# Why did you stop going to Barnes and Nobles? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676 "2010-08-18T22:29:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/1 "2010-08-18T22:29:03Z")
Apparently, [B&N is closing down](http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/110381/clearance-sale-barnes-noble-didnt-evolve-enough?mod=career-leadership). ☹ It’s my favorite bookstore, and I still go there once a week. Apparently, there’s a lot of people who abandoned them…why? ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/2 "2010-08-18T22:31:00Z")
Well, crap. I’d been meaning to sell by BN shares because I thought exactly this would happen. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/3 "2010-08-18T22:31:52Z")
Because I thought [Mike Barnes](http://www.uncoached.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/movie_bullies_4.jpg) worked there and I didn’t want to get beat up. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/4 "2010-08-18T22:33:42Z")
That’s too bad. I have one of their discount cards and there are plenty of convenient locations near where I live and work. I guess I’ll have to go to Borders (which is about the same in most ways, IMHO). ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/5 "2010-08-18T22:34:33Z")
Basically, they didn’t have what I wanted in stock when I visited them. Offering to order something that I want isn’t good enough. If I’m in a store, I’m ready to buy something. I don’t want to order something and wait for it. I want something to read RIGHT NOW. ---
**Author:** ![Lethal\_Babydoll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@Lethal\_Babydoll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lethal_Babydoll)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/6 "2010-08-18T22:40:14Z")
The state of Georgia set up an online system where you could search for a book from almost any library in the state and have the book sent to your home library within a few days, sometimes the next day. stop buying books right about then ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/7 "2010-08-18T22:42:05Z")
Because they moved from a relatively inconvenient location to a swankier, trendier, incredibly inconvenient location. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/8 "2010-08-18T22:43:53Z")
I never liked them. They have the same generic feeling that a Starbucks does. Just like you (and by “you” I mean “I”) can’t feel as comfortable in a Starbucks as you can in a real cafe, you don’t get that homey, bookstore vibe from a Barnes and Noble as you do from an independent bookstore. Even Borders is better, although I can’t pin down why, exactly. I think the lighting might have something to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/9 "2010-08-18T22:47:32Z")
When they closed their store in my town. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/10 "2010-08-18T22:55:14Z")
Man, I knew B&N was in trouble when the B&N store in my old neighborhood closed down and the independent bookstore one block away is booming and had to expand. > [@Kyla](#): > > Even Borders is better, although I can’t pin down why, exactly. I think the lighting might have something to do with it. This is true, and I too can’t explain why. I think Borders might have more of a selection, and/or it’s better organized. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/11 "2010-08-18T22:56:07Z")
Because people stopped coming to my store. Barnes & Noble hasn’t been singled out as someplace I stopped shopping. I own a retail business. Slow doesn’t come close to describing the last two years. There is no money for me to buy anything nonessential. There isn’t even really enough money for the essentials. Happily, I live in a municipality with an absolutely wonderful public library. We have a B&N in a local shopping center that’s had an empty anchor store, and a closed restaurant in it for over two years. Two blocks south is a cavernous empty store that used to be a Borders that’s been empty for closer to three years. About a half mile to the east A.C. Moore, a large craft/art supply retail chain is cloing a location it only opened a year or so ago. I read the linked article and only got “being sold” from it, not “shutting down.” ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/12 "2010-08-18T22:57:47Z")
For the same reason i stopped going to game stores, computer part stores, and now that there is an iphone app to deposit checks with my bank to my bank. Because there is an alternative that involves higher levels of assal horizontality which i happen to be very fond of. That being [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) of course. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/13 "2010-08-18T22:58:24Z")
They push those phony “discount” membership cards, which are a lousy ten percent off – IF you buy $250 worth of books at B&N a year. I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/14 "2010-08-18T23:06:56Z")
Three reasons: 1. I moved to huge metropolis with a great (county) public library system that has a quick inter-library loan system. 2. There is a big used bookstore between my house and the B&N. When I’m after a book I stop by the used store first and they often have my target at less than half the price of B&N. 3. [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) always has what I’m looking for, and I don’t have to make a trip in the car to search for it. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/15 "2010-08-18T23:10:17Z")
Because they do not let you search for books independently on a computer like Borders does. Honestly, I was shocked the last time I went there and could not find a terminal to search for a book I was looking for. And their Discount Card is a joke - really, who wants to pay for that? Borders has both a fantastic terminal based lookup system and a great rewards cards. Plus, Borders always emails me coupons. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/16 "2010-08-18T23:14:08Z")
Discount card. Sorry, I’m not going to pay for a discount when I can get a better price at Amazon without such a card. I find it offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/17 "2010-08-18T23:21:23Z")
Yeah, their membership card is dumb. I usually only spend ~$100/year from them, almost all of that is magazines. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/18 "2010-08-18T23:28:42Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > They push those phony “discount” membership cards, which are a lousy ten percent off – IF you buy $250 worth of books at B&N a year. I don’t. Actually, with the membership, they would send coupons via e-mail practically every week–often with one item 25% off (or more), including DVDs, in addition to the membership discount. By itself, the 10% wasn’t much, but with all the promotional stuff they offered, I made it back easily (and I usually bought foreign magazines there, so Amazon or my local indie bookstore were not an option). ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/19 "2010-08-18T23:37:15Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > They push those phony “discount” membership cards, which are a lousy ten percent off – IF you buy $250 worth of books at B&N a year. I don’t. > > Actually, with the membership, they would send coupons via e-mail practically every week–often with one item 25% off (or more), including DVDs, in addition to the membership discount. By itself, the 10% wasn’t much, but with all the promotional stuff they offered, I made it back easily (and I usually bought foreign magazines there, so Amazon or my local indie bookstore were not an option). Borders does the same thing. I get at least one email a week from them, and occasionally they’re actually even for something I want. Another thing: I used to work for an indie bookstore, and at least in my experience, we would do anything we could to maintain customer loyalty, so if you wanted pretty much _anything_ (including foreign magazines) we would do whatever we could to make that happen. So if you like your indie bookstore and are one of those “shop local” types, ask them about it. Because indie bookstores often don’t have the resources to offer deep discounts on books, they have to make up for it with good customer service. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/20 "2010-08-18T23:40:28Z")
Though I never saw a huge difference between Barnes & Noble and Borders, a while back I realized I like Borders better if only because at Borders they have publicly accessible computers you can use to search to see if something is in stock and if it is, where in the store the item should be located. Barnes & Noble never seemed to have those. (ETA: I see **Sateryn76** already pointed this out. But I definitely agree.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676.md?page=2)