Quote:
Originally Posted by petrucci
big companies like Borders have done much to hurt the book buying experience by putting under local shops, so I am not sorry to see the company go.
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Yes, they did hurt some local book retailers, though in the long run, I think, they helped a lot more than they hurt. The "hurting" had mostly been in the big cities. And I doubt the majority of book buying public was seriously upset about the demise of "mom and pop" bookshops replaced by spacious deep catalog superstores-cafes. But it did hurt some people I am sure.
There had been no bookstores in most suburban communities before the big chains. Nobody was hurt by them coming into these communities, into the malls and shopping centers. Borders (and B&N) provided space to browse, shop for books and gifts, spend time with kids reading and picking books, have a latte.
A big part of that environment is about to disappear.
It is very understandable that for many people reading and bookstore are not related. Amazon reviews, kindle and $25 free shipping provide enough incentive to bypass the browsing. In addition, the ebooks play into the internet-driven culture of instant gratification. But for many of us the killing of bookstore is a huge loss. I know we are in the minority - otherwise Borders wouldn't have been in the place where it is today...
The question is, when five years from now Amazon finally succeeds in killing off the last standing competitor, what will replace the bookstore? Libraries? In today's culture of incessant "wasteful spending" cuts that's unlikely. Starbucks? Walmarts? What?