Just this week managers have been asked to cut back on supply ordering, and necessary repairs are not being completed. If Borders is planning on trying to be its own company, they should have the foresight to make sure that they take care of the properties, their people and their customers - and that is not happening.

Thanks for putting this on my radar. Indeed, Borders did eliminate 274 positions representing 20% of their corporate workforce but only 1% of their total workforce.

The latter statistic hides the fact that they’ve reduced hours for chain employees, as reported by at least two employees.

It’s interesting that the marketing and sales divisions were seemingly hardest hit. It leads to a lot of speculation and rumor.

Thanks for contributing to the news from the “front lines” of Borders Books. This certainly doesn’t sound like any fun. The cut in employee hours seems short-sighted but I could see my way to understanding it from a bean-counter perspective. I still wouldn’t do it because happy employees breed happy customers.

But the sending of product back to vendors for quick credit - essentially raiding the shelves for quick cash - smells of desperation. I agree that they’ll likely see these changes effect sales quickly. The ‘cuts’ will wind up coming from both cost and revenue.

Thanks again for the update and insight!