Border's Books and Music

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 8:53pm

I hadn't been there in a while and stopped off this afternoon to find a paperback I'd been searching for. They had a single copy of it, so I was lucky. The store, however, was a real disappointment. Fewer books, a terrible selection of classical CD's, a cafe that was almost non-existent and very few sales assistants. It really wasn't a nice shopping experience.

Do you think the chain will be folding soon?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 9:03pm

Dolly, Im with you. I DREAD Borders. They stock absolutely nothing unless you want bargain books, yoga mats, odd stationary and desk wares, picture frames. It is the oddest assortment of merchandise. I think the stores will be absorbed by amazon and will start folding one by one. There DVD and music selections are laughable.

There was a time Borders was a destination for me to spend hours and discover new music and writers. Long gone are those days. Their prices are all list price unless you have one of their damn email coupons. I hate Borders with every fiber of me being.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 9:08pm

In my case, I was glad to find the book I wanted. As it was just a single item, I was glad I didn't have to pay the s&h that Amazon would have charged.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 9:44pm

The chain has been making some very smart business decisions recently regarding customer service policies. They will, for example, order any book, dvd, or cd from the website to the store without shipping fees if it isn't on the shelf. There upgraded rewards card ($20 a year) has tons of perks to it that I take advantage of all the time.

I do know from experience, however, I am very fortunate to have such a good Borders in my area. While the CD section has shrunk down (I think I was the only person routinely purchasing cast albums for a long time as the stock only seemed to change when I bought something), they have expanded the foot-space for independent publishers. I love that I can stop by and pick up a new horror anthology from a company that still can't get into Barnes and Noble or a big fantasy novel I couldn't find anywhere else. Mine also expanded its scripts and sheet music sections, though that meant cutting back on poetry.

The company just needs to tighten its reign over the stores. Michaels, for example, has a ridiculous amount of inspections and punishments for stores that violate even the smallest policies (like someone working in the framing section without white gloves on, even if they're only stocking shelves). Borders can set all the new policies it wants; if they aren't consistently upheld in all the stores, the chain's going to collapse.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 10:12pm

The chain is almost definitely going to collapse. Only a fiscal miracle could save it at this point. It's very sad.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 10:24pm

Border's stores just never had the charm and hominess that the Barnes & Noble's has.

[fflagg]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 10:46pm

All bookstores are in trouble, and Borders did not have a good 2010. Do not be surprised if they file for bankruptcy and/or start closing stores this year in an attempt to withstand their debt.

Bring back the small bookstores!!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 11:15pm

I have to agree with the comment about small bookstores. Miss 'em!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/4/11 at 11:33pm

Unfortunately, the small bookstores have even less hope of surviving or coming back.

There's no way they can compete with the discounts that the Barnes and Nobles and Targets and Costcos can provide on the bigger books. And there's no way they can stock the huge number of smaller books that an online retailer like Amazon can.

Add in the fact or more and more people buying electronic reading material for Kindles or iPads or Nooks, and there's just not enough business to keep the independent stores alive.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 7:38am

One of the larger Border stores in DC closed over the summer. I prefer Barnes & Noble anyway and got some great deals on new books after Christmas there (and I'm not even a member).

[StockardFan]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 7:40am

I haven't been to Border's in ages. We only have one in our area, and there are 2 Barnes and Noble's much closer. As far as the reduced CD selection, I don't think a lot of people buy actual CD's anymore. I can't think of the last one I bought. I just download from i-tunes.

[D2]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 7:46am

I was excited because Border's had been planning to open a new store in my neighborhood, but alas, it's not happening. It would have been nice to have any bookstore a block away.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 8:22am

There are still smaller bookstores around where I live. But then it also helps that we don't have anything like Borders or Barnes and Noble really close by. The one near where I work is okay. I just wonder if they make any money with their internet service because there is a library within walking distance of there, which you can use for free.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 8:26am

I don't think a lot of people buy actual CD's anymore.

That is happening to books at an astonishing rate. Everyone says "Oh, ebooks will never replace the feeling of holding a book," but the numbers of people owning ebook devices and buying books that way grew at exponential rates over 2010 and the holiday season.

How long till someone here posts "I don't think a lot of people buy actual BOOKS anymore"? 20 years? 10 years? 5 years? 2 years?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 9:02am

Over the past 10 years, Borders had opened more stores and gained more exposure than Barnes and Noble in Chicago. The free membership and high profile locations put it on top. But after such a poor 2010, they have started closing locations, including one of their biggest Chicago stores (at Water Tower). The Borders near me is great. They always have a fantastic selection and the staff is wonderful. There is always a line at the cafe.

I've only been to Barnes and Noble once in the last five years and that was to duck inside during a summer storm.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 9:45am

I prefer Barnes and Noble as I feel they never shifted their focus from books and music the way Borders did. Borders alienated their customer. Barnes and Noble is still filled with employees who love books and music and as a member I get tons of deals and free express shipping online.

I still buy actual CDs. I hate "virtual" music. It just goes against my grain. When they stop making CDs I will be very sad.

I still dont own an e-reader and I won't until they stop publishing the books I want.

I know this year was huge for e-readers as the BN site kept crashing due to volume.

[clever name]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 10:23am

I love Borders. I became a Plus Member before Christmas and saved a fortune with free shipping and all the discounts. I'm gonna be sad to see my Borders go.

BTW, has anyone read Super Sad True Love Story? It is set in the near future and they make fun of one of the characters, Lenny, because he reads actual books. I hope we never come to that. I love holding a book. I'm fighting this whole ereader thing.

Posted: 1/5/11 at 11:20am

I worked for Borders briefly. I could never ever find anyone within the company who could explain to me how they thought the company would ever be profitable. The average Borders Customer sits around reading books and magazines for free while drinking a $2 cup of coffee-- unless they brought their own cup and filled it from the "Tasting Pot."

And the occasional item they DO sell- is almost certainly sold at or near cost. When I worked there, they did frequent coupons for %20 off- now, those coupons are 30, 40, even 50 percent off. You can not survive when you are selling the bulk of your merchandise at cost-- especially not when you are in a labor- intensive business like book selling.
The question is when not if

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 12:02pm

I think discount used bookstores might be the next wave. There is an amazing books/music/DVD/games store in Tucson and Phoenix called Bookmans who are huge. The Strand does great business in New York...ditto the charming non-profit bookstore Housing Works.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 12:12pm

The Borders Express (formerly Waldenbooks) I used to work at closed not overly long after I left and now the Borders only a few miles away is in the process of closing. The B. Daulton that was in the same mall as Borders Express closed not long ago and now there is not a single bookstore within that mall. And that breaks my heart a bit.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 5:19pm

I should have realized that something was up years ago when the Border's Cafe stopped carrying that wonderfully flavored "Holiday Blend" coffee. It was flavored with cloves, cinnamon and was a special holiday treat. Now the Cafe in my local store hardly exists.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 5:51pm

Dollypop, I think I know which store you're talking about as we used to live in relatively the same area. I actually worked in that store from 2005-7 (and one further out east for two years prior) and it really never was the same after the wall between the music department and the rest of the store came down.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 7:36pm

You're absolutely right, froggy. That's just about the same time they discontinued the flavored coffee.

Remember that fellow named Greg who worked (mostly) in the music section? An absolutely great guy.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 10:19pm

Greg is still there actual. I was out visiting about three weeks and spoke to him briefly.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/5/11 at 11:50pm

He wasn't there when I visited yesterday. Hardly any help was on the floor.