Here in Perth, Australia, Borders had a sale to get rid of stock and is now closed. I believe a clothing chain is to open there. It used to be a material and craft shop, which has relocated. It is in a prime location in the CBD so will not stay empty for long!
I think the high price of goods here as opposed to the internet stores have had a lot to do with the closures.

Yes, I visited them when the "liquidation" began. It was a bogus affair, IMHO. The literature section was 10% off. Are you kidding me? I got Border's coupons weekly and never bought a book unless it was 30 or 40% off.
The tables that formerly were buy 2 and get the 3rd for 50% off were labelled "up to 30% off", which means exactly nothing, as none were marked down. I could just see getting to the registers and finding they were 5% off or maybe with luck, 10%. I didn't see anyone leaving with bags full of books and I followed a couple of YA's out of the store who were saying they got better prices on Amazon.
I had mixed feelings when Borders came to our small university town, but at the same time, I really disliked our independent bookstore owner. Borders became more than a big box store to me. It was a place to get real bargains, great coffee (Seattle's Best), to go when I was bored, and to get gift cards for and from others. It leaves a big hole for me, strangely enough. Lucky for me, I have stacks of unread books in my bedroom and will not run out of reading soon. At any time, I am listening to an audiobook and reading an old-fashioned paper book.
RIP, Borders.

Thank You. You saved me a Trip. Kathy, they will be missed. I enjoyed using those coupons. That is how I was able to collect my Criterion Collection.

I hope Barnes and Noble keeps stable.

I went twice so far. The first time, I walked out with nothing for the same reasons Kathy mentioned in her post. I went again yesterday thinking that, since a week had gone by, perhaps they had marked things down a bit more. Nope. I know that the "liquidation" sale is not being run by Border's but by a firm that specializes in such events. I am very sad to see Border's close because now, the closest book store to my house, be it independent or Barnes and Noble, is a 35 minute drive.

Keeping fingers crossed that Barnes and Noble is faring better. If they should go under, I will increase dramatically the amount I donate to my public library for they will become my only source for browsing and holding a book before I bring it home. And the sad part is, my library, which is VERY well-funded, is spending oodles on technology instead of books. I wonder if I can donate money with caveats?

PAM

The Borders store is the only bona fide bookstore in this city and it is closing soon. I went in yesterday (it's a short walk from where I live) and bought some items. It will leave a real hole in this area's shopping, as it carried lots of books on local history and other similar themes, which can be difficult to find elsewhere.I spent about $28, mostly on Xmas gifts (some months ahead).

Luckily, our city has a fantastic public library and I can use the nearby college library, as well.

Pam, you should be able to direct your donation - many places offer that option. It is worth asking.

I will miss Borders - it was a cave of wondrous things. There is a Barnes and Noble about 45 minutes away from me, but luckily there are two very good independent bookstores near me, one actually in walking distance.

I am still bemoaning the loss of the Common Reader catalog. Anyone else still remember them? That catalog was a treasure trove and it came every month...I miss it. I still enjoy the Bas Bleu catalog, and try to purchase something every now and then. I get many, many book recommendations from their excellent descriptions.

Siobhan, I loved the Common Reader and was so disappointed that it stopped publishing. They always had the most interesting books. I like Bas Blue and try to support them, but Common Reader was a different level.

I will miss Borders and hope my local independents stay above water. I fear we are heading towards a world without bookstores, and that would just be sad.

The complaints about the Borders liquidation remind of the nonsense I've noticed at Chapters, the Canadian equivalent of the big box book stores. Whenever I drive by the store, there are signs in the windows screaming "sale, sale, sale!!!". Upon closer inspection, the discounts invariably do not apply to the actual books, but rather to tables of ugly, poorly-made home decor items. Honestly, why would I go to a book store to buy bath salts?

A friend told me today that she was waiting for a local book to be reduced further, and when she went back it was sold out. She knows the author, and he told her Borders called him and asked if he would sell them some more copies (at a 40% discount) so that they could continue to sell them in the store at a profit. He declined.

I noticed a lot of children's books displayed at a charity shop near where the Borders shop used to be. They were obviously new. I wondered, as I grabbed a handful to suit my book-loving little G-GD, if they had come from there.
I,like other Rp'ers had been put off by the prices in the closing down sale.

Interesting discussion. It may well be that if no one would buy books unless they were 40% off, Borders couldn't make a profit and that is why they went out of business.
I don't know about in the US but in Australia the mark up on books is only 40 or 45% usually, so giving discounts eats into any profit. The reason bookshops sell non book items is that there is greater mark up on these items (although typically only 50%).
It is interesting that these days many or even most people seem to expect a discount. That's fine when the items have been marked up a lot, but it hurts the retailer who has set a fair price. It also makes it hard for the bricks and mortar retailer paying rent, heating, cooling and so on to compete against on line businesses who work out of a big warehouse with low rent.

OK rant over :-)

I will miss Border's too,I have been going there for years.
Not really too shocking they went out of business though.
Much less people actually read books these days and Border's had pretty high prices.
Amazon is cheaper and you also have the option to buy used.
I LOVE books,but gone is the day when they were a cheap entertainment.

I read an article somewhere that summed up the problems that led to the Border demise. They invested heavily in CDs and DVDs at a time when that market was collapsing. In addition, they never figured out how to distribute these products effectively. For example, classical CDs were given equally to every store regardless of the market - NYC stores than could sell virtually every copy of new classical CDs were given five copies, while the same CDs languished in stores without a classical fan base. Their business plan was inflexible and outdated. A terrible shame, but I hope this will mean opportunities for other booksellers in some way or shape or form.

Borders was where I found comfort and gained confidence as a young woman. I lived at home with my folks and it was a wonderful place to go. I first sat at a table all by myself in the cafe and discovered it was okay to do so. My second date with my boyfriend (now husband) was there. My best friend and I reunited there after many years. The store holds many fond memories for me.

I visited the Hagerstown, MD Borders on Saturday for the last time. The cafe was closed and the books were 30% reduced although I noticed days later I was overcharged for one. I was happy to find some nice children's picture books for my little friends for Christmas gifts.

~Mrs. Chupchake

I've stopped in our local Borders twice, but didn't find anything I wanted to buy. The discounts weren't very good. Still, it is a pity to lose any bookstore.

On the other hand, I just discovered a new (to me) independent bookstore in Morgan Hill, CA, about an hour's drive from my home. It is called Booksmart. It's too far to make a special trip, but I find myself down that way from time to time. I'll make a point to allow time for a visit when I have an errand down that way.

Rosefolly

I agree w/Astrokath -- book buyers shouldn't be so intense about having a big discount every single time they buy a book. I've paid full price many times for hard covers, trade (large-size) paperbacks, small paperbacks. If I didn't like the book, I just took it back ... Where's the problem...as long as you find out soon whether you like it or not; altho' Borders had a super-generous time-frame for refunds/returns--30 days -- too generous, I thought.

I went to Borders here NYC ... Bought a cookbook I've wanted for years-- the "Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook" -- the edition w/ hardcover and ring binder, so it stays open on kitchen table while you're doing the recipe -- ulike the paperback version I've had for years that keeps flopping shut! -- a $14 book -- I paid only $6.50. Good!

I am so sad about Borders. I frequent the library most of the time but do like a couple of hrs. in a bookstore. Now we have Barnes and Noble, which I heard may also be in trouble? Rochester NY is quite a large city but yet can't seem to sustain bookstores. Borders was 15 min. from my house but over 30 min. to BN. I probably won't make the trip very often, but yet feel I should or that will close too

I just wish that if we lose a big chain, we could get back the little independents it drove out of business.

Rosefolly

That's just what I've been thinking, Rosefolly!

I was in Joseph Beth's in Lexington on Saturday. They had several stores and went bankrupt. Someone bought this main one with the condition that it had to be kept as it was. It is a wonderful store with a small cafe and a fireplace (not in use on what was an extremely hot day) with cosy chairs around it. I'm only sorry it's 75 miles away from me.

I bought the Dukan Diet book at full price in appreciation and to encourage me to drop this extra ten pounds I seem to have acquired since retirement and the introduction into my area of Blue Bell ice cream. We already had a Graeter's.

Well, I made my third trip of the last two weeks to Borders today with two friends that really wanted to take a look. I walked over to a book I really wanted within ten seconds, A Zoo In My Luggage by Gerald Durrell. HIs other book, My Family And Other Animals was a wonderful find earlier this year. Some oldies never get old.
I also found another Joseph Finder book I haven't read. Both were 80% off. Can't beat that. I needed a fix, what can I say?
It is going to be cold turkey after this weekend!

This isn't about Borders, but about the remaining leviathian, Barnes and Noble. On a recent visit to my mother's home I looked forward to a visit to B&N since it is not convenient to my own home in rural Maine. I was bitterly disappointed in the selection - that huge bookstore did not have any of the five books I asked for, the clerk had not heard of Robert Burns, J.D. Salinger, Doris Lessing, or Terry Pratchett, nor was familiar with the term "cozy mystery," even when I explained it. She was very nice, though. I asked a young male clerk to show me the features of the Nook, and he delightedly showed me the games, in which I have no interest. I left the store with a horrible feeling.

Years ago I went into the famous Powell's in Portland, Oregon. I was greeted immediately and asked if I needed help finding something. I asked where they kept Doris Lessing, and without hesitation the clerk said, "Are you interested in her fiction or her nonfiction?" I wonder if I would get a similar reception today? I hope so but I don't really want to find out.

I have noticed that the depth of stock at Barnes and Noble has steadily reduced over the years. Not long ago they dedicated a good portion of the store to the Nook, and what used to be the remainder area is now a toy section. I wish them well in surviving. I certainly don't want there to be fewer bookstores!

Most of the independents in my area are now used book stores, which I welcome, but I would prefer to have new as well. Even though I can get a better price at Amazon, I make sure I occasionally buy books at one of the two remaining independents near me. Fortunately this is an area with numerous universities (the Bay Area of SF), so we do have a few left.

Lots of people are readers here. My town's library is so popular that sometimes you cannot get a parking space, and it has a large parking lot. Having grown up in an area with much less regard for reading, I am both amazed and pleased.

Rosefolly