Borders bankruptcy

[mckitterick]

I have to admit that, though I've been a good Borders customer, "good" for me meant "bought a lot of books and DVDs and music there but only with 33% off or more coupons." If I'm a typical customer, I can't say Borders going bankrupt is a big surprise.

Sadly, the Lawrence, KS, store is one of the 30% of all Borders stores that's closing. Of course I just paid for a membership upgrade to get the extra 10% discounts. *sigh*

I feel sorry for all the book-loving people who are about to lose their jobs, not just here in Lawrence but everywhere. And I feel sorry for the customers who are losing yet another way to get book recommendations.

Perhaps this will make more room for independent bookstores. Let's hope!

Chris

Comments

[ldragoon.livejournal.com]

I can't say I'm surprised, either. I've noticed a lot of the local Borders having lots of empty spaces on their shelves for a long time now. Still sucks though - if there's one thing you can't have too many of, it's bookstores/libraries, in my opinion.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

No kidding - the place was looking a little empty. "Comfortably spacious" would be more kind.

[ldragoon.livejournal.com]

Of course, I'll be the first one to admit that I'm the world's worst bookstore patron. I get 98% of my reading material from the library. LOL

[lanerobins.livejournal.com]

I used to be a serious Border's customer, but then they started having money issues and the store changed: they stopped keeping older books on the shelves. So a lot of times in the past year, I'd go in, find a book that looked cool, realize it was book 3 or 4 or even 2 in a series, and go to the main shelves to find the first one only to be thwarted. Then I'd write down the name of the author and go home and order it.

For me, Borders started failing when they had to say "we can order it for you" because they can't compete with amazon in that way. No matter how much you want to help the actual store, when you're already waiting a week or so for the book, it's just silly to not have it come directly to you.

But I will miss it immensely. Hastings just never compared.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean. And I can't say I'm particularly enamoured of the place - they don't carry Hadley Rille books.

What I miss the most is the independent bookstore that used to live on Mass. Street back in the 1990s. I LOVED that place.

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

Adventure Bookstore?

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

That was it! Gosh, what a great place. My first bookstore memories come from a used bookstore in Ortonville, Minnesota, which also carried some new books. It was a lot like J. Hood, but cheep.

[chernobylred.livejournal.com]

I miss J. Hood, too.

[ldragoon.livejournal.com]

For me, Borders started failing when they had to say "we can order it for you" because they can't compete with amazon in that way.

Yeah, this. There's a local independent bookstore that says the same thing...but I can press "Buy with 1-Click" on my own, you know?

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

Exactly so. The staff at our favorite store said it was so frustrating to be forced to say "we can order it for you" knowing that people would never take them up on it. For years we bought all our books there and often ate in the cafe. Then their inventory shrank, and they changed the cafe. Far too much floor space was given over to bizarre, non-book-related merchandise. Then our store moved into Southcenter Mall, and we stopped going because of a deep-seated aversion to getting shot. Clearly nobody in upper management was paying any attention to what customers actually wanted.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Didn't you know that the Free Market!™ will take care of issues like poor product options, as it will cure NPR/PBS? Oh, wait.

When did bookstores stop focusing on being, y'know, bookstores?

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

Far too much floor space was given over to bizarre, non-book-related merchandise

This. This killed Borders for me.
I just hope something worthwhile can be done with the building, but my pessimism says it won't be good.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it be awesome if a proper bookstore took it over?

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

It would.
I've always had this dream of seeing The Castle on Mass turned into a bookstore.

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

you know, I really have very little interest in shopping at huge outlets. whether it's a bookstore or a Target or Walmart. I'm not saying that Borders has low quality stuff, I just prefer shopping at quirky, locally owned stores.

here in Portland, Powell's has laid off 40 workers. It's a big deal, and people are sad about it. That includes me. :( I do love Powell's; they have so much kewl stuff, including crusty old books in plastic bags, and will be unhappy if they can't keep it together.

Anyhow...I guess the world is changing, and we need to figure out how to change WITH it. I will never be a digital reader, tho. I am too in love with material.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I so very much miss Powell's, and I include links to books there whenever I update our CSSF Basic Science Fiction Library reading list. At xmastime, I gave Powell's gift certificates, and now there are at least a few more people who buy from there.

My favorite bookstore. It CAN'T be ill. Noooo!

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

Greensboro too. : (

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Phooey. Do you have any local independent bookstores?

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

used, yes.
new, no.

Now I say this, but should check to be sure. I do have an independent comic book store.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Rumor had it that the bankruptcy was impending, so I did not sign up for the paid membership.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I heard about the possibility just days later. *sigh*

[sf-reader.livejournal.com]

The Olathe Borders is only 30 minutes away and across the street from another Half Price Books.

It also only two miles from my work and we might meet for lunch when you come some time.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Until that last sentence, I was "meh" because I like to keep my shopping in Lawrence. But it would be great to meet you there for lunch some time!

[fireguarder.livejournal.com]

(Coming late to the conversation...) Borders is the weakest of the chain bookstores due to spectacularly poor management but is likely only the first to go. Many in the bookselling community have long thought the overall business model of the large chain bookstores is unsustainable. And of course, as was predicted by booksellers for years, these closings will leave many communities without a bookstore at all since so many general-interest independents went out of business when a chain moved in. Lawrence lost Adventure, Terra Nova - William Burrough's favorite hangout - and another bookstore at 23rd & Iowa that I can't remember the name of. As has happened throughout the country, only the specialty/niche independent bookstores have survived here.

In case you're interested, the list of all stores being closed starts on page 16.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I think it's just sinful that we'll soon be losing all the local chain bookstores, because if they hadn't appeared in the first place, we'd still have those great independents. I don't have much to do with Raven, because it's only mysteries, and they seem to have a very 1970s mainstream attitude toward SF.

Too bad they didn't go out of business before the independents went away. Now all we'll have is freakin' Amazon... even my beloved Powell's appears to be choking.