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

[4th Hussar]

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


^&grin

Only in prison^&grin

 

[damian]

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.....................

Does Denis have a website or e mail or electronic catalog?

 

[The Military Workshop]

I think one of the problems is the publishers. Once you start giving one outlet a better price than others then they can undercit and the smaller guys lose out.

How many outlets did Borders have in the USA ? Then the question is, if you were a publisher, would you rather sell to those Borders outlets or Amazon. I think the publishers bear some of the blame by apparently giving better pricing to Amazon.

Once Amazon has killed off the book stores they will "own" the publishers.

Regards
Brett

 

[lancer]

Does Denis have a website or e mail or electronic catalog?

A website @ www.onmilitarymatters.com. -- Al

 

[Warrior]

A website @ www.onmilitarymatters.com. -- Al

You beat me to it, thanks Al.

Damian, he also has an email list he sends out as well as new releases come in, I am on his list and every week or so, he sends a list of what's new.

He's a great guy to deal with for sure, he has many out of print books too.

Brett, you nailed it; that is Amazons end game, to wipe out the competition and then they call all the shots.

It's a lousy way to do business; undercut your competitors, then when they are all gone, you squeeze the publishers even more and up go your prices, they're double dipping at that point.

If price is the sole thing that drives your bus, shop till you drop at Amazon.

No thanks, I'll go with the guy who gives me great service and does the little things Amazon cannot do.

 

[lancer]

You beat me to it, thanks Al.

Damian, he also has an email list he sends out as well as new releases come in, I am on his list and every week or so, he sends a list of what's new.

He's a great guy to deal with for sure, he has many out of print books too.

Brett, you nailed it; that is Amazons end game, to wipe out the competition and then they call all the shots.

It's a lousy way to do business; undercut your competitors, then when they are all gone, you squeeze the publishers even more and up go your prices, they're double dipping at that point.

If price is the sole thing that drives your bus, shop till you drop at Amazon.

No thanks, I'll go with the guy who gives me great service and does the little things Amazon cannot do.

Bravo! I like the way you think, George. I looked up the bookshop after reading your post and found that it has many good titles that I am interested in. We must support the small book stores. -- Al

 

[Warrior]

Bravo! I like the way you think, George. I looked up the bookshop after reading your post and found that it has many good titles that I am interested in. We must support the small book stores. -- Al

Thanks Al, Dennis is just about the last military book dealer at the shows now, there are afew peddling Ospreys, but they get into price wars, each undercutting the other by a buck or two.

There used to be five or six military book dealers at the shows ten years ago, Dennis is the last man standing at this point.

Iv'e beent trying to talk him into doing OTSN, I think he'd clean up at that show.....................

 

[Jay]

I think one of the problems is the publishers. Once you start giving one outlet a better price than others then they can undercit and the smaller guys lose out.

How many outlets did Borders have in the USA ? Then the question is, if you were a publisher, would you rather sell to those Borders outlets or Amazon. I think the publishers bear some of the blame by apparently giving better pricing to Amazon.

Once Amazon has killed off the book stores they will "own" the publishers.

Regards
Brett

But that is business everywhere. You as a wholesaler can't change your prices depending on who you sell to if they buy the same amount. But you can, and likely do, if they buy in volume. If Borders bought 1,000 copies of a book and Amazon bought 10,000 they are going to get the best price. That is why Walmart has lower prices generally. I suspect Squadron Shop gets a better price on kits to sell then many dealers do.


Speaking of Borders, I stopped by one the other day to see what they had on sale. Magazines are 40%, books 20%. For the 20% lines were through the store. Considering that one could almost always get something for 20% off at Borders, I couldn't understand why people were grabbing stuff like it was free.
Magazines were another matter. 40% is good. I grabbed some and went to wait in line. Along comes some loudmouth on a phone behind me. I wasn't going to wait in line for 20 minutes behind her, so I just left them.
Magazines got me to wondering. Books you can find anywhere, magazines are a different matter. Again, suppose one of the history magazines that we like sold 5000 copies to Borders for their stores. A lot of these are spontaneous purchases. We see a cover story that interests us and we grab it. We might not have a subscription, and may only buy what we like. I'm not talking about Time or something like that. I'm talking about smaller publications. Now, with the outlet for magazines smaller, what does that do to sales, and as a result, publications, and, writers? I think a lot of the small history mags that we like to grab are going to disappear in the next year or so. If there is one you like, betrer get a subscription and support them.

Okay, one other thing about Borders. Sorry. I saw they had Playmobil in the kids section. Take it or leave it, but my point is that even with the 20% discount, it was still more expensive than the very same item at the Toys R Us literally across the street from this location. Can't compete if you can't match other places prices.

 

[Sans Culotte]

But that is business everywhere. You as a wholesaler can't change your prices depending on who you sell to if they buy the same amount. But you can, and likely do, if they buy in volume. If Borders bought 1,000 copies of a book and Amazon bought 10,000 they are going to get the best price. That is why Walmart has lower prices generally. I suspect Squadron Shop gets a better price on kits to sell then many dealers do.


Speaking of Borders, I stopped by one the other day to see what they had on sale. Magazines are 40%, books 20%. For the 20% lines were through the store. Considering that one could almost always get something for 20% off at Borders, I couldn't understand why people were grabbing stuff like it was free.
Magazines were another matter. 40% is good. I grabbed some and went to wait in line. Along comes some loudmouth on a phone behind me. I wasn't going to wait in line for 20 minutes behind her, so I just left them.
Magazines got me to wondering. Books you can find anywhere, magazines are a different matter. Again, suppose one of the history magazines that we like sold 5000 copies to Borders for their stores. A lot of these are spontaneous purchases. We see a cover story that interests us and we grab it. We might not have a subscription, and may only buy what we like. I'm not talking about Time or something like that. I'm talking about smaller publications. Now, with the outlet for magazines smaller, what does that do to sales, and as a result, publications, and, writers? I think a lot of the small history mags that we like to grab are going to disappear in the next year or so. If there is one you like, betrer get a subscription and support them.

Okay, one other thing about Borders. Sorry. I saw they had Playmobil in the kids section. Take it or leave it, but my point is that even with the 20% discount, it was still more expensive than the very same item at the Toys R Us literally across the street from this location. Can't compete if you can't match other places prices.

Too bad that you don't live near Syracuse. Borders here has everything discounted 50% (that includes using a Borders card). My wife & I have walked away with tons of bargains; that's after making several runs. We're VERY happy campers!!^&grin^&grin^&grin