Yeah I can see it for specialty things I suppose. The only real way to get good deals on books is to buy them used either locally or online it seems.

I hope the Seattle Airport location stays open, I need a place to buy reading material while traveling and that is where I buy quite a bit.

I still love libraries though, so many small ones have a paperback exchange I have serious relationships with.

I am not surprised that Borders had to close up shop. Their prices are sky-high! When I went the other day to check it out, their prices with the 20-40% off were still more expensive than B&N and Amazon. I saw some DVDs for $30... I don't think anyone has paid that much for a DVD since 1999. There were a ton of people in line, but there were still a lot of good books and best-sellers left. I hope that their prices will come down even more, because if not, I can't imagine that they'll be able to get rid of their inventory.

I work at Borders so I am now out of a job :( A lot of our regular customers are extremely sad to see us leaving some customers were crying. I'm so bummed I absolutely LOVED working there.

As for the prices, they will most likely not go down, we have been selling out like crazy. Everything left over will most likely be sent to another store.
If you are going to a Borders sale its better to go to in the morning or before they close so the lines aren't long. I worked the first day of the sale and the lines were TWO hours long! And please remember to be nice to the people who are working there! We are all out of jobs and still have to deal with rude people all day and clean up huge messes in the store after.

I usually don't go to Borders but, today, after I left school, I decided to stop by. It was really, really dead in there. A few years ago, it was always busy, especially on the weekends. I don't expect them to be around too much longer even after they reorganize.

I was there just prior to Christmas, and was amazed by the lack of items that they usually carried. Of course, I know now why - they were already non-stocking, but I also felt my time had been wasted.

I love ALL bookstores. I love the smell of new books, and the surprise of what you'll find. I miss ones that close. I think that's why places like Amazon.com will never take their place. I hope.

I noticed a book that I wanted over a year ago and, the same "one" book is still on the shelf. Maybe it's not the same exact book but, it was still unwrapped and it was in the same exact spot, so, that gave me the impression that it was the same one. I would buy it but, I still thought the price was too high for having mostly pictures and not a lot of reading material.

The closing stores are accepting Borders Bucks, right?

Just not coupons?

I don't know. I do think honeychile is right -- they have been preparing for some stores to close by not stocking items. But the store nearest us that is staying open is usually well-stocked and is almost always very busy, both with true customers and, particularly on weeknights, as a "Third Place." One night a few weeks ago, I counted about eight tables with people around them playing games.

I'll tell you what - I was talked into a Barnes & Noble membership card a few weeks ago when I was there, and this may end up being deadly to my bank account (especially the no min. order free express shipping)...and this is one of those things where Borders is falling behind. B&N now automatically has my loyalty for the next year. I was previously mostly an Am@zon person.

The one near me isn't closing but, they don't seem to have gotten anything new in within the past year or so. At least not in the astronomy section. I remember when I used to buy some of my astronomy books there, a few days later, they would have new copies of the book I bought back on the shelf. I think it's been about a year and, I haven't seen any restocks of a couple of books I bought. I mean, it's near campus, and it's still dead in there which is really surprising to me. I just think that they're eventually going to close the whole company or someone is going to buy them out. Who knows? It's pretty sad, though. I guess I'll have to order my books online.

Actually, I can see how being near campus would hurt them -- lots of other options in the area.

As for the books, it's always possible that they haven't been restocked because they weren't selling well enough. They were glad somebody (you :p) finally bought the copies they had. They're not likely to put books on teh shelf that they think will stay there.

I dunno.

Border's has nearly the same thing now (I actually think it may be better than B&N, I just refuse to pay for it).

I went to the non-closing Borders near my apartment yesterday and it was packed as usual. It almost seems like a location thing. This Borders is always well-stocked, and I ALWAYS have to wait in line to pay. I'm glad it's not closing because if I have to go to a brick and mortar store, I prefer Borders. I just hate the way B&N sets up their stores.

They were always busy with students about a year ago and, there hasn't been anything new that's opened in the area.

The second part of your post made me laugh really hard. lol (But I agree with you)

Yeah, well it was a guess.

And laughter will help you feel better. See how I helped?