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In more bad news for Borders, the mega-bookseller just announced that it has cut 20 percent of its corporate jobs, nearly 275 positions, in order to save $120 million annually.
Borders put itself up for sale in March, after announcing losses last year of $150 million and in May, the company laid off five vice presidents and three directors. Barnes and Noble has expressed interest in buying Borders, but there are no definite deals yet.
Currently there are seven Borders in the city. Even though we much prefer to visit an independent or used bookstore for our lit fixes, when we need to venture into the Borders/Barnes and Noble territory, we've usually sprung for Borders.
While you still have the choice, which mega-seller do you prefer?
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maybe it's because i've always been closer to a borders no matter what, but i prefer them much more than barnes & noble. i'm surprised at this seeming switcheroo in profit margins; i always figured borders for top dog.
Def. Borders. Even in their two busiest locations you can find what you want and get out of there relatively fast. I think they're even better than Amazon.
Borders - the environment seems not as stuffy.
I love em both, surrounded by all those books, hunting for some “treasurers" for five bucks”
or the excitement of getting a book that you’ve been itching to read!
I guess if pressed I’d have to say Boarders.
But is it any wonder why they are going out of business?
Every day there is yet another article about how Americans are reading less and less. Its crazy how many people actually consider “books on tape” actually reading. And if I see another trixie reading “Eat Love and Pray!
@moldorange: exactly, also, Seattle's Best is much better than Starbucks coffee I think.
@spook: I don't think there's anything wrong with books on tape, and Borders sells them too. Especially if you have to drive to commute, it's the best way to still get some "reading" in your day.
But is it any wonder why they are going out of business?
Amazon, as well as a flawed expansion plan, probably has at least a bit to do with this, not just reading habits.
Its crazy how many people actually consider “books on tape” actually reading.
I don't like books on tape, but remember, reading springs directly from the oral storytelling tradition, which remains alive ("This American Life", 2nd Story, etc.). And any book worth its salt--whether "War and Peace" or, perhaps, a well-worn copy of "Che for Dummies and Others Easily Swayed"--will take on deeper meanings with read aloud by a thoughtful reader. Try it sometime.
per the article, "Borders has lost market share both to online retailers and to discounters amid a difficult U.S. economic climate. It announced in March it would explore strategic alternatives, which could include a sale. Rival Barnes & Noble Inc. has assembled a management team to study the feasibility of combining with Borders. "
You may not have to chose between them anymore!
Borders has a partnership with Amazon, so I can't see how Amazon is adversely affecting Borders.
Is that Tilda raising a point about the tradition of stories in culture?
I never thought about it in that context
Point made!
Yea interesting
But still (By Kitten) lets not spin this ball of yard too far
I've never cared for Barnes and Noble. I don't mind Borders I guess...I hate the ones in downtown Chicago...they're always overcrowded.
If you're in a smaller city they're not so bad. I would prefer the small, independently owned bookstore over them all, but those are a rarity these days.
57th St. Bookstore and Seminary Coop are the best...but I don't live out there now so I very rarely have the opportunity to browse them anymore.
I have to be honest though...I'm going to start becoming a regular at the local library. When you move as much as I do, you have a choice to haul your "personal library" with each move or find new homes for them. I don't like either of those options and I'm also trying to cut expenses. So...yeah....library it's going to be for me.
Bookstores are now going to be for drinking an occasional coffee and browsing.
Borders has a partnership with Amazon, so I can't see how Amazon is adversely affecting Borders.
Borders partners with Amazon to run its web operations, but Amazon.com is able to undercut Borders' brick and mortar prices by nearly 40% on all items.
I worked at a Borders briefly while I was looking for my first job out of college. It was a great part time job. Even before I worked for them, I preferred Borders to B&N. Mostly because I could use the computers to see if they had stuff in stock. I hope the Uptown Borders sticks around - last thing we need is another empty storefront.
Borders has a partnership with Amazon, so I can't see how Amazon is adversely affecting Borders.
Discounting, I think, would be the factor, as Prunes helpfully notes.
Yeah, I like Borders too. I wish I had a good reason why.
Looks like I'm the first to say barnes and noble. I've had plenty of times where I have struggled to find what I was looking for at Borders, but b and n has what I want nearly every time. I usually like b and n's layout better. I often go into a bookstore not knowing what I want and b and n has more relevant end of aisle displays and better bargain bins to help out with my random book choice.
@slaphappy:
Actually, Borders will no longer be working with Amazon and have a separate online identity now:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/308610_amazonborders23.html
@GL:
They have not acquired Borders yet, so you still have a choice. But probably not for long.
I prefer Borders by a mile. Especially the Michigan Avenue store. I've always found more random, obscure treasures in Borders. And their language instruction section is leagues ahead of any B&N.
Now that Amazon has Search/Look in the book, though, I'm only in Borders on a whim or when they send me a coupon.
Having worked and shopped at both Borders and Barnes and Noble, I have to say I prefer Borders by a long shot. I'm glad to see most of you agree! Something about Borders just seems more fun, and their selection is always best. I too hope the Uptown one stays, and I am very saddened to hear they are facing this problem.
If it's a bookstore, I'm there. I don't want to "get out as quickly as possible." Usually it's the destination. In other words, I prefer both (and the indies as well).
I don't see a dime's worth of difference between them. Sometimes, I don't even know which one I'm in. A shelf of books is a shelf of books.
I don't know why so many people seem to think that Barnes & Noble is going to purchase Borders, simply because they have said they are considering it. For one thing, I think it is highly unlikely that it would survive antitrust challanges. Target and Wal-Mart may sell a fair amount of books but their book department is about the size of Borders' and Barnes and Noble's magazine section. And the internet is not exactly a direct competitor. It is sort of difficult to browse books on the internet and you can not get it right away. So for people who want to get the overwhelming majority of titles immeditetely, Barnes & Noble and Borders probably have at least 75% market share. I don't think a deal like this would be approved by government antitrust regulaters. Not to mention there are numerous overlapping stores that are within five blocks from each other. There are enormous amounts of duplicate stores that Barnes & Noble would have to either close or operate inefficiantelly if they do this deal. A deal is not going to happen. Borders will recover once the economy recovers.
I definitely prefer Borders to Barnes & Noble. For years I frequented Oakbrook Center, which offers the dueling book purveyors across the highway from each other. Borders always had what I'd be looking for, and usually one or two items I didn't know I needed. The Michigan Ave. store is unparalleled. But I have to reiterate Ingrid's words and pursue what the Public Library has to offer. It may not be immediate gratification in all cases, but better for the environment, after purging myself of hundreds of books in my most recent move.
For one thing, I think it is highly unlikely that it would survive antitrust challanges.
I strongly disagree. The FTC and the Supreme Court have both cited the internet as a legitimate competitor in the marketplace against bricks and mortar competitors.
I'm not sure how you came up with the 75% number either. For 2007, B&N + Borders had 66% of the market excluding box stores, book clubs, and other revenue sources. As you can see here, the combined group couldn't expect to account for more than 24% of book sales in the near term.
First, to the gentleman who prefers Border's Seattle's Best coffee over Starbucks coffee; "Seattle's Best Coffee is a specialty coffee retailer and wholesaler based in Seattle, Washington, USA. Seattle's Best is a subsidiary of Starbucks Coffee." So in reality, you are drinking Starbucks coffee. I live just outside Omaha, NE and I like B&N more than Borders. I prefer the Starbucks coffees, and I like it's membership card that give me a 10 % discount on anything I purchase, be it full-priced books, bargan books, or coffee and food items. Unlike Border's discount coupons that only apply toward the full retail price. I also find that B&N has a much larger selection of bargan books. I do wish B&N had the instore terminals to check book availability, but I can live with having to ask for assistance. I also prefer B&N's store layout - I have much less difficulty finding what I am looking for there. Still, I too hope that Borders can pull out of their financial slump. There are certain hardback books I like that are more readily available at Borders. If you want to keep them around, you're going to have to shop there more frequently, and not just for the coffee and the bargan books. As far as books on tape goes, I use them on long trips, they help to keep me awake and alert while driving, especially late at night when everyone else in the car is sound asleep. The rest of the time, I enjoy reading, I especially enjoy the feel and print type/size of a good hardback.