Borders files for bankruptcy - closes 200 stores (1 Viewer)

[Jay]

The book stores are going the way of the media stores like HMV and Virgin. Rental stores relying on physical media like DVD's and BD's are next. It is just too expensive and cumbersome to do business like that and new technologies are available.

Given this site, I can't believe that no one has mentioned the impossibility of finding a hobby or toy stores anymore. Growing up it seems you couldn't throw a rock without hitting one.

Funny, I had been trying for years to visit the small toy soldier store just off Oxford street, I think it was called Under Two Flags, but I'm not sure. It was on little St. Christopher street which is one of the wonderful finds in London. Any time I was in the area, and this is for something like 30 years, was always on a day that they were closed. Finally, a few years ago I was in the area on a Saturday and knew that finally I would have a chance. So,I walk down there and couldn't find it. I finally stopped in a store across from where I thought it was and was told that it had closed up about a month before. Well, I did try.

 

[Warrior]

What is the point of having a physical location for a book store if not for folks to read from the inventory, which does require so touching I am afraid?:rolleyes2:.............................Because it's a book store, not a library. That's great for you if you don't mind having your books mollied all over..........

Actually, I buy most of my books from Abe, Alibris and other used book sellers, mostt in the Amazon Marketplace so the need for a pristine copy is rather lost on me.:smile2:.....................See above; because some people prefer a pristine copy over one that has been manhandled, just like some toy soldier collectors don't want to buy a set of soldiers without a box, or a set that has been out on display with various dings, chips, etc, etc.

It's called personal preference.

 

[lancer]

What is the point of having a physical location for a book store if not for folks to read from the inventory, which does require so touching I am afraid?:rolleyes2:.............................Because it's a book store, not a library. That's great for you if you don't mind having your books mollied all over..........

Actually, I buy most of my books from Abe, Alibris and other used book sellers, mostt in the Amazon Marketplace so the need for a pristine copy is rather lost on me.:smile2:.....................See above; because some people prefer a pristine copy over one that has been manhandled, just like some toy soldier collectors don't want to buy a set of soldiers without a box, or a set that has been out on display with various dings, chips, etc, etc.

It's called personal preference.

Very right. On the matter of condition, people like things in nice shape, TS or Books. For resale value, whether TS or books, condition is EVERYTHING, unless it is a rarely seen item where one takes what one can get. Having spent many years collecting and dealing in military books, I can tell you that the difference in value and collectibility between a book that is mint in mint dust jacket and a book of lesser condition with a rough dust jacket is like the difference in value between gold and silver (just a slight exaggeration). Like the box on old Britains, the dust jacket makes ALL the difference on many books. -- Al

 

[Spitfrnd]

What is the point of having a physical location for a book store if not for folks to read from the inventory, which does require so touching I am afraid?:rolleyes2:.............................Because it's a book store, not a library. That's great for you if you don't mind having your books mollied all over..........

Actually, I buy most of my books from Abe, Alibris and other used book sellers, mostt in the Amazon Marketplace so the need for a pristine copy is rather lost on me.:smile2:.....................See above; because some people prefer a pristine copy over one that has been manhandled, just like some toy soldier collectors don't want to buy a set of soldiers without a box, or a set that has been out on display with various dings, chips, etc, etc.

It's called personal preference.

George, I think you might want to try expanding the scope of your ignore to include me since you don't seem to be able to respond to me lately without some silly attempt at a dig. Really mate, can't you say anything without an edge.:rolleyes2: I think you know what that is called.

As to your point, display copies are for viewing, it is really that simple and I think you know that well enough. If not, well you learn something every day; I know I do.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Someone leafing through a book to decide weather or not they want to buy it is one thing. My problem is when someone is slobering over it for hours drinking a latte and eating a jelly donut. I also don't buy underwear if the package is open

 

[Jay]

Someone leafing through a book to decide weather or not they want to buy it is one thing. My problem is when someone is slobering over it for hours drinking a latte and eating a jelly donut. I also don't buy underwear if the package is open

You guys must to go to some wild Borders and B%N. I've gone there, had coffee and perused books and mags and I've never seen people slobbering over mags and eating jelly donuts, for that matter. Guess I must go to the upscale ones.

 

[4th Hussar]

Someone leafing through a book to decide weather or not they want to buy it is one thing. My problem is when someone is slobering over it for hours drinking a latte and eating a jelly donut. I also don't buy underwear if the package is open

Now that I know what they do in bookstores pls don't give me details on what goes on in New Jersey underwear stores.

 

[Warrior]

George, I think you might want to try expanding the scope of your ignore to include me since you don't seem to be able to respond to me lately without some silly attempt at a dig. Really mate, can't you say anything without an edge.:rolleyes2: I think you know what that is called.

As to your point, display copies are for viewing, it is really that simple and I think you know that well enough. If not, well you learn something every day; I know I do.

You feel that one of the main purposes of a bookstore is to allow people to go there and read the books; I go there to buy them, not read them, I'll read them when I get home.

Because you don't see the need to buy a book in pristine condition doesn't mean somone else can't see the need.

It's a difference of opinion, is that such a bad thing Bill?

As Al, a former book dealer has pointed out, the value of a book is in it's condition, which I pointed out as well, just like the value of a toy soldier collection is in it's condition, both the figure condition and also the box.

I've purchased some pretty expensive books from Dennis at OMM and I prefer my copies to be mint, not have it's binding broken or dust jacket torn, spindled or mutilated, which is why I can HEAR his blood pressure going up all the way across the dealer hall at the wargaming conventions as he watches his books get manhandled at the show.

I find your comments pretty amusing considering the number of barbs/shots/jabs you've written on this forum Bill, "I think you know that well enough and if not, well you learn something new everyday" the latest in a long line of them.

Lighten up, this is a toy soldier forum afterall.

 

[Jay]

Boy has this taken a silly turn. Books store for years have had areas where one could sit and read/look at books. This wasn't started by Borders or Barnes and Noble. Yeah, people go to book stores to buy books, just like people used to go to records stores to buy records. Records stores were there to sell records, just like book stores are for book buying. But I would bet that places that let you sit and read, or sit and listen, sold a lot more than those that had a get in, buy it and get out policy.
You don't like a magazine with crumbs, buy a fresh copy. But there have been a lot of magazines I've bought after looking through them leisurely over a cup of coffee. I'm going to miss my local Borders.
Btw, never did see one of those places with jelly donuts.

 

[Ragnar]

I geuss Borders is not big enough to get bailed out :rolleyes2:

 

[Combat]

Some of the larger stores have decided to sell coffee and snacks. So I guess it's up to them whether they want people browsing their books. If they didn't they would tell people to stop. Frankly, I would rather see more people reading regardless of location than watching TV or jabbering into some cell phone.

 

[Sans Culotte]

I thought that this was supposed to be about the demise of a bookstore chain, not germ warfare, squishy chairs, "a few gross of battered books," and latte slurpers with their pinkies in the air.:rolleyes2::rolleyes2::rolleyes2:

 

[bromhead]

Now that I know what they do in bookstores pls don't give me details on what goes on in New Jersey underwear stores.

or undie shows.,,,fortunatly the borders near me is off the block,,very new,two story

 

[The Military Workshop]

Update on my gift voucher. Had to spend $50 to be able to redeem my $50 voucher which I did and felt OK with that.

 

[Mitch]

I stopped buying books from stores such as borders when after a few times I could not hold my tongue a bloke in the war section actually bent over a page at the edge hoping it would be there the next time he was shopping with his wife!!!!. To me, thats outrageous and have seen people licking fingers and turning over pages of quite expensive books (does not matter if its worth a quid) Have some decency and respect and, I have to agree with George its not a library read the back cover, gives you enough info, rather than having a day out and reading it for nowt or, here's a novel one buy it!!.
Mitch

 

[Terp152]

Gave up buying most books in the bricks and mortar stores when same book is available online for 50%+ less. If price difference was 10% or so I would support the stores but can't justify spending that much more for same product.

 

[Warrior]

I buy 95% of my books from Dennis at On Military Matters, he treats me great, imports many hard to find books from Europe, specifically France, have purchased many titles from the French publisher Le Livre Chez Vous through Dennis.

They are famous for well illustrated books on specific Napoleonic battles and campaigns.

Amazon, which undercuts everyone, is famous for offering a presell on a book at 25% to 40% below retail, only to cancel the order out from under you when they can't bash the publisher over the head with a folding chair to get another 10% rake off.

No thanks, they do for the book industry what Walmart does for the mom and pop stores in anytown USA.

When I do go through Amazon, I buy only from one of the book sellers that sells through Amazon rather than from Amazon direct, can only imagine what percentage Amazon gouges those sellers for, worse than what Ebay/Paypal does to sellers that use their system I'm sure, which is bad enough.....................

 

[Andanna]

Now that I know what they do in bookstores pls don't give me details on what goes on in New Jersey underwear stores.

Sorry. I do not get it. Pre-worn and pre-washed is fashionable.


^&grin

 

[lancer]

I buy 95% of my books from Dennis at On Military Matters, he treats me great, imports many hard to find books from Europe, specifically France, have purchased many titles from the French publisher Le Livre Chez Vous through Dennis.

They are famous for well illustrated books on specific Napoleonic battles and campaigns.

Amazon, which undercuts everyone, is famous for offering a presell on a book at 25% to 40% below retail, only to cancel the order out from under you when they can't bash the publisher over the head with a folding chair to get another 10% rake off.

No thanks, they do for the book industry what Walmart does for the mom and pop stores in anytown USA.

When I do go through Amazon, I buy only from one of the book sellers that sells through Amazon rather than from Amazon direct, can only imagine what percentage Amazon gouges those sellers for, worse than what Ebay/Paypal does to sellers that use their system I'm sure, which is bad enough.....................

George, there are a lot of small book dealers who would kiss you for this attitude. Amazon is a blight that has almost ruined the mom and pop stores. I have never bought from Amazon, also preferring my old contacts/friends that remain in business, for my military books. In my general area, there are about 3 non-chain book stores left, as compared to 20 years ago, when there were well over 2 dozen. I'm talking brick and mortar, not internet. People, support your local, privately owned bookshops or all you will have left are Amazon and Barnes&Noble (maybe). George, a big salute.:salute:: -- Al

 

[Warrior]

George, there are a lot of small book dealers who would kiss you for this attitude. Amazon is a blight that has almost ruined the mom and pop stores. I have never bought from Amazon, also preferring my old contacts/friends that remain in business, for my military books. In my general area, there are about 3 non-chain book stores left, as compared to 20 years ago, when there were well over 2 dozen. I'm talking brick and mortar, not internet. People, support your local, privately owned bookshops or all you will have left are Amazon and Barnes&Noble (maybe). George, a big salute.:salute:: -- Al

Al,
Thanks for the kind words, Dennis is a great guy and treats me very well, guys like him deserve my business, he always has something new and interesting at the shows.

He keeps me up to date on any new titles he gets that are up my alley and offers to bring them to the next show with no strings attached for me to have a quick look at; I trust him as he knows what I like, 99% of the time he is right on point regarding a book and I buy it.

Why do I get the feeling once all the smaller book dealers are gone, Amazon will clobber everyone with high prices; that's the end game afterall, is it not, wipe out your competition by undercutting them, then when you are the last man standing, you've got a captive audience.

That is why you'll never see me step foot inside of a Walmart, there is one right up the street where I live, they are building another one five miles THE OTHER WAY up the road next to a couple of smaller supermarkets where I shop, pretty rotten...................