Borders vs Barnes & Noble

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Senusret I does not borrow books. He owns them.

So does honeychile.

Between the B's, I prefer Barnes & Noble, but usually shop Borders, because the husband of one of my friends works there, and gives me coupons when I forget them.

But I also love HPB. I have been taking books in at least every over week, and have garnered at least $200. You have to figure out their logic on which books they'll buy, and which they're just taking them off of your hands. I've learned to say, "If you're not giving me at least $1 for a book, please give me a chance to reconsider," and they're happy to do so. They also allow me to bring the puppy, as long as he stays in a cart. Yes, he's a therapy dog, but I can hardly drive to a store, and then claim I need a seeing eye dog!

Bottom line: I love books. I am currently designing a headboard for my guest room that incorporates 3 bookcases and would be able to store roughly (counting...) 250 books. That's not counting my genealogical books!

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by honeychile

Bottom line: I love books. I am currently designing a headboard for my guest room that incorporates 3 bookcases and would be able to store roughly (counting...) 250 books. That's not counting my genealogical books!

*like*

[thetygerlily]

I really have no preference between B & BN- whichever is closest. I do love Half Price Books though, and walked away with 4 books I believe on Saturday.

We don't have a custom bookcase headboard, but we do have a small closet-like nook in our basement. It almost perfectly fits two 6' tall bookshelves on each side. It's my mini-library- you can walk in and look at books on either side of the little nook

Unfortunately I need another closet or two to fit what we have. In addition to reading books, I also have every single book from my undergrad, husband's undergrad, and husband's MBA & accounting program.

[epchick]

We only have B&N in my area, but I do go to Borders when I visit my bro in Tucson. Betweenthe B&N I'm used to, and that Borders, I def choose Borders. Its not even that they have a bigger selection of books, but they have more things that our B&N don't offer...like movies and little odds and ends (journals, and scrapbooking things).

I want a Borders in our area We also have a place here where you can buy used books and sell yours, but it gets really packed on weekends, and sometimes their selection isn't what I like/prefer.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

Neither. Public library.

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Yes!

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Even in her most solvent of days, Drolefille has too many books and not enough bookshelves. Or window sills. Or boxes.

Originally Posted by agzg

I love the library too. The problem is, I really like putting books on my bookshelf. It's becoming a sick obsession. We have each shelf filled two deep on a 16'x16' bookcase. I've been thinking of buying another.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

That's because they are books that you want to own. You probably wouldn't feel that way if you needed stacks upon stacks upon stacks upon stacks of books (that don't interest you otherwise) for some research, for example.

Originally Posted by Still BLUTANG

add me to the library bandwagon.

if i'm getting a gift, i'll do Borders... but the love of my life is Amazon.

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.

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

I am a recovering book buying addict as well. I am now a library addict. My older two boys were part of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program- it sends kids one new book a month for the first 5 years of life. I didn't sign up the baby because between all those books and the kids books I would buy on my own, the house is full of kids books.

If I must buy a book, I go to Borders- but only because it is closer to my house. Borders and B&N are basically interchangable to me. I prefer Mom & Pop book stores, but I haven't found one here in Indy yet...

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Here, at least, the Borders are roomier and seem to be have a bigger selection. They also have more chairs so you can browse and then sit and read. The BNs tend to feel cramped, like they're trying to cram too much into the space.

Cool. Let me know what you think.

And ditto on the coupon.

I do the library, too. Probably 2/3 of the books I buy are for the kids. They also do the library, but I'll gladly buy them books if it means they read more. For me, I only buy the books I really want to own.

Agree on the library. I stopped buying books because I want to pare my life down, and I don't think I have more than 9 feet of books, if that. I have a few cookbooks, knitting/sewing books, and archaeology reference books. Everything else comes from the public or campus library. If I plan to pack up and move, books are going to be a hassle so I stopped buying them years ago.

Sometimes I do buy a book and donate it to the library or pass it on. I might do that on my trip but the library near my dig lets me check things out while I visit so I may give them one in exchange for borrowing a few.

[Kappamd]

I am a Borders addict. I can spend hours in there.

Not a huge fan of B&N because I don't like the layout and organization of their stores. Also, it really irritates me that you have to pay for a membership in order to receive the good coupons and shipping deals. However, they do have a good reselling section online that I've used to order textbooks (ie. like Amazon, but cheaper in my experience).

I like HPB too, but their summer selection is always terrible here and it's ALWAYS packed.

[NutBrnHair]

I like Borders best (probably because there's not one in my hometown!). B&N will suffice for most things, but I could spend hours in a Borders.

[Little32]

I only buy books that I want to own too. But I have a great collection of the "great works" that everyone should probably own.

Periodically, I go through my books, pull out the ones that I am never going to read again or don't want to have for my collection and donate them. Right now, I have several boxes of books that are waiting for their bookshelf homes (I need to figure out the route that I want to go with the shelving: Custom/mass produced)

The library is great for authors that I am trying out.

<---Unabashed bibliophile.

[AXiDMeesh]

Um, Barnes & Noble all the way

[pomplemousse12]

I love Borders way more than Barnes and Noble, but because of my Nook (way handier for traveling!) I have been going on their website more often. I like Borders better because I have a rewards card and you don't have to pay for it like B&N, and it is easier for me to navigate most of the time. I get frustrated every time I go to the B&N near college, because I keep forgetting they don't have a DVD section in that store.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by epchick

We only have B&N in my area, but I do go to Borders when I visit my bro in Tucson. Betweenthe B&N I'm used to, and that Borders, I def choose Borders. Its not even that they have a bigger selection of books, but they have more things that our B&N don't offer...like movies and little odds and ends (journals, and scrapbooking things).

I want a Borders in our area We also have a place here where you can buy used books and sell yours, but it gets really packed on weekends, and sometimes their selection isn't what I like/prefer.

There's no HPB over there?

Another reason I'll never venture into West TX lol

[tinydancer]

This former librarian is drowning in books. I like Borders even if I do have to drive across town.

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.

The closest B&N closed during the re-routing of traffic on I35 while Jerry World was being built in Arlington. You just couldn't get there from anywhere.

[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?

[Drolefille]

Waldenbooks still exists in my hometown in the mall; it was better than the Borders Express here, but not as good as a standalone.

[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.