# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/101 "2010-08-20T12:03:41Z")
> [@](#): > > I live near Rochester, NY. Barnes and Noble is the primary bookstore in that city (four stores). Borders is second (one store or two if you count the one out in Victor). And nobody is third. There are no other general interest new book stores in the city. So I go to Barnes and Noble on a regular basis and I would not be happy to see them close. And Rochester used to have lots of bookstores! The Village Green The Oxford Avenue Bookstore Scrantoms (Stationery, but lots of books, too) Waldenbooks …and a slew of others whose names I can’t recall. Every other shopping mall had them. Now there’s not even a bookstore at Marketplace Mall, the biggest mall in the area (that used to have two, IIRC.) There used to be a small bookstore in the plaza that now has the Barnes and Noble. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/102 "2010-08-20T13:04:18Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > Several points of clarification regarding the B&N membership: > [ul] > [li]There is a 20% discount on all hardcover books[/li][/ul] > > [ul] > [li]There is a 10% discount on all other merchandise including the cafe and non-book items[/li][/ul] > > [ul] > [li]Lately coupons are routinely sent out, via email, for additional 15% off one item[/li][/ul] > > [ul] > [li]The annual membership fee is $25[/li][/ul] > > I will follow up shortly with other comments regarding this thread. I don’t care if the membership fee is $5. It is insulting to charge a fee to provide a discount, and reeks of the cynical establishment of a profit center based on customers _not_ using the card enough to offset the fee. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/103 "2010-08-20T13:17:07Z")
Our local B&N is closer to us than the local Borders. I haven’t been to either in a very long time, but if I had my druthers, I’d pick Borders simply because of their breadth: I’ve never had issues trying to find anything there. Their foreign magazine section is larger than B&N’s. They have a bigger discount section (yay!) Last I heard they were trimming down their AV section, so I’m imaging maybe more books? Plus I like the vibe of their in-store cafe more than the Starbucks at B&N. B&N reminds me of an old library. While that had its charms over Border’s mega-hip-cool vibe, it never strayed from it AFAIK. There’s a lot to be said for a store’s vibe. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/104 "2010-08-20T13:18:40Z")
I stopped going to B&N last year when I couldn’t get the last 3 books I wanted unless the store ordered them. Amazon actually had the books, but I wanted them right away; one was a study aid for a Japanese language class I take. I ended up getting the books from Amazon, which were less expensive than B&N anyway. Speaking of language reference books, what the heck happened to B&N’s language reference library? What used to be an entire section comprised of many bookcases is now just one bookcase, and in some stores just two shelves in one bookcase. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/105 "2010-08-20T13:22:01Z")
Yeah if I really wanted something specific Amazon is the way to go, but browsing at B&N is a great way to find books I didn’t know I needed. Their selection pummels Boarders and they’re all over where I live. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/106 "2010-08-20T13:57:20Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > It’s about decor. Barnes and Noble uses dark wood shelves that are 8 or 9 feet high, all across the store, and a creamy-greeny paint on the walls. That, combined with the drawings of Famous Dead Authors that they put on their walls, makes the store feel cool and claustrophobic and somewhat off-putting. > > My local Borders, on the other hand, uses light wood for it’s shelves, and the tall racks are all along the perimeter of the store. In the middle are low shelves that I can see over - that. plus the warmer lighting, makes Borders feel much more low-key and inviting. That makes sense. That matches up with my own experiences of Borders v. B&N, but I wasn’t sure if my sample size was big enough, and if they all have similar decor. Borders is headquartered here in town, and my local Borders is store #1, so I admit to a bit of fondness for them that I don’t usually feel for corporations. A lot of people work for them and it’d be a bad thing for the area if they went out of business. So I’m a little biased in their favor, I admit. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/107 "2010-08-20T14:53:28Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > > Borders has better discounts and Amazon has better prices. Plus the New York Public Library is huge. > > If you’re in New York City check out Bookoff. They have a branch on 45th between 5th and 6th Avenue. They largely specialize in Japanese related material but if you go in the back towards the left hand side you’ll find a treasure trove of recent fiction and non-fiction at $1 and $2 apiece. > > One of my favorite places ever after the library at 42nd and 5th closed down their used book sale. > > [BOOKOFF GROUP HOLDINGS HOME en - BOOKOFF GROUP HOLDINGS](http://www.bookoff.co.jp/en/info/kaigai02.html) Cool! Thanks, I’ll check that out! ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/108 "2010-08-20T15:14:03Z")
They almost never have what I wanted, and they have lousy prices. After repeatedly not finding what I was looking for at the B&N, which is quite close, I’d inevitably end up driving 3 times as far to get to Borders. After a while I just cut out the middleman. I get most of my books from Amazon these days, though. Just about the only time I use a brick & mortar bookstore these days is when I need a technical book, and want to look at it more closely than is possible online. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/109 "2010-08-20T15:34:23Z")
I haven’t stopped going to B&N, but my purchases are WAY down since I got the Kindle. Although I love physical books, the adjustable print size on the Kindle makes a huge difference for me and my bad eyes. I still browse B&N, both for new items, and things you can’t get on the Kindle (reference books, graphic novels, etc.). I work in Bergen County, New Jersey - no shortage of Barnes & Nobles around. There are excellent ones in just about every direction - Paramus, Palisades Mall, Clifton. And as some people mentioned upthread, there are excellent ones in the city as well. There are a few Borders around, but not as many. The closest bookstore to where I work is a Borders, but it’s not as big or as well run as the Barnes & Nobles. The one in Fort Lee, however, is excellent, and the one in the Garden State Plaza is OK but not so convenient. And my absolute favorite of the big box bookstore was a Borders - the one that was at the World Trade Center. I spent a LOT of money there. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/110 "2010-08-20T15:45:38Z")
When my area store actually closes, till then I’ll continue to treat it as a library with coffee, and read the magazines I mostly am not going to buy. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/111 "2010-08-20T15:56:52Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And Rochester used to have lots of bookstores! > > The Village Green > The Oxford Avenue Bookstore > Scrantoms (Stationery, but lots of books, too) > Waldenbooks > …and a slew of others whose names I can’t recall. Every other shopping mall had them. Now there’s not even a bookstore at Marketplace Mall, the biggest mall in the area (that used to have two, IIRC.) There used to be a small bookstore in the plaza that now has the Barnes and Noble. The closest thing now is Houghton Bookshop. But I really don’t feel it qualifies as “general interest”. What I’d really like to see is for Talking Leaves (a Buffalo independent) to open a store in Rochester. I really like their stores but I rarely make the drive to Buffalo. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/112 "2010-08-20T16:10:36Z")
The Kindle is one answer, but thinking about it - I do go around Christmas to buy gifts. When something new isn’t available on the Kindle I’ll go there sometimes, but this last time they didn’t have the new CJ Cherryh, and you know? If they can’t do that much for me, fuck 'em. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/113 "2010-08-20T16:21:36Z")
I like Borders better. And I get free gift certs for Borders through my Discover Card cashback. Why pay for books at B&N when I can get them for free somewhere else? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/114 "2010-08-20T17:17:18Z")
[quote=“Lynn\_Bodoni, post:82, topic:550676”] > [@](#): > > And I particularly don’t want to give out my phone number, unless the store is willing to guarantee, IN WRITING, that it will never use that phon… This is valid. Googlevoice is perfect for this. You can sign up and get a phone number and you can pick the area code and the number (from a list) you want. The google voice mail will always go to Voice Mail and you got an easy to remember number ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/115 "2010-08-20T17:27:57Z")
I don’t know where one is. I’m sure there is one in SF, but I can only think of Borders. Either way, I stick to [Green Apple Books](http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesseendahl/2638407/), our local used bookstore that donated its profits of Going Rogue to the Alaskan Wildlife Alliance. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/116 "2010-08-21T03:19:42Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > [@LavenderBlue](#): > > > > If you’re in New York City check out Bookoff. They have a branch on 45th between 5th and 6th Avenue. They largely specialize in Japanese related material but if you go in the back towards the left hand side you’ll find a treasure trove of recent fiction and non-fiction at $1 and $2 apiece. > > > > One of my favorite places ever after the library at 42nd and 5th closed down their used book sale. > > > > [BOOKOFF GROUP HOLDINGS HOME en - BOOKOFF GROUP HOLDINGS](http://www.bookoff.co.jp/en/info/kaigai02.html) > > Cool! Thanks, I’ll check that out! Just wanted to say I went there today after work and that is a really cool store! They also had tons of movies & TV series on DVD for very cheap and were running a 20% off deal that ended today. I picked up the box set of “Firefly” & the collector’s edition of “Serenity” for $25 total! Thanks! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![valleyofthedolls](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a4c791/32.png) [@valleyofthedolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/valleyofthedolls)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/117 "2010-08-21T04:02:45Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > 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? I used to work at a B&N. There were enough malignant, awful people we counted as custmers that I don’t shop there anymore simply because I would never want anyone to think I was one of them. Silly? Absolutely, but I know a number of ex-booksellers who feel the same way. Now I’ve got a Kindle and all temptation to go there has evaporated. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/118 "2010-08-21T06:36:48Z")
I didn’t really. For most of the time, Borders was the nearest book superstore. About 2 years ago a B&N opened up within a mile of the Borders. While it was slightly more impressive, with 2 stories and a seemingly larger selection, Borders was still slightly more convenient, and also more familiar, so I rarely went to B&N. Although, I hear Borders in general isn’t doing all that well. Not sure about my local store, except for their downsizing of the music and DVD sections, and seemingly odd moving around of sections… ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/119 "2010-08-21T07:02:21Z")
Man, I hope they don’t close their stores. Now that Waldens closed in February, B&N is the only bookstore within 25 miles of here. Or, more specifically, it’s the only non-used book store. The closest Borders is almost 40 miles from here, so I don’t see myself buying too many books from a brick and mortar store in the future if the B&N stores close instead of changing hands… ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676/120 "2010-08-21T08:37:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Why did you stop going to Barnes and Nobles? After six years, I knew it was time to quit working at B&N when I had an experience that perfectly encapsulated the bookstore experience of America in the year 2010. A customer come to the store brandishing her iPhone at me. She demanded that I help her locate titles based on half-remembered plot summaries and descriptions such as “it has a blue cover and I saw it on a table here a few months ago.” Each time I found what she was looking for, she would add the item to her Amazon shopping cart on her iPhone, right in front of me. When I told her that I wasn’t going to be able to provide any further assistance, _she_ had the nerve to get mad at _me_. _No man can be expected to put up with such obliviousness, such entitlement_, I thought to myself. _Go fuck yourself, lady. Get the hell out of my store._ I called a manager and let him deal with her. He humored her, as managers must do if they want to stay managers, and afterwards I saw him in the breakroom, visibly aged from the encounter, and our eyes met and he took a breath, as if he were about to tell me something. Then he exhaled heavily, the air becoming a long sigh. I turned away. There was nothing to say. My last day is next Saturday. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-stop-going-to-barnes-and-nobles/550676.md?page=7)