Borders bites the dust

12 years ago

Heard on the radio yesterday Borders wasn't able to find a buyer so it looks like they'll be closing the rest of their stores.

What I don't understand is how come Borders is going under while Barnes & Noble stays afloat? Borders was the one who gave the discount coupons...30%, 40%...off the price of anything in the store. All you had to do was sign up for their free card and these great coupons came to you in email weekly. I bought so many books, dvds, giftwrap,etc with these discounts. Meanwhile B&N gave me nothing so I never shopped there. You have to pay them an annual fee ($25?) in order to get any discounts. Why should I do that when I can go to Borders and pay essentially what it would cost me on Amazon? No one can beat Amazon's prices but Borders came really close with their coupons.

How is it that B&N stays in business selling their merchandise for FULL retail whilet their competitor dies on the vine? I would never pay full price for a hardcover book, not with Amazon willing to sell it to me for 33%-50% off.

We've lost so many book stores, it's down to B&N now. What happens if they go under too? I don't like buying a book online sight unseen. I'll end up wasting money in the long run when the book arrives and I hate it. Made that mistake a couple of times already. Maybe this will bring back the Mom & Pop shops. Like in the movie "You've Got Mail"...wasn't it was the big evil retail chain book store that we all boo'd?

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Comments (10)

tinam61
12 years ago
I'm not surprised - I would think e-readers and on-line sales are hurting lots of bookstores. Here in our area, Barnes and Noble seems to be more popular than Borders.

I like to browse in B & N and also hit their magazine area. They may not have coupons, but there is always a big sale section. I do buy most books online. I belong to a book club and have bought from Amazon - you can read book reviews on most any book before buying.
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Diane Smith at Walter E. Smithe Furniture
12 years ago
I don't think Borders met consumer demand for online shopping, or were late in the game when they did.

"Barnes & Noble is doing a smart job of using their store traffic to build an e-book audience," said Mike Shatzkin, CEO of Ideal Logical Co., publishing consultants. "But eventually customers who buy the Nook will stay home and order from there."

Brick and morter retail will keep closing. We love the convenience of shopping on line.
Though...once all the clothing stores, furniture stores, book stores close their doors, will we be demanding a place to go to see the product before we buy?

Maybe the brick and morter retail future will be more museum like. You can look, try on, sit in, check color and quality of the product but will have to order everything.
Hopefully with the exception of food and gas!

Here is a link that might be useful: WSJ Barnes & Noble
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Oakley
12 years ago
I buy 75% of my books online, either from Amazon or B&N. One thing I like about B&N online is many times they have a book that Amazon doesn't carry.

Even though our kids are grown, we take them and their kid's to a Sunday dinner then hit B&N afterwards, as a treat from us a few times a year.

I always check out their sale table and Tina's right, they have great sales on all different topics.

B&N has a nice set-up, helpful personel, and many books to choose from.

And the store's are always crowded.
nancybee_2010
12 years ago
I will miss my Borders too. I get most of my books from Amazon now. I have been considering getting a kindle (or nook) but right now I'm reluctant because I like a real book! I probably could get used to it, though.
roarah
12 years ago
I use B&N because they had the nook color which was great for my daughters books as well as mine. While I still enjoy the feel and even smell( a bit weird huh) of real books the e-readers are so light and convinent for travelling. Also I was running out of shelves in my small digs to house the real thing. I get lots of free friday books from B&N too. I feel bad about borders but they did not do what amazon did with the kindle or what b&N did with the color nook and thus fell behind the times:@(.
rockmanor
12 years ago
I only shopped at Borders a few times, when we were on a trip and there wasn't another option. I try to support local bookshops for regional interest or non-mainstream books. Otherwise, I order from Amazon. B&N got my business years ago when we homeschooled because they offered an educator's discount card, but those days are long gone. I haven't bought an e-reader yet and am not sure that I will for myself, although I'd like to get one for my FIL.
anele_gw
12 years ago
Yes-- online component and e-reader. They were "too little too late" with e-readers.

My friend works at Borders-- she said the staff is extremely knowledgeable at her shop, which is something you don't get online shopping.

My girls both have their own e-readers (Kindle and Nook). I thought of getting one myself because we have no room for more books, but I am sticking to the library-- I prefer books, can return these (no space to take up), and it's FREE!
dedtired
12 years ago
I am sorry to see Borders go since we have two of them nearby and B&N is a long way from here. Everyone is blaming the emergence of e-readers and Amazon for Borders failure, but it's really their failure to keep up with new trends. Borders' management failed to capitalize on the sales opportunity created by the emergence of the Internet, built a network of superstores that turned out to be far too large and didn't develop an electronic books strategy.

I get 95% of my books from the library. We have a wonderful library system here. I can go online, reserve the book I want and they email me when it's available. I only buy when it's something I need asap.
maire_cate
12 years ago
I didn't want an e reader but DH got me one anyway - he was out of ideas for Christmas. However I'm surprised that I do like it. It will never replace holding a book in hand - there's something about the heft of a volume, the feel of the pages and the image of the print on the page that an e reader can't duplicate - but - when we travel I have hundreds of books that come with me - and they all fit in my purse.
Oakley
12 years ago
Today Border's begins it's 40% off sale. Not sure if it's on books or everything in the store.

We're going there today if we have time.

Borders bites the dust

Comments (10)

tinam61

Diane Smith at Walter E. Smithe Furniture

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