Borders (in US) Gift Cards at Risk

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by xmiyux

No wonder they are heading that way. I called to have a book ordered for me (because they don't carry it in store) and the only way they will order it for me is if I pay up front. And then they claim it will take a week and a half to get it.

Meanwhile Amazon is like 10$ cheaper and will have it to me in two days. Absurd. So now I have to go to the store and find a decent cookbook that they have in stock.

Was it from a big publisher, or from a smaller one? Some brick & mortar stores ask for cash up front from books ordered from certain publishers. Apparently some vanity and print on demand authors were ordering their own books under assumed names, then not showing up to pay for the book, just to force stores to stock the books.


Of course, that practice ruined everything for the honest authors (the vast majority) and customers who wanted to order the book without paying for it first.

[KarenH]

The only (new) bookstore in the small town closest to where I live is a Borders Express - guess it's time to hit the mall and see what's happening there. If it closes, we will still have a couple of used bookstores, but the nearest new bookstore will be about 40 miles away from where I live.

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I noticed this week's coupon for 50% off is clearly marked store stock only.

Liquidation?

Mine says "Coupon Must Be Presented In-Store Only." But I think that's to keep people from trying to use them on-line. When they have their usual coupons, they'll have both in-store printable coupons and on-line coupon codes (B&N does this, too). I'm sure I'm not the only one who accidentally printed out the on-line coupon and brought it to the store. So people probably try to use the in-store coupons on-line.

Besides, even when a store is doing well, this sort of coupon always has exclusions. For example, you can't use them to buy gift cards (naturally), electronics, periodicals, etc. -- most stores don't discount magazines or discount all of them a small amount.

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by xmiyux

No wonder they are heading that way. I called to have a book ordered for me (because they don't carry it in store) and the only way they will order it for me is if I pay up front. And then they claim it will take a week and a half to get it.

Meanwhile Amazon is like 10$ cheaper and will have it to me in two days. Absurd. So now I have to go to the store and find a decent cookbook that they have in stock.

As others have mentioned, there could be a bunch of reasons for this. One is that if Borders doesn't normally carry the book they may have to order it on a non-returnable basis. If that's the case it's perfectly normal to ask for money up front.

[TallMomof2]

Before Amazon, I would occasionally shop at Borders (the closest) or B&N (20 minutes away) but mostly I would stick to discount chains. I take my daughter every couple of months to look for manga or interesting fiction (she is extremely choosy) but mostly I buy online and in electronic form.

[SeaBookGuy]

I was at my local Borders this afternoon, using my 50% off coupon (an $8 cozy down to $4 ... woo hoo!); the store was not especially busy, there were clearance signs and bins of cheap books, but no indication the store itself was closing.

[questionfear]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

I was at my local Borders this afternoon, using my 50% off coupon (an $8 cozy down to $4 ... woo hoo!); the store was not especially busy, there were clearance signs and bins of cheap books, but no indication the store itself was closing.

To be clear, not all Borders are closing (as of now). They were/are shutting down 20-30 superstores around the country as of January 2011, but most stores are still intact.

Anyone who is reporting in that their local store is closing is reporting on a closing that was in the works before Borders announced their latest liquidity crunch.

Even if Borders goes into Chapter 7 (liquidate everything, no chance for the company to come out of it like Chapter 11), it will take time for everything to unwind, and the fire sales will be well publicized.

[SeaBookGuy]

Oh good -- my 2011 Borders Bucks are safe for the time being!

[Critteranne]

Originally Posted by SeaBookGuy

Oh good -- my 2011 Borders Bucks are safe for the time being!

I already spent them yesterday, anyway. The very day I got them. There were books I wanted, after all.

[jsites]

No wonder they are heading that way. I called to have a book ordered for me (because they don't carry it in store) and the only way they will order it for me is if I pay up front. And then they claim it will take a week and a half to get it.

Meanwhile Amazon is like 10$ cheaper and will have it to me in two days. Absurd. So now I have to go to the store and find a decent cookbook that they have in stock.

<-Borders Store Employee

This change was made for a number of reasons.

1: Our old ordering system was replaced by the new Borders.com. We have absolutely no other way to special order a single copy of a single title other than through our website.

2: In the old system where we could order items into the store, have a customer look at it first, and then decide if they wanted to purchase it, we had stacks and stacks of books that had to either be returned, or processed into store inventory because customers would never come back to the store for their order. It really just makes sense from a business standpoint to put a halt to the old system, because of the large amount of money the company was spending to send books back and forth.

And yes, Amazon has it cheaper, but you'd have to pay for that Amazon book before you got to look at it too.



I know for the 5 years I've worked at our store, people have come in on an almost daily basis saying things like "I heard your store is closing." Sure, the company may not be in great shape, but so far they're still around, and judging by the crowds we've had this Christmas season, and this past week, at least our store is doing great.

But it's not all rosey, cheery stuff. Yes, Borders is in a bad place, and has been before. Hopefully they'll find a way to turn things around. Only time will tell.

[catsknit]

I sure hope they stay in business. It's the only bookstore in my small town other than used, and it's always pretty busy here. While I use Amazon a lot, there are times when I want a particular book right now, and usually Borders has had it for me.

[Maggie Leung]

Originally Posted by jsites

<-Borders Store Employee

This change was made for a number of reasons.

1: Our old ordering system was replaced by the new Borders.com. We have absolutely no other way to special order a single copy of a single title other than through our website.

2: In the old system where we could order items into the store, have a customer look at it first, and then decide if they wanted to purchase it, we had stacks and stacks of books that had to either be returned, or processed into store inventory because customers would never come back to the store for their order. It really just makes sense from a business standpoint to put a halt to the old system, because of the large amount of money the company was spending to send books back and forth.

And yes, Amazon has it cheaper, but you'd have to pay for that Amazon book before you got to look at it too.



I know for the 5 years I've worked at our store, people have come in on an almost daily basis saying things like "I heard your store is closing." Sure, the company may not be in great shape, but so far they're still around, and judging by the crowds we've had this Christmas season, and this past week, at least our store is doing great.

But it's not all rosey, cheery stuff. Yes, Borders is in a bad place, and has been before. Hopefully they'll find a way to turn things around. Only time will tell.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to pay for a book before having a store order it, just as I'd pay for any special order at any other business.

I root for all brick-and-mortar bookstores to stay open, but I think many are likely to close sooner, rather than later.

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by catsknit

I sure hope they stay in business. It's the only bookstore in my small town other than used, and it's always pretty busy here. While I use Amazon a lot, there are times when I want a particular book right now, and usually Borders has had it for me.

OMG!!!! please tell me it isn't so!!! KNITTING CATS!!!! eeeEEEkkkKKK! I'm doomed!