Borders closing down (Sparks, Rule: credit card, home, buy)

[SabresFanInSA]

Originally Posted by L210

I heard on the news that e-book sales only account for 11% of the market, so they probably weren't the cause of Borders shutting down.



The E-Book Sees Market Share Increase, E-Book Sales Up 115%

e-Books were just a component of their failure. High interest debt load coupled with poor business decisions led to their demise.

I did read that Book-a-Million is picking up 30-35 (30 with an option for 5 more, none in SA) Borders stores saving around 1000-1500 jobs

[smuboy86]

Originally Posted by stoneoak

Sales weren't that great AT ALL, but by the time they actually mark everything down 40 percent, the only books left will be things like "The History of Pickles" or "Justin Bieber Explains the Global Financial Crisis."

. "Justin Bieber Explains the Theory of Relativity" is a real page turner however.

[tony78201]

Originally Posted by stoneoak

I wouldn't wait very long. Went today to use up an old gift card and it was pretty much armageddon. Books, puzzles, games were all thrown on top of one another. Looked like a bomb went off and the line to cash out was around the store. Sales weren't that great AT ALL, but by the time they actually mark everything down 40 percent, the only books left will be things like "The History of Pickles" or "Justin Bieber Explains the Global Financial Crisis."

that bums me out about lines around the store. I remember seeing that while we were closing down the wherehouse music store, and I thought, "where were you all before our going out of business sale. sad

[elmariachi]

Well, I ended up going today, and it was pretty much chaos. The place was a mess, check out line was long, AC was off or very low because it was warm in there, and sales pretty much sucked. Some items were 30-40% off, but most, like fiction were only 10% off. I know its only the first week of sales, but by the time the sales get to be worth it nothing readable will be left.

[OzzyRules]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

Wasn't there a Book Stop in the Collanade in the late 80s near where the Egg & I is? I know there was a bookstore there I just cannot for the life of me what the name was. There was little ramp that led to the kids section that I adored. Your comment about Book Stop (if that was indeed the name) brought back some memories!

There was a Red Balloon children's bookstore at I10/Wurzbach at the Colonnade sometime in the 90's I believe.

The Bookstop was just a little further north in a different strip center along I-10. And before that, it was a little further north from that in the old building where Shenandoa Skating center was at. They even had the little curved "step" near the front of the store where the skating rink was lower. The last time I went to the skating rink was 1981. The first time I went to Bookstop was 1985, so I'm not sure when it opened. And it's hard to say when it moved down the road because it was in a similar location in the building and it felt kind of the same when you went inside. Probably early 90's. It was still there in the late 90's. But I can't remember when it closed.

[smuboy86]

The sunset ridge bookstop closed in 2004 I think the San Pedro/Bitters one closed just about the same time. B&N had bought bookstop and with shut down the chain citing that the San Pedro and 410 store could provide better service than the two NC bookstops. As stated earlier it was quite a loss to the AH community and we most certainly just went to borders at the quarry not B&N.

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by OzzyRules

There was a Red Balloon children's bookstore at I10/Wurzbach at the Colonnade sometime in the 90's I believe.

The Bookstop was just a little further north in a different strip center along I-10. And before that, it was a little further north from that in the old building where Shenandoa Skating center was at. They even had the little curved "step" near the front of the store where the skating rink was lower. The last time I went to the skating rink was 1981. The first time I went to Bookstop was 1985, so I'm not sure when it opened. And it's hard to say when it moved down the road because it was in a similar location in the building and it felt kind of the same when you went inside. Probably early 90's. It was still there in the late 90's. But I can't remember when it closed.

The curved step must have been the "newer" location you were talking about near Shanendoah that you're referring to. We went there all the time when I was like 4-10. As much as I love having things out this way now I miss the simpler days of having to drive to Wurzbach for everything.

Hopefully I won't have to drive too far for a bookstore now! I hate driving to La Cantera for B&N. It's not even a good bookstore. I have to walk so far just for a parking space. They need reserved spots just for bookstore shoppers.

[OzzyRules]

I just drove past Wurzbach this morning. The place where the Egg restaurant is at now was the location of Bookstop in the 90's, as someone had asked about. The old place where Shenandoa skating was at in the early 80's, just past Pappasito's is now John Williams Interiors, which was Bookstop in the 80's.

[Merovee]

Surprisingly I do not believe I have heard anyone sing the praises of Half Price Books. They fill a niche. I wonder how their bottom line is doing? SAPL anyone? I have visited both of these more than once this year.

I love Barnes and Noble over Borders. Borders was quite expensive. No surprise they were the first to go bust.

Must admit that most of the volumes I own were purchased through Amazon.

[OzzyRules]

I'm surprised that so many people purchase stuff through Amazon. There is not much price difference, and you still have to pay 4 dollars even to ship a single item. I usually just purchase stuff from Amazon if there is a really good discount or it's something older that most stores don't carry anymore.

But I would think that most people would still go to a real store to buy a recent book. And they would visit a used bookstore first before resorting to Amazon. Just logically and cost-wise.