Borders Bookstores...

[tater]

Just an FYI. Borders is reorganizing (Chapter 11), and they are closing some locations. This store are having sales instead of moving all the inventory to other stores. Sale starts today here at the one store in ABQ that is closing. Might have to check it out since they have a decent military history section.

[Armistead]

I've bought a few books from Borders, so may check it out. I love history and either buy my books from museums, lot's of local authors or the used book store.

[tater]

My fave local bookstore is a used/rare store, but Jerry is semi-retired at this point so 90% of the time I drive past when I have the time he's not open.

Borders must suffer greatly from Amazon.

Our stores are usually pretty busy, but they don't manage the registers well, and the line is always very long to purchase—I've put books down and left on more than one occasion (it it's lunch, and I have to wait 5 minutes to pay, I can leave, 1-click it on amazon, and it will be in my hands the next day. A brick and mortar store needs to make the line move very fast, IMO). Another issue is the nearest borders seriously reduced their history section, so the farther store is the one to go to for that now.

[CCIP]

Yeah, when I was in Chicago recently I made it to one of the closing stores and snagged some awesome deals on relevant literature. Bought three naval-history (including two U-boat related) books for 40% less than they would cost anywhere else. It seems like the military history stuff is among the slowest to go - so go in and grab some if you know a store that's closing!

[AVGWarhawk]

Borders must suffer greatly from Amazon.



That is an understatement. When I discovered a plethora of books at fantastic prices on Amazon I stopped going to Borders. Yep, Amazon, Kindle=death to Borders.

[tater]

I still prefer a good bookstore, partially because I like to browse and pick stuff I'd miss. Our good Borders has an excellent history section. U. Kansas stuff, Naval Institute Press, etc. Not just popular tripe.

[AVGWarhawk]

My Borders has an awful history section. I was able to get 2-3 books on submarines/Uboats. I look on Amazon and there are plenty of books on the subject. Books I would never see at Borders. The books I purchase for a few pennies to 10 bucks. One used book I purchased was signed by the author! I was in Borders Annapolis two weeks ago. Place is huge. Two floors. Not much in history books. Could get CDs' all day though. :shifty:

[tater]

It's hit or miss, for sure.

I stopped going in with the kids, which really POed me, actually. My rule has always been (at museums, as well) that I won't buy them junk, but I'll buy virtually any book they ask for.

Borders kids section was always decent. Then they started adding more than jst a few stuffed animals (years ago they'd have stuffed animals for baby books... stuff characters from the books). Now they have toys. In fact while there are more books than toys, it's probably 1/3+ toys now, maybe 40%. I stopped taking my kids to Borders since they'd look at the toys. Instead of making me "impulse buy" toys, it made me stop going to their stores.

[AVGWarhawk]

but I'll buy virtually any book they ask for.


Your are not alone. I do the same. My youngest still asks to go to Borders when we are near one. We go in and take a look. She has also discovered Amazon....my Amazon! Sometime I sign in and there are things in my cart she wants. :o Always books. She won a book at school last week. The students were tasked with an essay on why they like reading. Her essay won. She came home with a book.

[tater]

I should add that it's sort of hard for me to buy kids books. My dad was in children's publishing for years before he retired. Before then he supplied me with literally many hundreds of kids books. I have a large library for the kids from board books to kid novels. Hundreds and hundreds of titles.

he had friends at all the different houses, I used to get readers copies, etc.

It has been quite a shock to have to pay for books :)

Still, I can't help it (I'm worse with books than my wife is with shoes :) ).

[Armistead]

I'll say this, books saved me as a child. Grew up rather poor with a father a drunk brute. I had a teacher in the fourth grade that just had nack for reading, plus she was a writer. She taught me to love to books.

I barely got through school, but often read a book a day., usually during class. I'm sure in a way books were a place to escape. I didn't just read simple books, I read the great authors, human behavior, history, etc..I think the info they gave me substained me from going the bad routes my siblings went for so many years.

I regretted when I got older I wasn't educated. I went to work at 14 full time hours why still in school to help support my mom after Dad split. Thank God I had the most wonderful mother ever. Just sad she was rather religious and for so long wouldn't divorce Dad because the church implied work at it at all cost and Dad knew how to play those cards. Thankfully she wised up.

Two years ago I found that fourth grade teacher on FB. I sent her a letter almost 40 years later thanking her for teaching me how to enjoy reading and how it saved me, she said she was in tears for an hour after reading it and how blessed she felt to had played such a role. She's retired, but still writing childrens books.

Sadly, I don't see many teachers in my sons school trying to have this effect.

[Garion]

The Borders at Fort Kinaird just outside Edinburgh closed down a couple of years ago... Its now a Waterstones/ HMV shop. I liked to browse in Borders and have picked a few bargain books on sale there but, as has been said above Amazon wins hands down on pricing.


Cheers

Garion

[AVGWarhawk]

Sadly, I don't see many teachers in my sons school trying to have this effect.


That is a shame. I can say both of my daughters have a few teachers that have profound affects on my daughters want for learning. This conveys to other classes. Both are A honor roll. Mostly to smart for their own good.