Comments on: The final nail in the coffin for Borders stores? http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/ Personal finance, commentary, and spending less the easy way Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:24:44 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Elizabeth Karan http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-198948 Elizabeth Karan Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:54:37 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-198948 I have been trying to use a Borders gift certificate, and every time I go to their on line store I just can't do it because their books are 10 to 15 bucks more expensive than Amazon. For example, today's search was 26.37 free shipping at Amazon, 28.76 free shipping at Barnes and Noble and 39.95 free shipping at Borders. That's an outrageous difference! Where would you order from? Actually, I bought a slightly used copy for even less at Half.com. I have been trying to use a Borders gift certificate, and every time I go to their on line store I just can’t do it because their books are 10 to 15 bucks more expensive than Amazon. For example, today’s search was 26.37 free shipping at Amazon, 28.76 free shipping at Barnes and Noble and 39.95 free shipping at Borders. That’s an outrageous difference! Where would you order from? Actually, I bought a slightly used copy for even less at Half.com.

]]> By: Tyler http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-168348 Tyler Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:26:05 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-168348 Those that commented on here about loving Borders only said they love browsing the aisles of books and being able to see them and touch them and enjoy the store on dates etc., but no one eluded to being willing to buy the books to keep them in business, which it shows as the corporate bookstores have been now losing millions of dollars each year and growing, because the market is changing. People order there stuff on line now, and Amazon is much cheaper. I don't know how much people pay on shipping, but I've only paid a couple dollars. A book in Borders is $24.95 new and then on Amazon it's $12.95 new, sorry going with Amazon. Those that commented on here about loving Borders only said they love browsing the aisles of books and being able to see them and touch them and enjoy the store on dates etc., but no one eluded to being willing to buy the books to keep them in business, which it shows as the corporate bookstores have been now losing millions of dollars each year and growing, because the market is changing. People order there stuff on line now, and Amazon is much cheaper. I don’t know how much people pay on shipping, but I’ve only paid a couple dollars. A book in Borders is $24.95 new and then on Amazon it’s $12.95 new, sorry going with Amazon.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-168346 Kevin Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:19:40 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-168346 I had a feeling big store chained bookstores were eventually going to see their decline. The book business has changed. Now authors are selling their own books. Most deals can be found online for less than half the price that Borders or a Barnes and Nobles sells it for. Sure some people love to browse, but not enough to keep the chain bookstores in business. Yeah they're browsing, but rarely buying anything. It's cheaper to go online and the selection is much more vast online. You can find things you can't find in these corporate bookstores. I had a feeling big store chained bookstores were eventually going to see their decline. The book business has changed. Now authors are selling their own books. Most deals can be found online for less than half the price that Borders or a Barnes and Nobles sells it for. Sure some people love to browse, but not enough to keep the chain bookstores in business. Yeah they’re browsing, but rarely buying anything. It’s cheaper to go online and the selection is much more vast online. You can find things you can’t find in these corporate bookstores.

]]> By: G http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-161057 G Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:39:22 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-161057 Amazon has tons of used books - Borders doesn't! I have purchased books ranging from Harback to college textbooks that were priced as little as a penny and no more than $15.00 (compared to $65 pricetag at Borders). The combined price and shipping has never been close to equal the price without taxes at Borders! As far as shipping goes, alkmost always use standard shipping and always have the item within the week I order it - I simply choose a seller in the same state! Amazon has tons of used books – Borders doesn’t! I have purchased books ranging from Harback to college textbooks that were priced as little as a penny and no more than $15.00 (compared to $65 pricetag at Borders). The combined price and shipping has never been close to equal the price without taxes at Borders! As far as shipping goes, alkmost always use standard shipping and always have the item within the week I order it – I simply choose a seller in the same state!

]]> By: Michele http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-135122 Michele Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:23:41 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-135122 My mother's bookstore closed a month ago. I wrote about it in my livejournal and posted it on a local newspaper website. http://www.recordpub.com/news/simple_article/3543912 I am not surprised its happening.. but its sad nonetheless. My mother’s bookstore closed a month ago. I wrote about it in my livejournal and posted it on a local newspaper website.

http://www.recordpub.com/news/simple_article/3543912

I am not surprised its happening.. but its sad nonetheless.

]]> By: Ezra http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-134904 Ezra Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:02:31 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-134904 As far as price, even if the total price after shipping in most cases is the same whether you buy it online or at a brick and mortar, the company isn't so much interested in how much they can sell it for but how much money the company can make while selling it at a price. A warehouse fairly near a publshing company, or even better a good supply arrangement where online company X actually has no stock and does little more than act as the middle man, simply sending an order to the publisher/supplier who then ships it directly to the customer is much less expensive than leasing retail space in an area people want to go (e.g., near a mall where the montly lease price is near ridiculous). This means that the online retailer has much higher profit margins, which is what business is concerned with. Once consumers realize that businesses will only sell you something if they can make a profit off it, which is after they pay the building lease and for the chairs and tables you sit at while browsing their books for a date, perhaps they'll stop complaining about price so much. If what you like is the ability to go on a date and use their facilities and the atmosphere, you should be prepared to pay extra for it. As far as price, even if the total price after shipping in most cases is the same whether you buy it online or at a brick and mortar, the company isn’t so much interested in how much they can sell it for but how much money the company can make while selling it at a price.

A warehouse fairly near a publshing company, or even better a good supply arrangement where online company X actually has no stock and does little more than act as the middle man, simply sending an order to the publisher/supplier who then ships it directly to the customer is much less expensive than leasing retail space in an area people want to go (e.g., near a mall where the montly lease price is near ridiculous). This means that the online retailer has much higher profit margins, which is what business is concerned with. Once consumers realize that businesses will only sell you something if they can make a profit off it, which is after they pay the building lease and for the chairs and tables you sit at while browsing their books for a date, perhaps they’ll stop complaining about price so much. If what you like is the ability to go on a date and use their facilities and the atmosphere, you should be prepared to pay extra for it.

]]> By: Anitra http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-134463 Anitra Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:23:05 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-134463 I like brick-and-mortar bookstores (and they should like me); almost every time I walk into one, I walk out with an impulse-bought book. With Amazon, I put things on my wishlist and keep them there for months or years before I decide to spend the money. However, my favorites are used booksellers, and there aren't many of those in my area - a local comic/game shop that has a back wall of used sci-fi, and some of the local libraries sell used books to raise money. I like brick-and-mortar bookstores (and they should like me); almost every time I walk into one, I walk out with an impulse-bought book. With Amazon, I put things on my wishlist and keep them there for months or years before I decide to spend the money.

However, my favorites are used booksellers, and there aren’t many of those in my area – a local comic/game shop that has a back wall of used sci-fi, and some of the local libraries sell used books to raise money.

]]> By: kitty http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-134236 kitty Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:45:09 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-134236 I'd hate to see our Broders close. I mostly buy on amazon, but their cafe is a nice place to meet people - as Mrs Micah said. Especially good for "first dates". I like to browse books as well, and very occasionally I might buy something. Not sure how they are doing in our town. When the Borders opened a number of small bookstores went out of business. So, I guess this would be poetic justice. Still I'd be sad. Maybe they'll stay here - this is an expensive area with some seriously rich people. Not sure if these seriously rich people visit Borders. Will see. I’d hate to see our Broders close. I mostly buy on amazon, but their cafe is a nice place to meet people – as Mrs Micah said. Especially good for “first dates”. I like to browse books as well, and very occasionally I might buy something.

Not sure how they are doing in our town. When the Borders opened a number of small bookstores went out of business. So, I guess this would be poetic justice. Still I’d be sad. Maybe they’ll stay here – this is an expensive area with some seriously rich people. Not sure if these seriously rich people visit Borders. Will see.

]]> By: Chief Family Officer http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-134041 Chief Family Officer Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:49:41 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-134041 It's not hard to understand why the brick & mortar bookstores aren't doing well. Where else do you walk in and find yourself face to face with the clearance (bargain books) section? Sure, they're getting hit hard by competition, but I'm equally certain there are many things they could change internally that would result in greater sales. It’s not hard to understand why the brick & mortar bookstores aren’t doing well. Where else do you walk in and find yourself face to face with the clearance (bargain books) section? Sure, they’re getting hit hard by competition, but I’m equally certain there are many things they could change internally that would result in greater sales.

]]> By: John M http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/comment-page-1/#comment-133998 John M Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:26:19 +0000 http://www.mightybargainhunter.com/2008/04/04/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-borders-stores/#comment-133998 I don't believe bookstore will completely die out. This is one area where a smaller store with mostly new titles should do better. Borders will be unable to change to this type of format because the stores are just to large. I hate browsing through amazon, and the department store collection of books is small at most places. I would love a revival of the neighborhood bookstore/coffee shop. I don’t believe bookstore will completely die out. This is one area where a smaller store with mostly new titles should do better. Borders will be unable to change to this type of format because the stores are just to large. I hate browsing through amazon, and the department store collection of books is small at most places. I would love a revival of the neighborhood bookstore/coffee shop.

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