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Borders Files for Bankruptcy

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:08 am
by ShiroiHikari
Borders, the 40-year-old chain that helped define the age of the book superstore, filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday, a widely expected move after years of increased competition, declining sales and months of missed payments to its vendors.

Publishers, who have anticipated the bankruptcy filing for months, said they hoped that it would be a chance for the beleaguered bookseller to reinvent itself. But they were also skeptical that the company’s deep-rooted problems could be overcome.


http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/borders-files-for-bankruptcy/?hp

I am sad. I like Borders better than the other big bookstore chains, but I guess that's because my local one is a pretty excellent store. Thankfully, my local store isn't closing at this time. Check to see if yours is on the closing list:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/48960704/Borders-list-of-store-closings

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:24 am
by mechana2015
A. Cool the 2 colsest to me don't seem to be closing.
B. I HATE READING LEGAL DOCUMENTS. That is the worst organization scheme for public reading EVER.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:28 am
by Roy Mustang
Publishers, who have anticipated the bankruptcy filing for months, said they hoped that it would be a chance for the beleaguered bookseller to reinvent itself. But they were also skeptical that the company’s deep-rooted problems could be overcome.


Goes without saying. MSNBC marketed watch reported that Borders would file for bankruptcy on Monday and they would have a press release on Tuesday. Ends up being Wednesday that put out a press release.

Where I hate to see people losing jobs and I know that about five to ten Borders are closing up around the Atlanta area. I kind of had a problem with Borders and that was the pushing of the member rewards on people. I even had emails sent by them over and over about trying to sign me up as a reward member. It drove me to not go to Borders at all and bought books from Books a Million or B&N.

[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:47 am
by Okami
I got pretty freaked when I saw this. Borders is our closest good bookstore, at the local mall. Thankfully, it's not on the list so I'm in the clear for the moment...I prefer Borders to Barnes and Nobles (which is what I have in the local mall out by school) simply because I feel like I can find what I'm looking for with more ease. But I guess that also depends on the store, because there are B&N's out by my dad's house that I prefer over the B&N by school. Borders has just always felt more organized to me...

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:51 am
by TopazRaven
Aw, poor Borders. I do have to say I think it's easier to find the books I'm looking for at Borders. Better go check if the one by me is closing.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 12:00 pm
by TheSubtleDoctor
ShiroiHikari (post: 1459396) wrote:Check to see if yours is on the closing list.
The city I live in is a pretty inclusive sort of place; ergo, no Borders.

*rimshot*

I do hear that this may put a dent in the manga market's sales to casual customers, since apparently customers would rather stop buying a product than look for an alternate means to purchase it.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:33 pm
by Beau Soir
This is sad, Borders bookstores are so awesome... Thankfully, the one nearest us isn't closing, but a few others around in this state are. ):

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:15 pm
by Nanao
So sad to see any bookstore closing : ( The one nearest us is not on the list, but in this area B&N tends to be a lot better than Borders. Our Borders tends to be really disorganised. Having said that, they do have an amazing manga stuff section, so I'm really happy they aren't closing ^_^

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:30 pm
by ADXC
It's not Barnes & Noble, so this doesn't affect me. I never really saw one in real life.


But I guess I can sympathize with those who did like Borders.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:35 pm
by mechana2015
I think Borders overstreatched themselves. If you check the list a decent amount of the stores are in California, with the rest distributed pretty widely. They tried to saturate the market and pushed too far without being able to back up the volume of stores they had. Even with all the closings I can think of at least 3 borders in my general area in California.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 3:56 pm
by Dante
It's not Bookman's or Amazon, so my world will go on.

I have bought books at Borders (and at Barnes & Noble), but they've had a hard time competing with the internet as far as prices go.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:03 pm
by blkmage
Yeah, I don't know anyone who goes to bookstores anymore. Amazon's cheap, ridiculously fast (1-2 days), and has everything.

Well, okay, I went into a Chapters once, but only for the Starbucks.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:11 pm
by ShiroiHikari
Amazon's shipping rate for books seems to be kind of high, to me. It's usually like 7 bucks just to ship a book. So I don't usually order books from Amazon unless I can't find it in a store locally, or if a Marketplace seller is selling it used for like a penny.

Also yeah, seems like a lot of companies think expanding is the answer to everything (look at what happened to Circuit City).

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:14 pm
by mechana2015
I much prefer companies that are cautious about their expansion and instead focus on maintaining a high level of service. In-N-Out, a burger chain out here in California is practically California exclusive for that reason.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:15 pm
by blkmage
I just wait until I have $25 worth of books to buy and get free shipping.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:18 pm
by ashfire
Two stores in the Wash DC area I know of will close (They were not far from each other) 7 all together but the one I do most of my shopping at will stay open and another near a Barns and Noble will stay open that I have been to.
We have either Borders, Barns and Noble or Books-A-Million in the Wash DC/ Baltimore area you can go to. You also have the Mom and Pop book or comic stores you can get some books at. I always look for certain magazines, Star Wars and manga when I walk in but sometimes there is that special book you need to look for.
Then there is still borders.com or similar to find the book you can't find in the store.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:25 pm
by ShiroiHikari
blkmage (post: 1459437) wrote:I just wait until I have $25 worth of books to buy and get free shipping.


That's a good idea o:

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:48 pm
by Ally-Ann
But.... but..... Where else am I going to look for a wide range of manga?! Poor Borders.

PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:57 pm
by WhiteMage212
I used to like to go to borders but recently, they have been having terrible organizational problems. Might just be the stores I visit.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:54 am
by Warrior4Christ
blkmage (post: 1459437) wrote:I just wait until I have $25 worth of books to buy and get free shipping.

So you wait until you're going to buy one book?

I heard that today too. I've got a feeling our Borders is closing too.
Physical book shops tend to be excessively expensive. I like http://www.bookdepository.com/ instead.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:18 am
by Roberts
Warrior4Christ (post: 1459708) wrote:So you wait until you're going to buy one book?

I heard that today too. I've got a feeling our Borders is closing too.
Physical book shops tend to be excessively expensive. I like http://www.bookdepository.com/ instead.

This.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:10 am
by Shao Feng-Li
blkmage (post: 1459433) wrote:Yeah, I don't know anyone who goes to bookstores anymore. Amazon's cheap, ridiculously fast (1-2 days), and has everything.

Well, okay, I went into a Chapters once, but only for the Starbucks.


I always liked Borders "buy # get one free" deals. When I lived in Albany, NY, I had like, three Borders stores to choose from XD

At any rate, it's too bad this is happening :( I haven't been to one in years though, do to one not being around at all.

Now I'm stuck with Hastings...

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:17 am
by Atria35
I really liked Borders. They had a very nice selection of manga (tended to be bigger than B&N), and I liked the atmosphere better. Plus, there's only one bookstore within 30 miles of my parent's house. And that was Borders.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:18 am
by Syreth
The one in my town closed long, long ago, and I was thus saddened. Cool places with books should not be closed.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:25 pm
by TheMewster
Poor Borders. God bless 'em. Now, I've never been to Borders, but I hate seeing stores go out of business.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:41 pm
by mechana2015
Shao Feng-Li (post: 1459731) wrote:I always liked Borders "buy # get one free" deals. When I lived in Albany, NY, I had like, three Borders stores to choose from XD

At any rate, it's too bad this is happening :( I haven't been to one in years though, do to one not being around at all.

Now I'm stuck with Hastings...


Atria35 (post: 1459733) wrote:I really liked Borders. They had a very nice selection of manga (tended to be bigger than B&N), and I liked the atmosphere better. Plus, there's only one bookstore within 30 miles of my parent's house. And that was Borders.


Have you guys checked to see if those stores are closing? Borders ISN'T going out of business entirely. They're just closing under performing stores and clearing their debt load. I was actually surprised at how FEW stores were closing really... and it seems like nearly a quarter of them are in California.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:48 pm
by Shao Feng-Li
mechana2015 (post: 1459769) wrote:Have you guys checked to see if those stores are closing? Borders ISN'T going out of business entirely. They're just closing under performing stores and clearing their debt load. I was actually surprised at how FEW stores were closing really... and it seems like nearly a quarter of them are in California.


Well, it still doesn't matter a whole lot for me, since the nearest real book store is two hours away.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:48 pm
by FllMtl Novelist
"My" Borders isn't closing, so I'm content. ^^ Not that it would have made a huge difference if it closed, I never get to go there. XD

Actually, I tend to prefer Barnes&Noble, myself, but we never go there either. XD

PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:35 pm
by Atria35
mechana2015 (post: 1459769) wrote:Have you guys checked to see if those stores are closing? Borders ISN'T going out of business entirely. They're just closing under performing stores and clearing their debt load. I was actually surprised at how FEW stores were closing really... and it seems like nearly a quarter of them are in California.


I checked. The one by my parent's is going under. It wasn't in a big-business area. It was dying anyway.

PostPosted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:17 pm
by mechana2015
Well apparently I CAN'T read a legal document well, since I was notified that one of my nearby Borders is closing. Darn. There are still several in our area though.