Yeah, that's my first thought association with both Borders and B&N. But if no one's buying those dvds, I guess the answer is no.
Borders Bankruptcy Coming Next Week
- Thread starter Snaploud
- Start date
Really, where do you live?
That's the problem I noticed with Borders; they suffered from the Circuit City syndrome of hard to find discounts. When I heard about Borders possibly going under, I went to look at their site. To get the same discounts as Amazon, I had to hunt down a coupon that I wasn't told existed and sign up for their Borders card. Most people wouldn't have bothered looking for either; they would have just seen cheaper prices at Amazon and went there.
People talk about the recession hurting these stores, but I'm really amazed they have stayed open as long as they have with such poor marketing and business practices.
When the Borders in Westwood went out of business a few weeks ago, I stopped by to look at their DVDs and Blu-Rays. Even heavily discounted by 30-40%, the prices were still well-above what I could find them for new on Amazon.com.
There were some good deals on books, though.
There were some good deals on books, though.
My Borders actually did that. They remodeled part of the mall and within a few months of the new store the DVDs were gone. They now have only a few but no blockbusters.
We call them Thrift Shops or Stores. There are also the stores which sell out of print and returned books for pennies on the dollar. The books are cheap but then they are the books not enough people wanted in all subjects.
I only buy books for my Kindle now.
For the stuff I want that I won't spend the money on the Kindle for, I go to Half Price Books or the library.
For the stuff I want that I won't spend the money on the Kindle for, I go to Half Price Books or the library.
Also, you can get airline miles for shopping at bn.com, but as far as I can tell (I'm just figuring this stuff out) that doesn't apply if you shop in the store itself.
I can relate. My local Borders didn't start out that way, but it did end up that way. I can't complain too much though, the last few years, I've been getting most of my books from Amazon, and on the rare occasions I did go in there, one of the sales people would always be helpful. At least to me. But then, it's that way everywhere I go.
It must be the wheelchair.
Westwood in LA?
I went to that Borders going out of business sale! It was great! Though, I went with my wife, so I couldn't get everything that I wanted. Booo....
Not as amazed as I am. I worked there. One of the biggest flaws was an easy fix 5 years ago that they didn't want to spend $ on then. It probably meant a 30% increase on average in sales store-to-store, too. The shipments would come into the back room and be entered into inventory with a quick scan of a pallet label but there was no IIRF for the individual boxes! Here is how it would go:
Customer: "Do you know where I can find A Catcher in the Rye?"
Me: (checking computer) "It says we have 4 copies. "
(Take customer to Fiction-S and no copies on shelf)
"Hmm, it just came in-let me check in the back."
I would then search 1-10 pallets of 44 unlabeled boxes each, all with the same arrival date, by hand. Or at least try to....
"Sorry, I couldn't find it. If you come back in three days we should have it on the shelf..."
Customer leaves, annoyed. Average day-maybe 10 times for me, alone, with 7 or more others working, too.
Christmas was 10x worse-inventory could be a week or more behind with twice as many pallets. IIRF would have allowed a hand scanner to tell me what box to look in....
I really wish this wasn't true... I know I'm in the minority here, when I say that I've always loved Borders, and I just hate Barnes & Noble... IDK why Borders is having such a hard time, but I really think if any of the two deserves to go under, it's B&N... I truly do not think they have their act together at B&N at all, but again, I'm in the minority thinking this. But every time I have the luxury of choice, I shop and make purchases at Borders, as opposed to B&N.
Both are having troubles, in part, due to the economy.
Why do you think Barnes and Noble doesn't have it's act together?
^ I've never had any trouble at Borders either. I have been to 3 of them here in Metro Atlanta and everything has always been clearly marked and easy to find, right from Day 1. There was also a Borders in Anchorage when I lived there...and it was always a very nice store too.
Interesting that there is so much inconsistency between cities. Because what people are describing is nothing like my personal experience.
Interesting that there is so much inconsistency between cities. Because what people are describing is nothing like my personal experience.
I generally prefer Barnes and Noble, though. Their member program (while you have to purchase it) pays off much better than Borders. 10% off each purchase in store. And through their site, free shipping, no matter how much you spend.
Well, as I have stated before, I have a big problem with how B&N handles customer service. Their computer system is also royally frakked. Yes, I also have problems with the computers at Borders, but even there the problems are not as often as with the B&N computers...
Every time I have reserved a book at Borders, it has always gone perfectly smoothly, without any problems. The one time I reserved a book at B&N, it was a huge mess and fiasco, again, because of their frakked-up computers. And the fact that their employees are not trained well didn't help anything. But at my local Borders, the floor is crawling with managers, so I always have someone in the know to ask about things, and they usually help me quickly and efficiently.
Every time I have reserved a book at Borders, it has always gone perfectly smoothly, without any problems. The one time I reserved a book at B&N, it was a huge mess and fiasco, again, because of their frakked-up computers. And the fact that their employees are not trained well didn't help anything. But at my local Borders, the floor is crawling with managers, so I always have someone in the know to ask about things, and they usually help me quickly and efficiently.