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nick101 · 11-27-2009, 03:29 AM

I think it's a shame. Our Borders (Milton Keynes) is always busy, even though it's not in the town centre, has a great selection and good staff.

It's a rollercoaster. When we arrived in MK (1988) the town had 2 bookshops (Fagins, a small chain, and a branch of the Cranfield University bookshop. Fagin's went bust, and we were down to just Cranfield for many years - nice bookshop, but too small. Must have driven many people to Amazon (including me).

Then we got a Waterstones (hooray!). Then Waterstones bought Cranfield bookshops (boo!) but left the MK branch open (hooray!). Then we got an Ottakars (hooray!). Then a Borders (double hooray!). All 4 shops bust all the time. Then the ex-Cranfield Waterstones was closed down (boo!, but since it was only 50 yards from the bigger W's, not really surprising). Then Waterstones bought Ottakars (Treble boos all round!).

So now we have 2 W's, and a Borders that may or may not survive. Which is sad, but better than no booskops at all.

And, by the way, even though I was buying from Amazon UK before it was Amazon UK (anyone remember BookPages? It was the UK online bookshop that Amazon bought and rebranded to Amazon.co.uk), I still and always will buy from bookshops. Borders and Waterstones have had plenty of my money and will continue to get it, and I don't suppose I'm unique.

11-27-2009, 03:29 AM	#16
nick101 Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 1248 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Milton Keynes UK Device: Sony PRS-600 Touch, iPhone	I think it's a shame. Our Borders (Milton Keynes) is always busy, even though it's not in the town centre, has a great selection and good staff. It's a rollercoaster. When we arrived in MK (1988) the town had 2 bookshops (Fagins, a small chain, and a branch of the Cranfield University bookshop. Fagin's went bust, and we were down to just Cranfield for many years - nice bookshop, but too small. Must have driven many people to Amazon (including me). Then we got a Waterstones (hooray!). Then Waterstones bought Cranfield bookshops (boo!) but left the MK branch open (hooray!). Then we got an Ottakars (hooray!). Then a Borders (double hooray!). All 4 shops bust all the time. Then the ex-Cranfield Waterstones was closed down (boo!, but since it was only 50 yards from the bigger W's, not really surprising). Then Waterstones bought Ottakars (Treble boos all round!). So now we have 2 W's, and a Borders that may or may not survive. Which is sad, but better than no booskops at all. And, by the way, even though I was buying from Amazon UK before it was Amazon UK (anyone remember BookPages? It was the UK online bookshop that Amazon bought and rebranded to Amazon.co.uk), I still and always will buy from bookshops. Borders and Waterstones have had plenty of my money and will continue to get it, and I don't suppose I'm unique.