Why would Barnes and Noble Remove ALL of the Comfy Club Chairs? (Walmart, deals)

[Huckleberry3911948]

dirt bags hangin out that are so vile nobody wants to even go in to buy anything much less sit down?
just guessing.

[colorado native]

Originally Posted by Metamucil

don't be a crab, lots of people do it, and no, the savings online are far more than 1 dollar. I just bought a book on Amazon that was $35 list for $23. bought another at the same time that was $20 for $15 and shipping was free. I bought a $50 book for $32 online with free shipping. You buy that book full price and you're a fool IMO, esp. with the economy. Why bookstores typically don't discount in the internet age is beyond me.

It has **always** been cheaper online. I've never had a minimum purchase amount at any online retailer.

the minimum purchase is for the so-called free shipping.

The fact that lots of people do it doesn't make it any classier. On the contrary.

Most bookstores don't discount books because the average margin on a book is only 40%. The book industry is one of the only industries in which the price of a product sold (by the retailer) is set by someone else (the publisher). A 40% mark-up is dismal as anybody who works retail knows. With rent, payroll, taxes (oh yeah, Amazon gets by without paying most sales tax because of a very convenient loophole), utilities, that donation to your kids' soccer team, theft, theft, damages done by lounging "customers," theft, etc most bookstores that are profitable (a relatively small percentage) barely scrape by with a 2% profit margin. 2%.

Think for a second about what a bookstore means to the community. Paperback Dreams



With this in mind, let's look at an average book purchase: a single trade paperback book. Let's say it's Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns, just for giggles.
This book retails for $16.00. Not bad. Purchased at retail with sales tax of, say 7% you're looking at about $17.12. Not bad for a few nights entertainment. At Amazon you're looking at $9.60 plus shipping ($3.99) or $13.59. That's a savings of about $3.50. But you have to wait 3-5 days.

I guess it comes down to what's important to you. Sounds like you folks enjoy the bookstore experience... so much so that you'll complain if the store becomes apparently concerned about their bottom line (thus this thread), but you don't want to pay a dime for that experience (or 3 bucks). You want to take advantage of a carefully hand-picked selection of great books, and then give the very opposite of thanks for that experience by taking notes, leaving, ordering online and sitting around watching Survivor until that perfect book finally arrives.

Is saving a couple of bucks really more important than being able to have that experience of taking an afternoon to browse through a really great bookstore?

[Metamucil]

Originally Posted by colorado native

the minimum purchase is for the so-called free shipping.

The fact that lots of people do it doesn't make it any classier. On the contrary.

Most bookstores don't discount books because the average margin on a book is only 40%. The book industry is one of the only industries in which the price of a product sold (by the retailer) is set by someone else (the publisher). A 40% mark-up is dismal as anybody who works retail knows. With rent, payroll, taxes (oh yeah, Amazon gets by without paying most sales tax because of a very convenient loophole), utilities, that donation to your kids' soccer team, theft, theft, damages done by lounging "customers," theft, etc most bookstores that are profitable (a relatively small percentage) barely scrape by with a 2% profit margin. 2%.

Think for a second about what a bookstore means to the community. Paperback Dreams



With this in mind, let's look at an average book purchase: a single trade paperback book. Let's say it's Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns, just for giggles.
This book retails for $16.00. Not bad. Purchased at retail with sales tax of, say 7% you're looking at about $17.12. Not bad for a few nights entertainment. At Amazon you're looking at $9.60 plus shipping ($3.99) or $13.59. That's a savings of about $3.50. But you have to wait 3-5 days.

I guess it comes down to what's important to you. Sounds like you folks enjoy the bookstore experience... so much so that you'll complain if the store becomes apparently concerned about their bottom line (thus this thread), but you don't want to pay a dime for that experience (or 3 bucks). You want to take advantage of a carefully hand-picked selection of great books, and then give the very opposite of thanks for that experience by taking notes, leaving, ordering online and sitting around watching Survivor until that perfect book finally arrives.

Is saving a couple of bucks really more important than being able to have that experience of taking an afternoon to browse through a really great bookstore?

people saving money on purchases are "classless"???????
40% profit, have you ever worked in a grocery store? they get by with much less. and I don't believe that most book stores make an avg. profit of 2% at the end. There's no way they'd be in business.

I don't want to pay for an experience? what is that? Maybe in your world all retail stores will outlaw browsing or charge you for looking but I don't think you're being realistic. Your paperback story isnt' typical in my experience as I typically by more expensive books. If the difference is only 3 dollars I would by the book right there but when you can save $13 dollars on one book and $6 dollars on another and the biggest negative is you have to wait 3-5 days I'll sit around twiddling my thumbs watching Survivor waiting for the UPS man with gleem in my eyes!!

Moderator cut: rude comment .

[colorado native]

Originally Posted by Metamucil

people saving money on purchases are "classless"???????

In this instance... yes.

Originally Posted by Metamucil

40% profit, have you ever worked in a grocery store? they get by with much less.

I have and didn't find this to be true.

Originally Posted by Metamucil

and I don't believe that most book stores make an avg. profit of 2% at the end. There's no way they'd be in business.

Most don't, you're right. Most don't make a profit. You're apparently not paying attention...
bookstores closing - Google Search

Originally Posted by Metamucil

I don't want to pay for an experience? what is that? Maybe in your world all retail stores will outlaw browsing or charge you for looking but I don't think you're being realistic.

It's all about what's most important to you. It's a matter of lifestyle, really. I barely make 30 g's a year, but I eat good food, drink good wine, and have fun vacations, all while rarely if ever setting foot in a chain store and never buying online. It's about what's important to you. Social consciousness is a deep, deep rabbit hole to go down.

Originally Posted by Metamucil

Your paperback story isnt' typical in my experience as I typically by more expensive books.

Which, to be blunt, usually signifies a...less active reader. No literature for you? Not trying to be mean here, although it can't help but come out that way, unfortunately.

Moderator cut: deleted

Moderator cut: okay, okay. Let's cut this out. You may criticize the post, but not the individual poster.

[fruitlassie]

Originally Posted by colorado native

It's all about what's most important to you. It's a matter of lifestyle, really. I barely make 30 g's a year, but I eat good food, drink good wine, and have fun vacations, all while rarely if ever setting foot in a chain store and never buying online. It's about what's important to you. Social consciousness is a deep, deep rabbit hole to go down.

Isn't B&N a chain store?

I would rather shop online at Amazon than encourage the proliferation of "big box stores" which contribute to sprawl and the homogenization of America. Social consciousness is in the eye of the beholder.

[Metamucil]

Originally Posted by colorado native

In this instance... yes.


I have and didn't find this to be true.




Most don't, you're right. Most don't make a profit. You're apparently not paying attention...
bookstores closing - Google Search



It's all about what's most important to you. It's a matter of lifestyle, really. I barely make 30 g's a year, but I eat good food, drink good wine, and have fun vacations, all while rarely if ever setting foot in a chain store and never buying online. It's about what's important to you. Social consciousness is a deep, deep rabbit hole to go down.


Which, to be blunt, usually signifies a...less active reader. No literature for you? Not trying to be mean here, although it can't help but come out that way, unfortunately.


Well, if we're going there: you sound like a very cheap and selfish person. I'm sure you're not, though.

I'm sorry you're so bitter which you're proving by your response. and you can tell what titles I'm reading by the purchase price? If I buy books that I can save more than $3 by buying online I must be a low brow reader? how does that work?

I have no social consciousness b/c I buy some books online? you must be a "latte liberal", you people are very good at making judgements and when somebody disagrees with you we're bad for the planet and bad for the economy because we choose to shop online. oh well.

I love the internet, I can prove anything with a link....


http://www.theelvisisalivemuseum.com/home.htm

[oldhousegirl]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

The other day when I was in my library (where I am even on the board), a young workman looked around and said , "This place gives me the willies."

Wouldn't be at all surprised if he were dyslexic, and it was too overwhelming for him. Help him out Nancy!!!!

[colorado native]

Originally Posted by fruitlassie

Isn't B&N a chain store?

I would rather shop online at Amazon than encourage the proliferation of "big box stores" which contribute to sprawl and the homogenization of America. Social consciousness is in the eye of the beholder.

yeah. I don't go there. I was defending bookstores in general.

www.indiebound.org

[colorado native]

Originally Posted by Metamucil

I'm sorry you're so bitter which you're proving by your response. and you can tell what titles I'm reading by the purchase price?

Yeah... I'm that good.
At those prices you're not reading literature, as I said, unless it's a very very few hardcover editions that have come out lately, but you're all about price, supposedly, so one can only assume you generally are content to wait for the paperback. Assumptions, only.

Originally Posted by Metamucil

If I buy books that I can save more than $3 by buying online I must be a low brow reader? how does that work?

I have no social consciousness b/c I buy some books online? you must be a "latte liberal", you people are very good at making judgements and when somebody disagrees with you we're bad for the planet and bad for the economy because we choose to shop online. oh well.

You're willfully misunderstanding, and you know it.

I am a liberal, but like my coffee black... call it what you will. There has been study after study proving that shopping online, and at chains for that matter, does indeed hurt the economy, especially your local economy. Oh well, indeed.

Originally Posted by Metamucil

I love the internet, I can prove anything with a link....


http://www.theelvisisalivemuseum.com/home.htm

Ha. Nice. And just like that my "classless" statement is proven woefully incorrect. Touche.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by colorado native

the minimum purchase is for the so-called free shipping.

The fact that lots of people do it doesn't make it any classier. On the contrary.

Most bookstores don't discount books because the average margin on a book is only 40%. The book industry is one of the only industries in which the price of a product sold (by the retailer) is set by someone else (the publisher). A 40% mark-up is dismal as anybody who works retail knows. With rent, payroll, taxes (oh yeah, Amazon gets by without paying most sales tax because of a very convenient loophole), utilities, that donation to your kids' soccer team, theft, theft, damages done by lounging "customers," theft, etc most bookstores that are profitable (a relatively small percentage) barely scrape by with a 2% profit margin. 2%.

Think for a second about what a bookstore means to the community. Paperback Dreams



With this in mind, let's look at an average book purchase: a single trade paperback book. Let's say it's Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns, just for giggles.
This book retails for $16.00. Not bad. Purchased at retail with sales tax of, say 7% you're looking at about $17.12. Not bad for a few nights entertainment. At Amazon you're looking at $9.60 plus shipping ($3.99) or $13.59. That's a savings of about $3.50. But you have to wait 3-5 days.

I guess it comes down to what's important to you. Sounds like you folks enjoy the bookstore experience... so much so that you'll complain if the store becomes apparently concerned about their bottom line (thus this thread), but you don't want to pay a dime for that experience (or 3 bucks). You want to take advantage of a carefully hand-picked selection of great books, and then give the very opposite of thanks for that experience by taking notes, leaving, ordering online and sitting around watching Survivor until that perfect book finally arrives.

Is saving a couple of bucks really more important than being able to have that experience of taking an afternoon to browse through a really great bookstore?

look, I'm sympathetic to the plight of brick and mortar stores. hell, I've worked in a few and have grand aspirations of owning a little book store while I'm churning out another "Great American Novel", but frankly, right now, I'm a poor student and have learned to appreciate the discounts places like Amazon can offer. as I mentioned in an above post, I saved over $30 on a book (paid $40 w/o taxes w/ free shipping vs. $75 w/ a 10.25-12.25% Chicago tax tacked on). I very, very, very rarely buy hardcover books in stores because the discounts offered online for the same books can be tremendous (sometimes as much as 40% cheaper). getting the free shipping for me isn't hard b/c I only shop on Amazon when I plan on buying more than 1 book (or overall item; the free shipping goes beyond books and can even include kitchen appliances), so my total is always above the $25 minimum

like I said, I'm sympathetic to the industry and I do buy books from book stores (mostly trade paperbacks, sometimes journals I like to see in person before I buy or novelty gifts), but I despise shopping in book stores. maybe it's just the stores I go to or maybe I'm just not all that patient anymore, but I find that shopping in book stores have become more irritating recently. case in point: I was looking to buy a fairly well known book in trade paperback (I hate mass market books, especially if it's a longer piece of work. these books never last w/ me) and 2 different employees sent me to two different sections, neither of which even had the book. then they refused to call another store to see if they have it in stock (and apparently, they can't cross reference their inventory), so I had to make the trek over, just to learn that that store didn't have the book either. so I just gave up and spent less than 2 minutes on Amazon putting that book into my cart (90 seconds spent picking out which cover I liked most). in this day and age of online bookstores, brick-and-mortar stores need to do better than this (and mind you, I've worked in these stores!).

it's a mixed bag. on the one hand, stores need a way to bring in people, so offer up perks like comfy chairs, in house coffee and sandwich shops, even live entertainment at some locations. and I can appreciate their efforts, but there are always the customers who ruin it for others and abuse these perks. the issue w/ the nice seats is a good example. stores are in a tough predicament of bringing in customers, but making sure they don't hang around too long and damage their merchandise w/o buying it (and books are so easy to damage. I swear a day never went by where a customer didn't demand a hefty discount because a cover jacket was torn a tiny bit in one corner, or a book is a bit bent in a corner from shipping). it's sad to see the seats go, but I'll live b/c they are being abuse in many stores (sometimes literally!).

in the end, these stores are going to need a way to make themselves stand apart from their online counterparts and offer more perks to the consumers w/o sacrificing their bottom line. author signings are a FANTASTIC way of doing this and is something no online store can offer (and I make it a point of buying a book in the store a favorite author is signing in, even if it's in hardcover), as are midnight release parties for certain titles (hanging out w/ other fans of a favorite book is fun). stores should do more to have exclusive deals w/ author, not unlike how stores like Walmart get exclusive rights to a CD release. or book stores should do more special edition versions of books

I love bookstores (mainly the little independent ones, especially the used books ones), but until they fix some of their flaws and provide me w/ a better incentive to spend 10-50% more on the same book vs. online, I don't bother shopping there. it's a recession, my bottom line and financial concerns goes before a store's on my list of priorities (even if I happen to work in such a store)