Future Borders coupons may exclude the Sony Reader (unconfirmed rumor)

Bob Russell · 11-22-2006, 03:59 PM

We have received an anonymous tip that, starting today, Borders will specifically be excluding the Sony Reader from coupons. At this point, due to the holidays, I have not been able to reach anyone from Borders yet to confirm, deny or clarify. No word as to whether this refers to newly printed coupons, or whether existing coupons will also be excluded.

Although this is a vague and unconfirmed rumor at this point, we think that some of our readers who already plan to buy a Reader from Borders with a coupon may want to be aware of the possibility.

Thanks to our anonymous tipster, who indicated that this information was included in an internally distributed Borders document.

da_jane · 11-22-2006, 04:07 PM

I was hoping to use one on Black Friday.

We'll see if it works.

jashsu · 11-22-2006, 06:41 PM

There are two kinds of Borders coupons: programmed coupons, and S-key coupons. The programmed coupons have the terms and limitations hard-coded in, and the cashier just scans it. These types of coupons traditionally are the 10% for electronics ones. S-key coupons on the other hand require the cashier to directly key in the discount rate as well as exercise discretion on what items apply and what items don't apply. The 15% off for taking a phone survey is an example of a S-key coupon. The Reader, being an electronic item, is restricted to a 10% discount with this coupon, but since the terms aren't printed on it, my cashier gave me the 15% discount.

The 30% off coupon at visitborders.com (shown below) is an example of a new coupon that specifically excludes the Reader. It is also a programmed coupon, so even if you were to edit out the exclusion, the register would probably prevent it from working. I don't have inside knowledge of Border's backend system though, so I could be wrong.

William Moates · 11-22-2006, 07:44 PM

No more discount? That sucks. Well, it confirms the idea that www.visitborders.com is legit. I'm sorry no one else gets to benefit from the coupon--it may have been a loophole that MR members found, and Borders has now closed it. Perhaps the profit margin is thin on the Reader, or perhaps this is only a Christmas thing, like other posters have suggested. However, any other Borders coupons that discount electronics are probably still valid.

evil_bunny · 11-22-2006, 10:41 PM

this is one of those times when I say too much and get scared for my job....

(1) I am one of very few employees who purchased a Sony Reader. I did not use the employee discount on my purchase so perhaps I wasn't counted in the official numbers which I will not put here...but employees will no longer be eligible for discounts on Sony Readers.
(2) Future coupons will not allow discounts on the Sony Readers nor the Microsoft Zune.
(3) I don't know if any other discount will work. All I know is that being an early adopter worked out in my favor.

jpchan · 11-26-2006, 06:30 PM

I used the Borders rewards program and was able to take 10% off my entire purchase.

Justin

HarryT · 11-27-2006, 04:07 AM

What is "Borders" as a matter of interest? A book shop?

William Moates · 11-27-2006, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

What is "Borders" as a matter of interest? A book shop?

Borders is a mega-bookstore chain in the US. Barnes & Noble is its chief competitor, followed by Books-a-Million. They spread nationwide in the 1990's, shutting down many mom-&-pop bookstores in the process. They offer a very large selection of books. Pretty much a bibliophile's dream. In the last few years, Borders has been opening stores in airports, so if you decide to hop the pond and visit The Colonies, you might first encounter them there.

As always, a more detailed explanation can be found here in Wikipedia.

HarryT · 11-27-2006, 05:34 AM

Thanks

. Our main book sellers are a chain called "Waterstones" who've done a similar thing - opened stores in virtually every town and shut down most of the independents.

arivero · 11-27-2006, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Thanks

. Our main book sellers are a chain called "Waterstones" who've done a similar thing - opened stores in virtually every town and shut down most of the independents.

I went to charing cross yesterday and, if memory is not failing me, it seems that a previous Waterstones library has followed the inverse path: transmuting into a indpendent library called "Soho library" and including a sex shop section! It is the one next to Foyles.

I have the impression that Charing Chross has less libraries than five years before.

EDIT: I think to remember that there is a Borders along New Oxford street. But it could be a "books & co."

HarryT · 11-27-2006, 09:04 AM

Yes, Foyles is an enormous shop - they used to claim that they were the biggest bookshop in Britain, but I believe that Waterstones on Piccadilly is bigger now.

arivero · 11-27-2006, 03:13 PM

Got very rigid format, Foyles. Five or six years ago it was the only one not opening Saturdays in the late afternoon, now it has surrendered :-)

arivero · 11-27-2006, 03:19 PM

Then we have Gibert in Paris, and of course some of their FNACs. Hmm if the Readers had some bluetooth interface, it could be sensible to put BT antennas along these shops, giving the opportunity of walking across the paperbacks but buying the e-book version as an option.

Or a barcode reader. You look at the book and if you want the e-copy, just scan the barcode of the physical book and voila, you get a 2$ e-copy downloaded into your machine.

William Moates · 11-27-2006, 10:42 PM

Aha! CueCat to the rescue!
Well, not really--we'd still need a USB adapter.

evil_bunny · 11-28-2006, 02:02 AM

I would like to point out that we do have Borders in the following countries:
(1) England (and Scotland). Apparently we also purchased some odd stationary boutique named Paperchase and they are responsible for supplying our stores with BLACK CHRISTMAS TREES.
(2) Ireland. May have just opened, and why do I think that people in Ireland can't just drive over to England? Oh right, body of water.
(3) Australia. New Zealand.
(4) Singapore. Malaysia
(5) Dubai.

But the coupons are not international, and I have no clue if the reader is sold internationally.

11-22-2006, 03:59 PM	#1
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Future Borders coupons may exclude the Sony Reader (unconfirmed rumor) We have received an anonymous tip that, starting today, Borders will specifically be excluding the Sony Reader from coupons. At this point, due to the holidays, I have not been able to reach anyone from Borders yet to confirm, deny or clarify. No word as to whether this refers to newly printed coupons, or whether existing coupons will also be excluded. Although this is a vague and unconfirmed rumor at this point, we think that some of our readers who already plan to buy a Reader from Borders with a coupon may want to be aware of the possibility. Thanks to our anonymous tipster, who indicated that this information was included in an internally distributed Borders document.

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11-22-2006, 04:07 PM	#2
da_jane Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 692 Join Date: Sep 2006 Device: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 \| Kindle Paperwhite \| iPad Mini	I was hoping to use one on Black Friday. We'll see if it works.

11-22-2006, 06:41 PM	#3
jashsu Connoisseur Posts: 67 Karma: 154 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: PRS-500, PRS-600, PRS-650, Oasis 2	There are two kinds of Borders coupons: programmed coupons, and S-key coupons. The programmed coupons have the terms and limitations hard-coded in, and the cashier just scans it. These types of coupons traditionally are the 10% for electronics ones. S-key coupons on the other hand require the cashier to directly key in the discount rate as well as exercise discretion on what items apply and what items don't apply. The 15% off for taking a phone survey is an example of a S-key coupon. The Reader, being an electronic item, is restricted to a 10% discount with this coupon, but since the terms aren't printed on it, my cashier gave me the 15% discount. The 30% off coupon at visitborders.com (shown below) is an example of a new coupon that specifically excludes the Reader. It is also a programmed coupon, so even if you were to edit out the exclusion, the register would probably prevent it from working. I don't have inside knowledge of Border's backend system though, so I could be wrong.

11-22-2006, 07:44 PM	#4
William Moates Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 35 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Greensboro, NC Device: Sony Librie / Sony Clie / Sony Reader	No more discount? That sucks. Well, it confirms the idea that www.visitborders.com is legit. I'm sorry no one else gets to benefit from the coupon--it may have been a loophole that MR members found, and Borders has now closed it. Perhaps the profit margin is thin on the Reader, or perhaps this is only a Christmas thing, like other posters have suggested. However, any other Borders coupons that discount electronics are probably still valid.

11-22-2006, 10:41 PM	#5
evil_bunny Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SoCal, US Device: Kobo Aura, Sony T1, iPhone 5S, iPad 3rd Gen	this is one of those times when I say too much and get scared for my job.... (1) I am one of very few employees who purchased a Sony Reader. I did not use the employee discount on my purchase so perhaps I wasn't counted in the official numbers which I will not put here...but employees will no longer be eligible for discounts on Sony Readers. (2) Future coupons will not allow discounts on the Sony Readers nor the Microsoft Zune. (3) I don't know if any other discount will work. All I know is that being an early adopter worked out in my favor.

11-26-2006, 06:30 PM	#6
jpchan Member Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony Reader	I used the Borders rewards program and was able to take 10% off my entire purchase. Justin

11-27-2006, 04:07 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	What is "Borders" as a matter of interest? A book shop?

11-27-2006, 05:34 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thanks . Our main book sellers are a chain called "Waterstones" who've done a similar thing - opened stores in virtually every town and shut down most of the independents.

11-27-2006, 09:04 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Yes, Foyles is an enormous shop - they used to claim that they were the biggest bookshop in Britain, but I believe that Waterstones on Piccadilly is bigger now.

11-27-2006, 03:13 PM	#12
arivero Guru Posts: 607 Karma: 2157 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: NCR3125, Nokia 770,...	Got very rigid format, Foyles. Five or six years ago it was the only one not opening Saturdays in the late afternoon, now it has surrendered :-)

11-27-2006, 03:19 PM	#13
arivero Guru Posts: 607 Karma: 2157 Join Date: Oct 2005 Device: NCR3125, Nokia 770,...	Then we have Gibert in Paris, and of course some of their FNACs. Hmm if the Readers had some bluetooth interface, it could be sensible to put BT antennas along these shops, giving the opportunity of walking across the paperbacks but buying the e-book version as an option. Or a barcode reader. You look at the book and if you want the e-copy, just scan the barcode of the physical book and voila, you get a 2$ e-copy downloaded into your machine.

Advert

Advert

11-27-2006, 10:42 PM	#14
William Moates Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 35 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Greensboro, NC Device: Sony Librie / Sony Clie / Sony Reader	Aha! CueCat to the rescue! Well, not really--we'd still need a USB adapter.

11-28-2006, 02:02 AM	#15
evil_bunny Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SoCal, US Device: Kobo Aura, Sony T1, iPhone 5S, iPad 3rd Gen	I would like to point out that we do have Borders in the following countries: (1) England (and Scotland). Apparently we also purchased some odd stationary boutique named Paperchase and they are responsible for supplying our stores with BLACK CHRISTMAS TREES. (2) Ireland. May have just opened, and why do I think that people in Ireland can't just drive over to England? Oh right, body of water. (3) Australia. New Zealand. (4) Singapore. Malaysia (5) Dubai. But the coupons are not international, and I have no clue if the reader is sold internationally.