Sony Reader at Borders and CompUSA: DENIED!

[Daft Willie]

Assuming that ebook reader fans enjoy stories, here's mine:

My huge collection of papers and the upcoming flood of new ones from HPCA finally decided me: I really needed a good mobile PDF reader. The Palm TX is too small.

So, I went into Borders. I asked a few questions, but the last one was the dealbreaker:
"I use this for lots of technical papers on PDF. If it turns out that they display poorly, can I return the reader?"
The manager's answer: "No, we can't take returns on these."

Hmf. I can understand not taking returns on books, CDs, and kittens, but a $350 one-trick pony with an extremely new ink technology needs a bit more of a safety net. So I went to CompUSA and again played with the display unit for a bit. I asked the dude about the returns policy and he said sure, 21 days, just like anything else.

Happy, I said "Ok, I'll take one." There was a pause as he rifled under the counter, then in the computer. "Whoops, I lied. We've got three on order but none in stock." Denied AGAIN.

There is a persistent rumor perpetrated by the Internet that the CompUSA in South Austin has a horde of them. Is it worth the drive AND the breaking of my Sony boycott? Truly I must think.