&N will as well.
 
itisnotlogical said:
NEW YORK — The two largest U.S. bookstore chains have offered up a compelling cliffhanger this holiday season that will seal the fate of brick-and-mortar bookselling.
In the latest chapter, Barnes & Noble Inc. has put itself up for sale, while Borders Group Inc. has put its hand out to lenders in hopes of avoiding a cash shortfall early next year.
Click to expand...

The full story is here.

This makes me very sad. Reading is one of the things I probably couldn't live without, just like another person couldn't live without their BluTooth or iPad or whatever technical doodad is the newest and most expensive. The written language has been around longer than any electric device and I'm very sorry to see it taking it's first steps towards dying out. Half the people I go to school with couldn't tell "no" from "know" if it was written on a page.

I'm nostalgic for the 1500's. So sue me.
Click to expand...

I don't really read that much, but I have made a concious decision to read more. That bieng said, I wouldn't worry, maybe this will be a return to small local book stores. Barnes & Nobles is cool, but just like Walmart, they destroy the mom and pop stores.E-Books suck anyway, I hate not having a physical book in my hand. There's enough people like you and myself(to a lesser degree) that will keep physical books alive. I doubt it will ever go away completely. If there is a huge natural disaster or "fall of Rome" moment someone will have re-educate the population. We need people like you to hold onto thier books. It'll be ok. I can't lie though, I do love my iphone and PS3.
 
If any of them would survive, I'd put my money on Borders, because B&N charges money for their rewards card, and their reservation system sucks bollocks.
 
There has never been a Barnes and Noble in my city, nor a Borders. I did go into a Borders shop while I was visiting my sister in Adelaide but I didn't buy anything.

I buy 90% of my books online. I have been thinking of getting myself an e-reader but even if I do I will still buy paperbacks and hardbacks because some books are better suited to paper medium.
 
I like Borders. If Borders closed its stores, that would eliminate the biggest incentive that I ever had for going to major shopping centres.
 
I think the problem with the big bookstores is they let people read everything right there. Why buy a book (or magazines) when I can hangout and drink coffee while reading it for free.
 
"E-books now make up about 5 percent of all book sales. The figure is expected to triple within five years. E-reader devices don't offer great margins, but they do spur e-book sales."

That's a smaller margin than I'd expected. I stick with physical books so I can mark them up and slap Post-it's in them (like the one in my lap right now).

That being said, Amazon is much more affordable, has a much wider inventory and even with standard shipping gets books to you really quick.
 
I view this as less the demise of physical bookstores with printed works, and more the death of big chain bookstores with their spiffy little cafes in the corner and super-stocks of everything under the sun.

Perhaps it will lead to a resurgence in mom and pop bookstores, as such smaller locales would be more capable of supporting the needs of a community without having to fill a building the size of a small warehouse.
 
itisnotlogical said:
NEW YORK — The two largest U.S. bookstore chains have offered up a compelling cliffhanger this holiday season that will seal the fate of brick-and-mortar bookselling.
In the latest chapter, Barnes & Noble Inc. has put itself up for sale, while Borders Group Inc. has put its hand out to lenders in hopes of avoiding a cash shortfall early next year.
Click to expand...

The full story is here.

This makes me very sad. Reading is one of the things I probably couldn't live without, just like another person couldn't live without their BluTooth or iPad or whatever technical doodad is the newest and most expensive. The written language has been around longer than any electric device and I'm very sorry to see it taking it's first steps towards dying out. Half the people I go to school with couldn't tell "no" from "know" if it was written on a page.

I'm nostalgic for the 1500's. So sue me.
Click to expand...

I no what you mean. Just kidding. :p

Honestly, I feel like you are saying it's one or the other. Reading isn't going away because of tech doodads, it's merely finding a different medium. And people aren't getting things just because they're hip and expensive. I didn't think I'd ever use an e-book reader because I love books. I love writing in them, I love their curled corners and creased spines, I love the feel of the paper and the sound as I turn the page.

But I love the Kindle my husband got, as well. I actually read more now that I don't have to carry around multiple books. I find myself reading faster, never searching for my page, and having a library at my fingertips. It's not the same but honestly? It's pretty awesome.

I'll be sad if these bookstores go away because they've been a large part of my life. But reading will never go away.
 
I'm w/ you, Itsnotlogical. I love technology, including my iPad, but I love the printed word more. Books have distinctive feels and smells. I like being surrounded by them, the same way I like having art on my walls. A home w/o books has less personality.

Sorry, gotta go. Today is Sunday, and The New York Times is waiting... :)
 
I think it is a bit of an overreaction to think that this is the beginning of the demise of the printed word. I used to very much enjoy walking around these big bookstores when I was younger, just sitting around reading whatever I fancied. But I haven't gone to one in some time, mostly because I don't have the time to sit around reading a book that I probably won't be able to finish unless I purchase it, and let's be honest, the prices at Barnes and Noble are kind of ridiculous. I buy most of my books on Amazon now, and I would like to own an e-reader someday, though there are certain books I will always want in hard copy (like Agatha Christie books). I think that buying books in small corner shops or online will become the major options, and of course e-books will become more popular. This doesn't bother me so much. I also have fond memories of perusing used book stores, even more fond because I could actually afford to take the books home with me.
 
I don't think e-books are the biggest problem for the large book stores. The real problem is the lower costs required to operate an internet based retail operation. Walk in stores are very expensive when it comes to things like rent, fixtures, utilities and labor costs. The warehouse for an internet retailer can be in a neighborhood where the rent per square foot is much lower. Merchandise in a warehouse can be stored at a much higher density and the warehouse employees aren't in the position of demanding quite as comfortable temperatures as demanded by retail customers.

The lower costs permit lower retail prices. The only advantages "brick and mortar" stores have are the immediate delivery and a better opportunity for the customer to examine the merchandise.

I believe there will be continue to be customers that prefer the immeidiate nature of "brick and mortar" retailing, but the chains will need to consolidate locations. A metropolitan area might end up with fewer locations than before and many customers will need to drive farther to reach them. Coffee bars, signings and "clubs" might gain importance in attracting customers, in addition to special offers only available through the in house Wi-Fi connection.
 
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