Barnes & Nobles, Borders near end of life

[Snaploud]

I'm not a technical person, so perhaps someone can explain this to me. How do you actually browse a book to see if you want it for an e-book? Or even just ordering a real book via the internet?
Are we supposed to just look at the title and little one or two sentence synopsis and make a decision? Talk about judging a book by its cover.

On the kindle you can get samples of the book and download them. It's usually a decent number of pages.

Also, Baen.com often offers the first book in a series for free. I think it's a very effective marketing tool.

 

[Starbreaker]

Sad, but I love my e-reader and have no use for actual books anymore.

Seconded.

I get all my books on my iPad now. Never looked back.

Then one day while reading on your iPad your battery dies for good....

Well, my house could burn down, too.

 

[Snaploud]

Seconded.

I get all my books on my iPad now. Never looked back.

Then one day while reading on your iPad your battery dies for good....

Well, my house could burn down, too.

And that's a big plus of my kindle...I have access to all my books even if my home burns to the ground. Though, obviously, I would have to get a replacement kindle.

 

[Sakrysta]

Jumping in the rewards program debate.

I like the Borders program. Membership is free, and I regularly get 33%- and 40%-off and even the occasional 50%-off coupons via email. I'm not likely to spend $150 a year to qualify for any cash back, but even at 33% off $7.99, I'm saving at least $2.50 on each book. I might not build up the purchases to get $5 back, but I save that in just two purchases. It would take me ten purchases to pay for a B&N membership, assuming they even send out comparable coupons. (Do they?) Otherwise it would take even more purchases at the 10% discount rate. I just don't buy that many new books - at least not without a more significant discount than 10% off.

As for the hardcover discounts, since I don't buy those anyway, I'm not losing anything there. And since I don't order new books online (I'm too picky about condition and making sure the book is printed straight and the cover trimmed evenly), the shipping advantages don't mean anything to me.

All that said, I do like the Barnes & Noble stores better. They still carry a substantial CD stock with decent prices if you're willing to dig. Their DVDs are way over-priced, but Borders does the same thing. I usually get DVDs either from department stores or online anyway.

All this talk of coupons has reminded me - I have a 40%-off coupon for DVDs that expires tomorrow and a 33%-off coupon for anything that expires today, so I'm thinking it's time to go SHOPPING!

 

[Yeoman Randi]

I don't like this at all! I love books. I love to HOLD books. I love to collect them. Just like i love CDs and DVDs. I like to have them, hold them, see them on a shelf. Go back to them when i want to. I won't ever get use to downloading anything. Wah!

 

[RJDiogenes]

^^ Me, too. I suspect that in a couple of decades I will be like Cogsley-- a weird old guy who collects bound copies of printed matter that take up way too much room.

 

[cardinal biggles]

I just don't like B&N's reservation system, either, because it simply doesn't work. When the art book for the 2009 Trek film came out, I placed a reservation for in-store pickup AFTER I had seen multiple copies at the store, during an earlier visit... I just wanted to make sure a copy would be waiting for me when I returned with money for the purchase.

So, money and printout for the reservation in hand, I returned to the B&N, and the cashier informed me that they had NO copies in the store, and that they'd have to order it, to which I replied that they in fact had THREE copies of the book in-store, and that I had come to pick up my reservation, since the computer said it was in-store, and would be held for me, to which SHE replied that since the computer she was on said it was not in-store, she could not honor the reservation as-was.

I told her to wait a second, went upstairs, got a copy of the book, came back to her, and told her to just sell me the book. So much for their frakking computer system.

More like so much for the frakking bookseller who sent you a confirmation without putting a book aside. You're blaming a computer system for an error committed by a human; someone on the other end had to answer either yes or no to your request, and had to take the book up to the front registers. The computer can't answer on its own.

 

[Kestra]

I just heard from a friend that the giant Borders on Michigan Ave. in downtown Chicago is closing. That's sad, because I do frequent that store and enjoy it.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I buy most of my books on-line...but it would be too bad if Borders and B&N went out of business. That would be bad for competition and bad for those of us who DO buy at Amazon, because they would then have less incentive to keep prices reasonable.

As for e-readers, I don't really have much interest in them. I'm sure they are okay, but I already spend enough time looking at computer screens. And I really don't want to hassle around with keeping an entire library backed up so that I don't lose my purchases should I have a hard disk crash. I'd much rather have a real book in my hands that I don't have to back up or hassle with, other than to stick it on a bookshelf for future reference or re-read.

I'll continue to buy books for the same reason I continue to buy CDs. They are their own 'backups'.

 

[Kestra]

As for e-readers, I don't really have much interest in them. I'm sure they are okay, but I already spend enough time looking at computer screens.

The thing I like about using the Kindle is that it's very much just a replacement for a book. I don't use it for web-surfing, checking email, or anything else. And yes, it's a screen but I had to laugh at myself while reading, because my hand went to the top corner as if to turn the page of a book. That's how much it felt like a book to me! It really isn't like another computer screen.

I'm really not trying to make people use something they dislike. I was just so surprised by how much I like the Kindle that I'd suggest you at least give it a try before you pass judgment. And who says it has to be one or the other?

 

[cardinal biggles]

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 don't think there is a Barnes & Noble in Australia. From looking at their website, reminds me of an Angus & Robinson, or Dymocks (who I noticed don't have more stores in Newcastle).

That would be correct. Barnes & Noble only has stores in the States.

Here Borders is owned by A&R.

Borders used to have stores in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, but got rid of the vast majority by the end of 2009.

 

[Nowhere Man]

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.

I agree with everything you said except for the last sentence. The death of large bookstores can only be a good thing - all they stock are 'bestsellers', sportmens autobiographies and pop-science books. Oh, and self help codswallop .. 'Buhddism for Bogans' 'How To Make a Million Dollars Without Lifting a Finger - Yes You Can!' 'Change Your Life By Thinking About Things'. The death of chain stores will benefit civilisation enourmously.

I have found that second hand bookstores contain the real gems. You can find proper hardcover books from the 1940s if you look hard enough. They are awesome and reading them makes me feel like a time traveller.

What don't you agree with? I'm confused, you don't like PS3 and iphones? If so, then that is your preference. If it is something else maybe I misrepresented myself. I want to see the destruction of large corperations, I would love to see a return to local bookstores, hardware stores, dinners, retail stores, music stores, ect. The only thing Barnes & Nobles offers is maybe a larger variety, but still it's mostly a wide variety of crap. I would love to see a President with balls like TR. had who would do some real trust busting an we can get some real competition.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I have found that second hand bookstores contain the real gems. You can find proper hardcover books from the 1940s if you look hard enough. They are awesome and reading them makes me feel like a time traveller.

Among the books I have on Iceland are two books written about the authors' travels in Iceland. One was published in 1902, the other in 1908. I picked both up in a second hand bookshop.

However nowadays I tend to buy my second hand books using AbeBooks because that way I can look in second hand bookshops all over the world.

 

[marillion]

I'm pretty "meh" about Borders but I love going down to the big 'ol Barnes and Noble and browsing for ages..

No e-readers for me.. There's just something comforting about the tactile feel of a real book in the hand. My 13 year old daughter is the same way. Asked her if she wanted a e-reader for Christmas and she said no... Such a good girl...

 

[Yeoman Randi]

^^ Me, too. I suspect that in a couple of decades I will be like Cogsley-- a weird old guy who collects bound copies of printed matter that take up way too much room.

Love it! Yeah, i'm gonna have to be dragged into this new technology kicking and screaming.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I don't think it's a bad thing to have an eReader--I find now that I have one, that I can enjoy both for different purposes. I am also on the road a lot, so the eReader is good for travel, but the books are great at home.

 

[trampledamage]

I don't think it's a bad thing to have an eReader--I find now that I have one, that I can enjoy both for different purposes. I am also on the road a lot, so the eReader is good for travel, but the books are great at home.

Agreed, back in the day when I was travelling a lot between Belfast and London my Palm Vx was a godsend because I could carry 20 or so books in my handbag (and also take a quick break at my desk and read a chapter or two while looking like I was updating my schedule ) But it hasn't replaced books, it was just good for travel.

 

[Mysterion]

Well, good news for locally owned independant booksellers. Hopefully.

 

[MNM]

More like so much for the frakking bookseller who sent you a confirmation without putting a book aside. You're blaming a computer system for an error committed by a human; someone on the other end had to answer either yes or no to your request, and had to take the book up to the front registers. The computer can't answer on its own.

If the computer system is telling them it isnt in stock in the store when it is, how is that the sellers fault and not the systems?

 

[C.E. Evans]

What are books?