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Location: West Los Angeles and Rancho Palos Verdes
13,583 posts, read 15,652,632 times
Reputation: 14049
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My local B&N has a book I want -- their price is $25. However, Amazon wants $16 for the same book. It's been seven years since I've made a purchase from B&N, so I was wondering, if I ask them to match an Amazon.com price will they do it?
May depend on your local B&N but in my experience the answer has been no. I tried once at my local B&N and they said but I should sign up for a B&N membership to get discounts. So Amazon.com it still is for me:P
It's amazing to me how Barnes and Noble lasted longer than Borders.
While I certainly had a love/hate relationship with Borders, they at least had better coupons more often and had what I felt was a better book and magazine catalog.
Barnes and Noble I think have lasted longer with something I call the Target Effect. They really aren't any better than their competition, but have a prettier decor and better layout than their competition, so people think they are getting more for their money or getting the "experience". Once people figure out how to look past that glitz to the true value of what they are paying for, B&N will truly be done.
I was in that Santa Monica B&N maybe 5 years ago. I think they want to keep the "unwashed" out. I had never before gone into a B&N or Borders that barred you from using a restroom unless you made a purchase. On one hand, I dislike seeing people in there for hours flipping through magazines and books, treating it as a library, but if I'm in there to get a book on, say, knitting or golf, I'm expecting that I'm going to be looking at every one in those areas to find the one I want to buy, and I also expect to be able to sit on a bench at least.
(There was a woman in the public restrooms in the parking garage complex nearby who was a little "off," so I guess B&N's policy was a proactive one, but maybe a little too much.)
My longtime gripe with B&N: They stack magazines overlaying each other so close that you can't see the titles on any of the higher shelves. I'm not tall, so they're just inaccessible. I can't even ask a worker to reach one cuz I can't see what I might want. Borders never had this issue.
Now, on the topic at hand: I don't think there's a reason B&N would match Amazon's price. B&N offers you something Amazon can't: The ability to have the book in your hands immediately. For some people, that's worth the difference in price.
Have you tried ebay and Edward R. Hamilton Bookseller online? And used book stores? (Usually the latter have a couple of bookcases of newer books that people took in for trade credit, in case you're after a new release).
Now, on the topic at hand: I don't think there's a reason B&N would match Amazon's price. B&N offers you something Amazon can't: The ability to have the book in your hands immediately. For some people, that's worth the difference in price.
What's weird is B&N doesn't match their OWN online price!! I can see paying a little bit more to run down to the store and pick up a book -- a brick and mortar store has more overhead than a warehouse, yeah, I get it. BUT, B&N charged almost 2X the price for a book that I needed -- it was $29 at their online site, and $55 in the store. Yikes!!!!
Location: West Los Angeles and Rancho Palos Verdes
13,583 posts, read 15,652,632 times
Reputation: 14049
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blinx
What's weird is B&N doesn't match their OWN online price!! I can see paying a little bit more to run down to the store and pick up a book -- a brick and mortar store has more overhead than a warehouse, yeah, I get it. BUT, B&N charged almost 2X the price for a book that I needed -- it was $29 at their online site, and $55 in the store. Yikes!!!!
Good grief. I cannot imagine myself paying that difference just to get it instantly.
Location: West Los Angeles and Rancho Palos Verdes
13,583 posts, read 15,652,632 times
Reputation: 14049
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blinx
I know, I know. But it was a software book with a DVD that I wanted for a class. It wasn't required, but I needed help!
What was the book's topic?
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