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I do agree that covers in general are too expensive, which is why I put off buying one for my Nook and kept an eye on sales. Just as I was getting interested in looking for one again, I noticed that the "classic" Nook covers were on sale for 30% off, and I ended up buying an "Industriell" cover for $20 . This one might have even been worth the original $30 price, given the fact that a large number of users rated it highly and wrote glowing reviews about it.
The problem with the higher-priced designer covers straight from B&N is twofold. First, you can't really tell from online pictures and descriptions whether something that looks all cool and designer-y is actually going to be useful. Second, my experience with trying to buy a cover in-store where I could actually look at it was like an episode in a sitcom. I went in there knowing exactly what I wanted, with a printout that identified the product, the number, and what it was for. It took four different people about 20 minutes of milling around, consulting the computer, and getting down on their hands and knees to dig in a very tiny cabinet (where they apparently keep all covers not on open display), to come back and tell me that "This isn't a Nook cover - it is only for the NookColor." I told the nice man seemingly in charge to look at what I had given him, check the number, and see whether the computer said they had any in stock. It was a great revelation to him that not only was this a Nook product, but the computer said they had some in stock...somewhere. Oh, and while I was doing this, the same person who had earlier pointed out to me that a huge display of covers was "NookColor only" had discovered that on the other side of it was a display of regular Nook covers. They were all so busy with the tiny cabinet and the computer screen and running back and forth that they left me to dig through the display, which yielded nothing.
When all was said and done, and after another ten minutes or so, they informed me that they really didn't have any in stock, despite what the computer said, but could order one for me in 3 to 8 business days, so I gave them my information and left. The next day I got an email from them saying that, sorry, they really couldn't order one for me after all, but in the meantime my nice wife had decided that this could be an early birthday present, ordered the Industriell for me on the same day I had gone to the store (Saturday), and it arrived in the mail on Wednesday.
The short of the long story is that I got a free smoothie (had brought my Nook), a bunch of in-store freebies, and some in-store entertainment from the staff - AND I am more than happy with the cover. And regarding B&N, I do hope this was just a bad day at one store and not typical. Most of my other dealings with them, including my purchase of the Nook at that same store, and the mail order for the cover, have been just fine.
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