# Is Borders about to go under? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387 "2011-01-04T16:46:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/261 "2011-03-29T16:54:51Z")
One model that seems to be thriving these days is the secondhand shop. I can only speak locally, but while general bookstores are having trouble, the Arizona chain Bookman’s is still doing good business. Books are cheap and in relatively good condition, and they supplement the secondhand trade with movies, music, and games. When I went in over the weekend, the place was packed and doing great trade. Obviously you’re not likely to get the newest bestseller from them, and their stock is highly dependent on whatever folks bring in for trade, but there are loads of hidden gems. And they have quite decent hardware and automotive sections. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/262 "2011-03-29T17:17:53Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > You don’t actually believe that a big box store is assigning a random employee from the stockroom to actually choose the books, do you? Costco goes out and buys whatever is cheap and popular. Other big box stores rely on book suppliers to choose the range of books, and those suppliers do it on the basis of what they believe will sell. Indeed, and when their selection is much better than your typical small airport book alcove, I’ll pay them some attention. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/263 "2011-03-29T17:21:12Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Near me there’s only Target. And the book sections in the warehouse stores appear to be dismal collections of random books. They’re successors only in the sense that they’re where you can actually obtain some books. > Me, I’ll take the situation from the 80s and 90s. I hear you. When we lived in Louisiana we had to drive 50 miles to get to a decent bookstore, so mall stores were a wonderful improvement. B&N and Borders were even better. I had 3 Borders within 15 miles of my house, and they all are closing. But I still have the library, 2 really excellent used book stores, and about 1,000 unread books in my collection, so I’m pretty well set. Doesn’t help new authors, though. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Doctor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/264 "2011-03-29T17:41:29Z")
Damn it! Now my local Borders is closing and it was not on the original list. The Seattle Best coffee shop inside is already shut down and everything is 40-60% off. I no longer have any bookstores in walking distance. This just sucks. I think it is bye bye Borders. They are not coming out of this Chapter 11 alive. Guess Amazon will be my go to for books now. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/265 "2011-07-16T12:13:22Z")
I know the thread is a few months old now, but all the Borders stores in Australia have closed down (and any that are left are in the process of being closed down)… The interesting thing is that even my book-loving friends aren’t sad to seem them go (although they are sad for the lost jobs), as most of them had switched over to Amazon or The Book Depository some time ago. Still, there’s something very wrong when book shops are going out of business, but exactly what that something is makes for an interesting debate… ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/266 "2011-07-16T14:47:11Z")
I saw yesterday that they will be forced to liquidate. I fear that their end is near. I used to be able to get a good deal on Discover rewards cards: 20 dollars would get me a 25 dollar gift certificate. But they ended their relationship with Discover. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/267 "2011-07-18T21:14:28Z")
[Taps](http://gawker.com/5822381/borders-is-dead) > [@](#): > > ``` > The liquidation, which Borders announced shortly after 4:10 p.m., means that the 10,700 people who still work for Borders - including about 400 at its Ann Arbor headquarters - will lose their jobs. > > The chain's 399 remaining stores will be closed quickly, with liquidation sales starting as soon as Friday. > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/268 "2011-07-18T21:38:44Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > [Taps](http://gawker.com/5822381/borders-is-dead) I met my future husband when we were both working at Borders. It was an amazing bookstore back in the day. RIP Borders… ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/269 "2011-07-18T22:30:58Z")
Yay, more big empty buildings to sit there for years until someone comes to tear it down to build something else. by the way i was being sarcastic ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/270 "2011-07-18T22:32:30Z")
> [@Archergal](#): > > I met my future husband when we were both working at Borders. It was an amazing bookstore back in the day. > > RIP Borders… Me too. It hurts a little to drive past the building where that store used to be… ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/271 "2011-07-18T22:36:31Z")
Damn, that’s a lot of jobs lost. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/272 "2011-07-19T00:51:13Z")
Ah, e-readers… They’re just SO good for us, aren’t they? And I still have about $9 on a gift card left… Will I get the chance to use it? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/273 "2011-07-19T01:10:05Z")
Oh, feces… Adapt or die indeed. Can’t argue it, much as it may pain me. Heading out to try and burn thru that gift card tomorrow… > [@](#): > > The problem is it’s 2011 not 1995. Most of those independents aren’t going to come back in Borders and Barnes & Noble closes. And that’s the worst part. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/274 "2011-07-19T01:43:56Z")
There’ll be a big gap in the indoor mall in the Time Warner building in Columbus Circle. They were an original tenant since 2002 or so. Weird. There was a huge B&N up Broadway but it too closed last year. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/275 "2011-07-19T12:42:43Z")
I need an e-reader, and I need a good deal on one. Are their e-readers decent? As a separate issue from the previous question, can I buy stuff from anywhere else and use it on their e-reader? It’s probably talked about elsewhere, but it’s more relevant now than ever, so we might as well talk about it again. ETA: Well, here’s some info on the subject: > **[Borders May Be Dead, But e-Reader Kobo Is Still Alive And Kicking | TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2011/07/18/borders-may-be-dead-but-e-reader-kobo-is-still-alive-and-kicking/)** > > I am old enough to remember when going into a chain store like Borders and picking out books physically was something one did to save time. Plus, as any bookworm will tell you, rifling through bookstore shelves for buried treasure and asking... Still worth discussing, though I guess a clearance isn’t as likely as I first thought. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/276 "2011-07-20T03:32:46Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > … most of them had switched over to Amazon or The Book Depository some time ago. These two are now the same thing, Amazon bought BD a few weeks ago. Counting down to the loss of free shipping: 10, 9, 8 … ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/277 "2011-07-20T03:43:11Z")
My first job ever, in high school, was a Waldenbooks in the local mall. I don’t go in there much anymore but the old bat that has worked there for years still remembers me… this sucks. Means my little jerkwater white trash town will have exactly 0 new book stores. Death to e-readers. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/278 "2011-07-20T05:05:04Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > These two are now the same thing, Amazon bought BD a few weeks ago. Counting down to the loss of free shipping: 10, 9, 8 … I wept when I first read about that. Book Depository has had all of my book buying business for some time now. And I have a horrible suspicion that the old Borders site closest to me is going to become a Fitness First. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/279 "2011-07-20T13:31:48Z")
Yesterday Borders failed to find a buyer and announced its liquidation, in case anyone following didn’t already know. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387/280 "2011-07-20T14:32:57Z")
No great loss - I have a coffee maker and an easy chair at home. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-borders-about-to-go-under/566387.md?page=15)