Borders files for bankruptcy - Page 5

djorkboy · 02-17-2011, 01:16 AM

Yeah it is a real shock, the overly cynical may wonder how any Australian bookseller can go broke considering the price gouging they engage in.

MsCG1 · 02-17-2011, 01:27 AM

I live in a major city in San Diego, and one of our bigger Borders store closed last month, and it was replaced with a TJ Maxx, which hurts. Makes me mad just to drive past now.

I tried to give business to Borders, but BN was just superior in every way. Better location, better atmosphere, better selection. I even tried to just exclusively purchase my magazines from Borders, but they were always out of stock. Eventually I was left with no choice.

If BN folds, I don't know what I'll do.

iandix · 02-17-2011, 01:32 AM

Also I just heard that Borders Australia (separate company to the US one) is in "Administration" one step before filing for bankruptcy..

Things don't look good

It also makes me wonder about the Kobo reader now, seeing Borders Australia was also a big investor in the Kobo..

AnemicOak · 02-17-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djorkboy

Yeah it is a real shock, the overly cynical may wonder how any Australian bookseller can go broke considering the price gouging they engage in.

But is what you're calling price gouging done by the bookseller? More likely it's the publishers (and maybe distributors?).

kennyc · 02-17-2011, 10:35 AM

I just was reminded that one of my son's roommates is losing his job due to the closing here in Colorado....

Worldwalker · 02-17-2011, 10:48 AM

I agree that Border's probably can't pull it out. They've never had good management at the top level. They went through how many CEOs in the past five years? I love their stores, and their store staff has always been far more pleasant than B&N's, where they seem to be evaluated solely on how well they hard-sell their $25 "discount" cards, so I'm going to miss them a lot when they finally curl up and die. I travel 45 minutes to my closest Border's. The only local store is a Books-A-Million, which is terrible. They don't have a good selection of discount/remaindered books, their SF and fantasy sections border on the microscopic (probably pushed out by their "Christian literature" section which seems to be taking up about half the store), and I've been in more pleasant 7-Elevens. But Border's has been flopping around like a headless chicken for years now. They never seemed to figure out what they were supposed to be doing with their website, either ... except that buying from the site cost me more than buying from their B&M stores (coupons helped, admittedly) so if I was going to buy something online and wait for it, I'd buy from Amazon for the discount and/or free shipping.

rhadin · 02-17-2011, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

love their stores, and their store staff has always been far more pleasant than B&N's, where they seem to be evaluated solely on how well they hard-sell their $25 "discount" cards, so I'm going to miss them a lot when they finally curl up and die.

I've not worked for B&N so I don't know whether employees are evaluated on the number of memberships they sell, but I can say that in all the years I have been going to B&N, other than asking if I would be interested in the membership card or in renewing, there was no hard sell.

In contrast, I did work for Borders for several years and employee jobs were based on selling membership cards. Employees were given a monthly quota and if the quota was not met, the job was in jeopardy; miss for 2 months and you were gone. Bonuses were tied to the membership card sales. And the most important thing on an employee evaluation was the number of memberships sold.

tubemonkey · 02-17-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

In contrast, I did work for Borders for several years and employee jobs were based on selling membership cards. Employees were given a monthly quaota and if the quota was not met, the job was in jeopardy; miss for 2 months and you were gone. Bonuses were tied to the membership card sales. And the most important thing on an employee evaluation was the number of memberships sold.

That really sucks!

boswd · 02-17-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsCG1

I live in a major city in San Diego, and one of our bigger Borders store closed last month, and it was replaced with a TJ Maxx, which hurts. Makes me mad just to drive past now.

I tried to give business to Borders, but BN was just superior in every way. Better location, better atmosphere, better selection. I even tried to just exclusively purchase my magazines from Borders, but they were always out of stock. Eventually I was left with no choice.

If BN folds, I don't know what I'll do.

Yeah I always enjoyed Borders but you are right, BN, at least the ones near me, just had this Library type of atomosphere, with the maghoney wood boooks shelves and stair cases and the deep hunter green carpets and paint trim.

I just love going in with my nook and grabbing a cup of coffee and just relaxing.

GlenBarrington · 02-17-2011, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

I've not worked for B&N so I don't know whether employees are evaluated on the number of memberships they sell, but I can say that in all the years I have been going to B&N, other than asking if I would be interested in the membership card or in renewing, there was no hard sell.

In contrast, I did work for Borders for several years and employee jobs were based on selling membership cards. Employees were given a monthly quaota and if the quota was not met, the job was in jeopardy; miss for 2 months and you were gone. Bonuses were tied to the membership card sales. And the most important thing on an employee evaluation was the number of memberships sold.

Wow! That worked well for them didn't it!

NVash · 02-22-2011, 10:42 AM

Borders? Chapter 11? I dont know why. You know, I went into one yesterday and got a few ideas. Could it be the ridiculous prices? Most books were overpriced, I could easily get them off Amazon for half the price. Dont even get me started on DV prices. And the books I did want to buy that I was actually willing to pay for were out of stock. Could you believe it? Every time I go there looking for a book its out of stock. I havent bought a book from them in over a year for that very reason. They offer the ability to order it for you but really, it was for a present in a day or so, I dont have time to waste. By the time they got it in the occasion would be over and Id look horrible saying 'Would you believe its in the mail?' It amazes me that a store so huge has such a small selection.

02-17-2011, 01:32 AM	#63
iandix Addict Posts: 295 Karma: 109308 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NSW Australia Device: nook touch a Nook 3g (rooted) and a nookcolor (rooted)	Also I just heard that Borders Australia (separate company to the US one) is in "Administration" one step before filing for bankruptcy.. Things don't look good It also makes me wonder about the Kobo reader now, seeing Borders Australia was also a big investor in the Kobo.. Last edited by iandix; 02-17-2011 at 01:34 AM.

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02-17-2011, 01:16 AM	#61
djorkboy Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo	Yeah it is a real shock, the overly cynical may wonder how any Australian bookseller can go broke considering the price gouging they engage in.

02-17-2011, 01:27 AM	#62
MsCG1 Zealot Posts: 142 Karma: 38391 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Nook Classic, NookColor, HTC Rezound, Sony PRS-505, ICS Touchpad	I live in a major city in San Diego, and one of our bigger Borders store closed last month, and it was replaced with a TJ Maxx, which hurts. Makes me mad just to drive past now. I tried to give business to Borders, but BN was just superior in every way. Better location, better atmosphere, better selection. I even tried to just exclusively purchase my magazines from Borders, but they were always out of stock. Eventually I was left with no choice. If BN folds, I don't know what I'll do.

02-17-2011, 10:35 AM	#65
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I just was reminded that one of my son's roommates is losing his job due to the closing here in Colorado....

02-17-2011, 10:48 AM	#66
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	I agree that Border's probably can't pull it out. They've never had good management at the top level. They went through how many CEOs in the past five years? I love their stores, and their store staff has always been far more pleasant than B&N's, where they seem to be evaluated solely on how well they hard-sell their $25 "discount" cards, so I'm going to miss them a lot when they finally curl up and die. I travel 45 minutes to my closest Border's. The only local store is a Books-A-Million, which is terrible. They don't have a good selection of discount/remaindered books, their SF and fantasy sections border on the microscopic (probably pushed out by their "Christian literature" section which seems to be taking up about half the store), and I've been in more pleasant 7-Elevens. But Border's has been flopping around like a headless chicken for years now. They never seemed to figure out what they were supposed to be doing with their website, either ... except that buying from the site cost me more than buying from their B&M stores (coupons helped, admittedly) so if I was going to buy something online and wait for it, I'd buy from Amazon for the discount and/or free shipping.

02-22-2011, 10:42 AM	#71
NVash Wandering Vagabond Posts: 282 Karma: 350000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: iPod Touch	Borders? Chapter 11? I dont know why. You know, I went into one yesterday and got a few ideas. Could it be the ridiculous prices? Most books were overpriced, I could easily get them off Amazon for half the price. Dont even get me started on DV prices. And the books I did want to buy that I was actually willing to pay for were out of stock. Could you believe it? Every time I go there looking for a book its out of stock. I havent bought a book from them in over a year for that very reason. They offer the ability to order it for you but really, it was for a present in a day or so, I dont have time to waste. By the time they got it in the occasion would be over and Id look horrible saying 'Would you believe its in the mail?' It amazes me that a store so huge has such a small selection.

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