Comments on: Is Borders Books Going Out of Business? http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/is-borders-books-going-out-of-business/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:53:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Used Books Blog http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/is-borders-books-going-out-of-business/#comment-3267 Used Books Blog Tue, 13 May 2008 17:27:33 +0000 http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/is-borders-books-going-out-of-business/#comment-3267 Steven, Well, I think your experience will vary from store to store and clearly some areas are given more attention by one chain versus another. I too have been at some great Borders stores and dreary Barnes and Noble stores. However I do think the Barnes and Noble store strategy leapfrogged them over Borders. Borders now has the Cafe which helps but their children's section just doesn't match Barnes and Noble. And as an aside, why would you put near porn on the bottom shelf near check out. (Yes, it happened at the Pleasant Hill Borders and I complained since my 3 year old had grabbed a copy of Lusty Desires or some such variant.) Whether this is isolated or not, it leads me to believe that Borders hadn't fully grasped the idea of bookstore as a hub - a hangout, not a purely transactional venue. Do I think Barnes and Noble know how to sell online? Sort of. They could do a lot more, and should have FAR earlier. Imagine if they'd truly responded to Amazon when they first came on the scene? But what they're doing is satisfactory given the structure of that company. And Alibris? I think they've missed a few opportunities but have as good a grasp on the online space as any of the other players. They're in more parts of the online space than nearly any other competitor and that's a competitive advantage. Which is why Border's is partnering with Alibris for their new online marketplace. Here's the excerpt from a May 6, 2008 Alibris newsletter. As you may have heard, the launch of Borders’s new retail site, Borders.com, is imminent. The upcoming launch will include links to another Borders site, called Borders Marketplace. This site was built by Alibris for Borders. Your used inventory, including books, music, and movies, will be available to Borders customers who visit the Borders Marketplace site online, as well as Borders stores. What does this mean for you? More exposure and more sales! Here's what Kevin Ertell, Vice President of e-business at Borders Group Inc, had to say about the partnership: We're thrilled to be partnering with Alibris to launch the Borders Marketplace for used books, movies, and music—not just because of the incredible selection Alibris can offer to our customers, but because of Alibris's strong, reliable seller community. Bringing 25 million loyal Borders Rewards customers and thousands of Alibris sellers together will increase sales and customer satisfaction across the board. Steven,

Well, I think your experience will vary from store to store and clearly some areas are given more attention by one chain versus another. I too have been at some great Borders stores and dreary Barnes and Noble stores.

However I do think the Barnes and Noble store strategy leapfrogged them over Borders. Borders now has the Cafe which helps but their children’s section just doesn’t match Barnes and Noble.

And as an aside, why would you put near porn on the bottom shelf near check out. (Yes, it happened at the Pleasant Hill Borders and I complained since my 3 year old had grabbed a copy of Lusty Desires or some such variant.) Whether this is isolated or not, it leads me to believe that Borders hadn’t fully grasped the idea of bookstore as a hub - a hangout, not a purely transactional venue.

Do I think Barnes and Noble know how to sell online? Sort of. They could do a lot more, and should have FAR earlier. Imagine if they’d truly responded to Amazon when they first came on the scene? But what they’re doing is satisfactory given the structure of that company.

And Alibris? I think they’ve missed a few opportunities but have as good a grasp on the online space as any of the other players. They’re in more parts of the online space than nearly any other competitor and that’s a competitive advantage.

Which is why Border’s is partnering with Alibris for their new online marketplace. Here’s the excerpt from a May 6, 2008 Alibris newsletter.

As you may have heard, the launch of Borders’s new retail site, Borders.com, is imminent. The upcoming launch will include links to another Borders site, called Borders Marketplace. This site was built by Alibris for Borders. Your used inventory, including books, music, and movies, will be available to Borders customers who visit the Borders Marketplace site online, as well as Borders stores. What does this mean for you? More exposure and more sales!

Here’s what Kevin Ertell, Vice President of e-business at Borders Group Inc, had to say about the partnership:

We’re thrilled to be partnering with Alibris to launch the Borders Marketplace for used books, movies, and music—not just because of the incredible selection Alibris can offer to our customers, but because of Alibris’s strong, reliable seller community. Bringing 25 million loyal Borders Rewards customers and thousands of Alibris sellers together will increase sales and customer satisfaction across the board.

]]> By: Steven Williams http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/is-borders-books-going-out-of-business/#comment-3263 Steven Williams Tue, 13 May 2008 03:47:53 +0000 http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/is-borders-books-going-out-of-business/#comment-3263 I found this article very interesting because of its broad presentation of the history of Border's stores. I do not know all of the details of the stores in your area, but here in the Houston, the Borders bookstores are notably less dreary, dirty, etc. than most of the Barnes and Noble stores. Also, considering the problems I have had ordering online from both Barnes and Noble and Alibris (unenforced condition description standards and mail packaging standards), I am not as certain as the author that Barnes and Noble or Alibris have any better of a take on what is the best bookselling envoronment online either. I found this article very interesting because of its broad presentation of the history of Border’s stores. I do not know all of the details of the stores in your area, but here in the Houston, the Borders bookstores are notably less dreary, dirty, etc. than most of the Barnes and Noble stores. Also, considering the problems I have had ordering online from both Barnes and Noble and Alibris (unenforced condition description standards and mail packaging standards), I am not as certain as the author that Barnes and Noble or Alibris have any better of a take on what is the best bookselling envoronment online either.

]]> By: sid http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/is-borders-books-going-out-of-business/#comment-2740 sid Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:33:49 +0000 http://usedbooksblog.com/blog/is-borders-books-going-out-of-business/#comment-2740 I can't recall the last time I was in either a Borders or Barnes and Noble. Their prices are too inflated, and it's much easier and affordable for me just to buy via Amazon. I can’t recall the last time I was in either a Borders or Barnes and Noble. Their prices are too inflated, and it’s much easier and affordable for me just to buy via Amazon.

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