10-26-2009, 04:47 PM | #1 | ||
Literacy = Understanding
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From B&N: Why there are no B&N member discounts
I recently wrote B&N customer service and asked the following questions:
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10-26-2009, 08:01 PM | #2 |
Wizard
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Sounds like a bunch of shiesters. Sure. Everything is "deeply discounted" when you consider the bloated, inflated prices that publishers charge retail.
But, I'm pretty sure that when stores agree to purchase content they do so in bulk for a massive discount. And said discount is then passed on to the consumer via "Member Discounts" and Amazon being Amazon and stuff. And the "Deep Discounts" are pretty much a joke compared to other places. $9.99 for hard covers at Amazon versus B/N's "discounted 30% + 10%" = $15.99 for the same one usually. Sigh. |
10-26-2009, 08:37 PM | #3 |
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This is very disappointing. On some level I can understand why they wouldn't allow discounts on the device itself, these things are usually sold at a loss as it is. However, accessories? Please, those things are soooooooooo overpriced. As for the eBooks, if their prices were lower I'd agree. But since they currently charge more than Sony and Amazon for most books, and other ebook stores (eReader.com included) routinely give "membership" discounts of at least 10%, I call BS on BN.
I'm not a member, but if was one I'd be fuming. What a way to alienate your most loyal customers at a time when you really need them the most. B&N diehards are the people who are going to want this device, are willing to dedicate themselves to the B&N ebook store. I hope they come to their senses. |
10-26-2009, 11:29 PM | #4 |
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The ONLY way I'd guess they'll reconsider is IF they see B&N club members NOT buying the Nook when it's available.
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10-27-2009, 02:00 AM | #5 |
NE1 seen my glasses?
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Well, the reason I've never become a BN member is cuz 10% discount on ANYTHING is as good as no discount at all -- especially when you have to pay a membership fee to even qualify which means you gotta buy a LOT of stuff at 10% off to get the membership fee back before you even get to start "saving" on prices that are higher than the local department store.
This is just another reason I can be glad I"m not a member. Doesn't mean I won't buy the Nook once I see people reactions when they actually have one in their hands, but it won't be for the ebook prices. |
10-27-2009, 10:51 AM | #6 |
Literacy = Understanding
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eGeezer, I've been a B&N member for years. At first i resisted for exactly the reason you state. But then I did the math based on my purchasing history and realized I'd save several hundered dollars a year by being a member.
The discount is 20% on all adult hardcovers; 10% on paperbacks and other items. If a book is already on sale, say a bestseller is already marked 30% off, I get another 10% on top of the 30% discount. I buy 25+ hardcovers a year from B&N and none are bestsellers; most are special orders. So the 20% begins to add up. For the casual reader who buys a couple of paperbacks a year, it isn't worth joining, but if you buy a lot of books at B&N it doesn't take long to earn back the cost of membership -- especially at current book prices. |
10-27-2009, 01:08 PM | #7 | ||
Wizard
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Buying from Borders and/or Amazon will save much more money than B&N even with the Membership discount. Becoming a Borders Reward member (FREE) I get a coupon to save 40% on a book purchase each month on top of other coupons. =X= |
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10-27-2009, 08:02 PM | #8 | |
NE1 seen my glasses?
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Quote:
Anyway, since I never found a BN membership of interest for pback purchases, I'm just saying I find it even more worthless (to me) with no ebook discount. Perhaps they fully intend for that to change once they see how Nook sales go. If I were to buy a Nook, and a BN membership would give me what I consider a reasonable price on "pback" edition ebooks, then that would be attractive. I get that hardcover edition (tree or e) books cost more for a variety of reasons, whether they are best sellers or not. But once its in an ebook reader, a "hc" edition and a "pback" edition don't look any different. Maybe they keep the "pbook" editions at $7.99 to make the $9.99 "hc ebook" pricing more attractive -- which it is if you like to read books as soon as they are published. But $7.99 for an ebook when the pback edition costs the same and I can get the pback from other sources for $4-6 (provided I don't pick it up at used book store) just isn't going to attract me to anyone's dedicated wireless ebook store. I fully intend to find an ebook reader under my Christmas tree, but a wireless tether at the current tethered ebook prices just doesn't make the tethering a selling point. On the other hand, its not something that would cause me NOT to choose the tether, as long as Library books are an option, too. |
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02-21-2011, 06:26 PM | #9 |
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Why pay $25.00 for membership?
If there are no Nook discounts (and I am now downloading more Nook books than buying hardcover or paperbacks) why should I spend the $25.00 to buy the member card?
This may be something for B&N to consider. And yes, the paperbacks are around $7.99, same price as in store. I understand the book business is falling on hard times, and that is regrettable, but if one pays for the member card, at least a 10% discount should be given. |
02-21-2011, 08:38 PM | #10 |
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I was disappointed that there wasn't a 10% discount, but it saves me the gas for a trip to the nearest B&N (45 mile round trip), and I did get the 5% B&N Mastercard rebate.
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02-22-2011, 11:24 AM | #11 |
eReader
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I don't know if B&N membership gives their discount on accessories yet - but I know the BAMM millionaires club card does give a discount on Nook accessories there. (I didn't get a discount on the device, but I did on the case.)
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