Borders and Bookstores

With the news that Borders filed for bankruptcy, I started thinking about the Borders that I went to when I was younger, back when a giant huge bookstore was a luxury I’d never experienced. There were fireplaces! And big huge chairs! And more books than I’d ever seen in my life, and the employees were friendly as opposed to condescending like the people in the local bookstore near my house who never had any good chapter books for kids.

Colleen Lindsay was saying that if the local Borders near her brother’s home closes, there won’t be a bookstore for 35 miles. As part of their bankruptcy, Borders will likely close 200 stores, which means a lot of people will lose their bookstore.

UPDATE: This is a link to a PDF of all the Borders stores scheduled to close.

Meanwhile, last Sunday, my husband wanted to take our younger son to the library, only to find that due to budget cuts it was closed – despite the website listing it as open that day. So, since my younger son is 3 and he wanted BOOKS PLEASE DADDY, they went to Barnes and Noble. It was a horrible shopping trip because the books were a marginal focus, since the minute you step in the door it was TOYS TOYS TOYS. Hubby said he wouldn’t take the kids back there again because it was so unpleasant, and books were not the focus. Toys and games and gifts were.

The floorplan of big bookstores is changing to include things other than books. Yesterday, at Tools of Change (larger entry about the conference coming, yes, with drinking game since I’m sure many people need it), the Indie bookseller panel was asked about what will happen when Borders goes bankrupt or closes some if not all of their stores.

Their answer was, it will leave a hole, and a smart bookseller can help fill it, through doing what those indie booksellers already do: building communities locally and online, and offering something unique that’s more than just selling books. Now, these indies, Greenlight Books and WORDBrooklyn, are among my favorites because they are familiar and curious about romance fiction (as opposed to some Indie folks who look at the genre and at romance readers as if we carry some papercut-inducing disease, as I’ve heard from some readers).

But there is room for the hole left by Borders to be filled, as they put it.

So let me ask you, as a reader: where is your nearest bookstore? Do you shop there? Do you have a Borders near you, and do you shop there? If your store closes, does it affect you? And what could a physical bookstore do to lure you as a customer now?

And to Borders employees who face job loss: I’m so sorry this is happening.

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  1. Amy says:

    Totally agree with A. We’ve done this to ourselves. Even when we realized what e-tailers were doing to our beloved bookstores, we didn’t change our behaviors back to in-person shopping. As a culture, we became addicted to the lowest price possible and became very good at ignoring the hidden cost.

    Well, there are places where we do have an addiction to the lowest price and ignore hidden costs, mostly because they are hidden to us (clothing from sweatshops, etc.)

    HOWEVER, the loss of bookstores isn’t one of them.  It just exists as changes in our time, much like the loss of shoe repair shops when shoes became disposable, thanks to cost and technology changes.  (Yes, I know the sentimental issue isn’t the same. ;p)

    Someone who is reader can support a lot more authors (ie buy more books) when they are not also supporting the margin of a large retail chain.  Lower costs do actually support other people.  And I understand that there were jobs there in the old system and some of them are value added.  However, it’s safe to say that just as many jobs that were simply overhead costs. 

    Personally, I like virtual shopping much better.  Reviews almost always tell me if a book is worth my time or not and are far more informative than the publisher’s blurb.  It’s far easier to shop sub-genres and specialty non-fiction without wasting precious reading dollars.  And I have a clean comfty chair and hot chocolate at home.

  2. becca says:

    Actually, theoretically Borders works just that way: you can bring your Kobo or Sony in, purchase an ebook on our computers, and we’ll download them for you. We even have a dedicated terminal just for that. Pity no body in my store knows how to work it.

  3. A says:

    One way to support a local brick-and-mortar (be they evil beast corporation or indie) and still get the cheapie online price is to order at the store, but have it shipped to you. That way the store “captures the sale,” and puts money in their registers, but the customer still gets the better price. I offer this to customers all the time at work. You can even pre-order a book in advance and get it pretty close to the day it comes out, if not on that day. I don’t know if every company is like this, but I’m pretty sure it works this way for Barnes & Noble. And I think many indie bookstores are partnering with Amazon or other websites these days. I know it’s not as convenient as shopping at home in pajamas (which I love), but it’s one way to show your support for a physical bookstore.
    ETA: Or basically addressing what meganhwa was asking above—just finished reading that, sorry. 🙂 However, I think this kind of thing works better with physical items rather than e-books.
    Also, I’m not sure which bookstores don’t have new releases the day they come out, but that’s definitely not cool. Depending on the book, though, if it doesn’t have a “strict-on-sale” date, sometimes the listed pub date is only when it will be available to distributors for shipping, and not always when the store will receive it. It’s an unfortunate drawback to physical delivery of books. E-books have the advantage here for sure. *sigh*

  4. I live in the San Fernando Valley and really there are no good indie bookstores within easy driving distance. There IS a good mystery bookstore that I go to when authors are touring, and always buy from them for the events.

    I do have 2 Barnes & Nobles and 1 Borders within about 5-10 minutes from me. If B&N closed, I’d cheer. Seriously cheer. These people are so obnoxious at these two particular stores that I have a gift card I haven’t used in over a year because I don’t want them to have the sale.

    The Borders, though, I adore. I belong to a knitting group that meets there every Thursday night and they have always been absolutely fantastic and welcoming and supportive to us. As a result, we try to support them as much as possible. We always buy from their cafe, and 9 times out of 10 someone’s buying a book or a gift or magazines or something every week.

    Thankfully our store is staying open. We would have been heartbroken if it had closed.

  5. Mel says:

    This is actually relevant here in Australia too. It was in the news today that Borders and Angus and Robertson (another bookstore owned by the same company) have gone bankrupt even though they are owned by a different company to the USA Borders chain.

    I rarely shop at my local Borders though, even though it is only 20 minutes away. I usually only look for a gift, and even then I research on the net what I might want to purchase first.

    Most of my book buying is through independent booksellers over the internet. Better range – especially in romance, as they have the books the month they are released in the US, while the chain bookstores don’t have them until months later.

  6. Pam says:

    I have a real soft spot for Borders, even though the local Borders has the store manager from Hell.  When my girls were kids our family used to travel to judo tournaments and spotting a Borders en route meant a really fun pit stop on the way home.  My whole family are book addicts and we may have converted some of the kids who traveled with us to tournaments.  The best time was encountering a family from a rival judo club in a Borders near Buffalo and bonding over our shared book addiction. 

    Our local Borders is not slated to close, thank goodness.  We only have one small independent book store within a one hour radius and they are kind of snooty.  I love a brick and mortar store, but, unfortunately, I can’t afford to pay full price for books very often.

  7. Colleen Lindsay was saying that if the local Borders near her brother’s home closes, there won’t be a bookstore for 35 miles.

    Thirty-five miles? That’s it? Try 122 miles round trip. That’s how far I have to drive to get to the closest bookstore to my house (a Barnes & Noble). Us bookworms in my town have been fighting for years to get a bookstore in our area, but it hasn’t happened yet. And with the swing going against physical bookstores, I don’t see it happening anytime soon either.

    This is one of the (many) reasons I’ve converted to eBooks: so I don’t have to drive 122 miles just to get to a bookstore and back.

  8. Elle says:

    I am an Australian Borders employee, and just wanted to clarify a few things: the company that owns Borders here in Oz is not bankrupt; they have filed for voluntary administration, which is different. There is a chance that the debts can be paid. Also, there has been no announcement about any of the Borders and A&R stores closing yet; the administration company that has stepped in has yet to decide what they’re going to do.

    I am facing the very real possibility of losing my job. There’s nothing I love more than walking into the store in the morning and breathing in all the books. I am one of the old school folks who, while appreciating the convenience of an e-reader, will always love being able to browse books and hold them in my hand. While I have shopped online for books, I regularly buy in a bricks-and-mortar store. So to be facing the loss of several of the big chains here is heartbreaking, as is the idea of not working in a bookstore anymore.

    Yesterday, our store had to call security several times because of abusive customers, who apparently fail to grasp that any decisions made were not done by the employees serving them, and can’t see the bigger picture: I’m sorry that you feel hard done by, but the person you’re abusing may not have a job for much longer.

    I will miss working in a bookstore, and I will never stop shopping in them, despite the horrendous pricing here in Oz.

    My heart goes out to my fellow Borders employees in the US who have lost their jobs – I hope you find something else quickly. And for me? Time to find a new job.

  9. I live in Minneapolis, and there are many fabulous independent bookstores here that I patronize, like Magers & Quinn and Uncle Hugo/Uncle Edgar. But the Borders closures are going to affect me and my book-buying habits in a rather drastic and personal way: Mr Lush works for one of the stores that due to be closed, so until he gets another job, I won’t be able to afford to buy books from anyone. (I’m a librarian, so I’ll still be able to get my grubby little hands on books, never fear!)

    Mr Lush and I met when we both worked at Borders, and I have a whole slew of friends and chosen family who also work(ed) at Borders. I’m sorry that so many of them are being negatively affected by this. Because while I certainly do patronize—and will continue to patronize—my local indies, I miss the people I got to know at and through Borders.

    True fact: I was recently at the Borders in Richfield that I worked at more than seven years ago, and another customer who was there that day remembered me. That’s pretty awesome. I’ve never gotten that level of recognition from at a local indie, even though I’ve been patronizing some of them since the late 90s.

  10. Mims says:

    I own a Kindle, but I still like to go to B&N.  Here’s why:

    1.  It’s easier to browse new books.
    2.  I buy books for my nieces.
    3.  To buy $5 coffee and the company of strangers reading while I am reading my Kindle.
    4.  To buy magazines.  I don’t own an iPad but I think for magazines I’d rather look at the hard copy even if I did own one.

  11. I was in my Border’s today which is not, so far, on the condemned list, and, I have to mention, there were like two and a half of those mid aisle display cases FILLED with romance novels, except for some reason, Glen Beck’s book was sitting in the middle of one of the displays.  I think someone was being cute there.  Maybe this site has just made me a bit more aware, and I haven’t noticed it before.  Or maybe you guys are on to something.  Apparently Romance is selling like hotcakes right now.  Seriously, I was impressed.  But, with my usual unwelcome cynicism, (yeah, I know you’re waitin’ for this)  I did have the thought cross my mind that I hoped this trend wasn’t parallelling or in anyway related to the demise of Border’s. Cuz, some of you guys, I really like you.

  12. Laura says:

    I live in Canada, so we have the Chapters/Indigo chain, not Borders, but I don’t buy books there because the prices are ridiculous (at least $5-$10 more than American bookstores to account for the “dollar difference”, which has been something like 98 cents per dollar for years and years – they refuse to update prices to reflect this). So, I buy used at independently owned bookstores, and Amazon if I can’t find it anywhere else. Chapters is my last resort.

  13. Lori P says:

    Today I went to my Borders (Oklahoma City) which is closing to pick up some books and whatnot.  Right now the books are 20% off and are going fast.  The store was PACKED and I have never seen so many people in there.  I ran into one of the workers that I knew and she told me that the sales they are racking up with this closing sale will match what the company wanted that store to do in sales for all of 2010!!!  That told me right then and there why this particular store was on the list.

  14. Courtney says:

    I. am. so. sad. 
    I am a Borders shopper.  Loyal Borders shopper.  Gold card carrying, Borders shopper, and I just found out 5, FIVE Borders that are in my vicinity are closing.  I have to find a new one and I’m so bummed!
    My hubby bought me a Kindle for Valentine’s Day (I know, sweet, right?) and I was actually a bit torn that I wouldn’t be buying from Borders on it.  But that’s really what ended up doing them in, right?  They never really came out with an exclusive Borders e-reader. 
    Their romance section always kicks ass.  I have luckily found one that is sort of nearby, but not on my way to anywhere.  Borders, we have to part ways.  I still love you.  But it’s not me, it’s you…

  15. Just another errant thought:  I wonder where the book club totals enter the picture.  When QPB or Literary Guild has a free shipping thing, I jump on it.  Also, as soon as I fulfill my membership obligation, I cancel and immediately get one of those nine books for a dime offers to re-up. And I know they are sub-contracting with indies as one of my Larsson books came from some strange place on the west coast.

  16. Lorraine says:

    My Borders closed in December and I was really bummed about it.  I’m fortunate enough, though, that there’s a Barnes and Nobles five miles away, and a great romance UBS a couple of blocks from it.

    Still, I miss Borders.  It was only two miles away and so convenient that I could easily leave work, sneak in and get a book right before picking my kids up from school. 🙁

  17. Kelly C. says:

    Technically, the closest bookstore to my home is a small independent that has been there for years. 

    And then there is a Border’s Express.  I love that store.  They know me there.  Not by name per se but definitely “by sight.” 

    After that there are 3 UBS (one about 2 miles away, one about 5 miles and the last about 10 miles)

    And then 2 B & Ns.  One about 1/2 hour north of me, the other 1/2 hour south of me.  Doesn’t matter since I despise those 2 B & Ns.  I have more books in my TBR than they do in their “romance section”  @@

  18. Literary Slut says:

    I’m trying very hard to squeeze out some sympathy for the big chain bookstores and coming up empty. They swaggered into my town, shouldered the quirk independent bookstores aside and squatted down to enjoy their victory. Well, it didn’t last very long. I seldom buy dead-tree books now, only when what I want is not available for my Kindle, and I have a coupon. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. I’m happy to visit the handful of independents who manage to hang on tooth and toenail, offering what can’t be found anywhere else.

  19. Carmie says:

    Actually the closest bookstore to my home is over 85 miles away and ironic enough it is a Barnes & Noble. it used to be two stores (Walden Books & B. Dalton) but when BN moved in they closed their doors, i really miss them because even though i lived so far away they did recognize me.now i just usually i just hit the local Walmart or Thrift store. Although there is one store in the same town that deals in used books and doubles as a coffee shop (my two favorite things caffeine and books) i love it there and go whenever i can.

  20. Melissa S. says:

    I don’t have a borders near where I currently live since I’m in Alabama and this here be Books a Million country. But there’s one near my parent’s house that will surely close because it doesn’t get a lot of traffic.

    A bookstore I’ve found that is close to me is Hastings. I like that I can buy my monthly comics there without dealing with the watchful eye of comic nerds, but it’s romance section is weak.

  21. Sarah Z says:

    Our last local (new, not used) bookstore in Ithaca New York is going to close soon.  We have both a Borders and a Barnes and Noble, both of which with the help of Amazon killed off all (we used to have quite a few) but this last one.  Anyways Buffalo Street Books is now attempting to become a community owed bookstore.  Selling shares at $250 a piece to community members.  Very weird story.
    Heres a article,
    http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20110218/NEWS01/102180358/1124/sports/Buffalo-Street-Books-gets-new-hope?odyssey=nav|head

  22. Jackie says:

    My local Borders is one of the 200 closing.  I can’t say I am surprised but disappointed.  I liked knowing it was there, so if I had a coupon, I could run over & get a book. 

    BUT the B & N store is just 3 blocks away.  Both are in brand new buildings built just for them.  Borders is across the street from the transportation center and thus a lot of folk stopped by there on the way to their train.  Bummer for the commuter.

    Also, these 2 stores are in downtown Evanston where parking is the pits of hell.  It costs an arm and a leg plus the cops ticket 10 seconds after the meter expires. Ii no longer visit the area for that reason. I would rather drive to the mall where I can park easily & free.

    As I read certain authors and know when their new books come out thanks to e-mail, I put the dates on my calendar. On that date I would go to the book store to get 3-4 books and walk out with 20. I recently bought a Kindle and when the books are due I can order them online.  I am hoping that this will save me money in the long run as I won’t be impulse buying.  LOL

    So yes, the Kindle has changed my buying habits – not good for bookstores – good for my budget.

  23. readinrobin says:

    Your husband’s trip to Barnes & Noble is exactly why I hated taking my kids there. I love books, they loved books, but get them into the kids section and they were more interested in all the toys and stuffed animals. I hated it!

    We had a Waldenbooks at the local mall, but it closed down. The nearest Borders is 17 miles away, and the nearest Barnes & Noble is 13 miles away. I rarely go to either one. There is a new Half Price Book Store that just recently opened just a few miles away, and I go there occasionally. I don’t buy a lot of new books, my budget just won’t allow it, but when I do I usually pick them up at Wal-Mart, or order them from Amazon.

  24. Melissa says:

    So let me ask you, as a reader: where is your nearest bookstore? Do you shop there? Do you have a Borders near you, and do you shop there? If your store closes, does it affect you? And what could a physical bookstore do to lure you as a customer now?

    There is a Books A Million and B&N about 35-40 minutes from home, and that’s it for me.  The local used bookstores that stocked romance both went out of business, and the other two downtown are more first edition/leatherbound book type stores.  No mass market paperbacks for them! 

    I used to go to the Borders in my hometown when I visited, but they stopped giving the Rewards members decent coupons and cut back on the books and the music.  They cut out their DVD selection.  They carry more toys/calendars/gifts these days, and half the staff don’t know squat about what they carry.  I finally stopped going, and I guess enough other people did too because it’s on the list to close.

    As for what a store could do to lure me in?  As so many other people have said – STOCK BOOKS.  Lose the other stuff, and quit trying to shove the damn Nook down my throat when I walk in.  Refresh your romance stock more often than four times a year.  Give coupons to loyal shoppers.  Bring romance authors in for signings, and advertise the heck out of it when you do.  (I’m still upset I missed meeting Jenny Crusie because my local B&N didn’t advertise when they had her come for a signing.)  I’d stop by more than once or twice a month if my stores did these things.

  25. SomeLIHBooks says:

    I love it when someone complains about stocking romance at the bookstore.  One of the reasons the romance sections in stores are getting squeezed out is because no one is buying it in the stores. 

    In this way going digital has hurt brick and mortar stores.

    BN has diversified in order to stay alive.  And while most longtime customers hate the toys and the lack of comfy chairs and the NOOK counter being right ‘in you face’ when you enter the store, remember that all of those things are contributing to that store staying open. 

    I’m a digital and paper book gal.  I love them both and I know that I would be out of both a job and a place to hang out if the BN I work at closes.  So I do what I can to support that.  I buy some books there, I even just got a colornook and I will keep doing my shopping amongst the many changes they’ve made because I want them to be in the exact same spot next year.

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