Borders vs Barnes & Noble

[tld221]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

B&N for sure. There are a zillion here in Manhattan; I can think of maybe 3 Borders. I do have a Borders Rewards card--worth it alone for the 40% off coupons I get maybe once a month.

Books-a-Million dominates in my parents' town. Oh it sucks.

Books-a-Million is a really corny name for a bookstore, sounds like something made up for a movie.

Originally Posted by tinydancer

B&N seems like they have employees that aren't too familiar with their product. They just have a retail job. I must look like a librarian because people walk up to me and ask about books.

I've never had that experience at B&N. ive been to many here in NYC, LI and one in the DC area, and 9/10 employees were helpful in finding products for me.

I will say, Borders does have more space - they seem to make better use of their space than B&N.


Lastly, does anyone remember Waldenbooks? I liked that store. I also like the Strand - any NYC area folks a fan?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by tld221

Lastly, does anyone remember Waldenbooks?

Waldenbooks is a division of Borders. K-Mart bought Waldenbooks in the 80s, then bought Borders in the 90s. A few years later, it spun the two off.

Likewise, BN owns B. Dalton.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Waldenbooks is a division of Borders. K-Mart bought Waldenbooks in the 80s, then bought Borders in the 90s. A few years later, it spun the two off.

Likewise, BN owns B. Dalton.

ohhhhhhh. good to know. *files info in "Who Wants to be a Millionaire knowledge" folder*

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Waldenbooks is a division of Borders. K-Mart bought Waldenbooks in the 80s, then bought Borders in the 90s. A few years later, it spun the two off.

Likewise, BN owns B. Dalton.

Didn't B&N close all of the B. Dalton stores? I think that, by the end, all the stores left were pretty crappy.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

Didn't B&N close all of the B. Dalton stores? I think that, by the end, all the stores left were pretty crappy.

They may have.

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Senusret I does not borrow books. He owns them.

This!

Originally Posted by IrishLake

I used to be a book buying addict. Until I realized how much money I was wasting on buying books that I would never read again. Not to mention all the space I was running out of. So I decided to get rid of a bunch. Took about 75 books to HPB to sell. I got $12. That was a real kick in the nuts. Decided never again to buy a book, unless it was one I knew I would over and over again.

I sold back two books once (one was brand new) and I got maybe $2 or $3. It saddened me.

Um, I don't really see the difference between Border's and B&N. They're both equidistant from where I live, so I go to which ever one is more accessible due to traffic at the time. Maybe I just don't spend time in them enough... they're both more than adequate for my needs, though.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

Um, I don't really see the difference between Border's and B&N.

I was like that at first, especially since we don't have a Border's here and I couldn't understand why my mom was RAVING about the one we go to in Tucson. But after going a few times, I see the differences.

The B&N here is mostly books (not saying they have more of a selection though), with a small CD section. The plus is that B&N sells Starbucks.

The Borders we go to (Park Place Mall if anyone is familiar with Tucson) has an adequate book selection, but it has an awesome Movie/CD section, along with scrapbooking and a lot of 'gag gifts.' I bought my aunt a 'moochers fork' (a gag gift of a fork that extends 2 feet for people who love to eat off of others plates). The con is this Borders sells Seattles Best, which I don't necessarily enjoy drinking.

The only other difference, is that I can't stay in Borders for very long because the coffee smell permeates throughout the whole store and ends up giving me a headache. I haven't found that at B&N (although our B&N's lighting affects me).