Borders closing its doors

[powderfinger]

So its official. Borders is closing all of its stores nationwide.

This is sort of sad.

First, the music stores vanished. Sure, every once in a while you might see an FYE or something at a mall, but the all the great indie music stores are long dead and gone. Even the corporate ones are gone.

Then, the movie stores vanished. Yeah, I might be lame, but I used to enjoy browsing the movie stores... esp. the indie owned ones. You could find all sort of rate and B rate movies at those. I mean, heck if it wasnt for the old indie movie store in my old town, I wouldnt have ever found Faces of Death I-IV.

Now, the book stores are vanishing. Yeah, you can buy a Kindle or whatever the hell they're called, but I like to hold a book in my hands. I used to also love to go to the bookstore... browse.... hang out.

Political commentary aside... I hate where we are going as nation. I feel like in 10 years all that will be left are Wal Marts and maybe a few other big box stores. You won't have any indie owned music, book, and movie stores.... hell, there arent going to be any corporate owned ones soon.

[hover]

It is a damn shame. And honestly, yes you can blame it directly on new technology. I too love to hold a book in my hands, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I love my kindle too.

I dunno, I think it's unfortunately gonna be the way of most all things retail, at least specialty stuff. There's been more than one big box chain that has gone belly up lately...and those that cannot adapt and survive by anticipating buyer need and modifying their business model to meet it practically are begging to be shut down. The book will never die, but the cavernous book superstore chain most certainly will.

I have a good friend who was a store manager for Borders. He was laid off 3 months ago. It really sucks.

[EricF]

I blame Apple.

[MJ5150]

You kids want the world this way.

-Mike

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

So its official. Borders is closing all of its stores nationwide.

This is sort of sad.

First, the music stores vanished. Sure, every once in a while you might see an FYE or something at a mall, but the all the great indie music stores are long dead and gone. Even the corporate ones are gone.

Then, the movie stores vanished. Yeah, I might be lame, but I used to enjoy browsing the movie stores... esp. the indie owned ones. You could find all sort of rate and B rate movies at those. I mean, heck if it wasnt for the old indie movie store in my old town, I wouldnt have ever found Faces of Death I-IV.

Now, the book stores are vanishing. Yeah, you can buy a Kindle or whatever the hell they're called, but I like to hold a book in my hands. I used to also love to go to the bookstore... browse.... hang out.

Political commentary aside... I hate where we are going as nation. I feel like in 10 years all that will be left are Wal Marts and maybe a few other big box stores. You won't have any indie owned music, book, and movie stores.... hell, there arent going to be any corporate owned ones soon.

Ummm... Borders WAS a "big box store" that did the "put independents out of business" for years.

It's sort of like complaining that Amazon is putting Walmart out of business.

That being said - it's a huge number of lost jobs in this area (they're headquartered here), and this area really can't afford to lose a lot of jobs.

[SoonerMatt]

Seriously, I've always hated Borders. No matter which store I went into, the staff was rude, had no knowledge about any of the stuff I was interested in, and everything was overpriced. If Hastings could also fall into bankruptcy hell then I'd be very happy.

Wanna buy physical books? Amazon and Barnes and Noble both sell hard copies, plus there's eBay and (again) Amazon for used books.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

It's a shame, they closed most of them over here a fair while back.

I'm an avid reader, but I only buy a handful of new books a year. I just couldn't afford the habit if it was only new books I read. Charity shops tend to have a huge range and are less than 5% the cost (and when you are reading 3-4+ books a week, the difference between £2 and £40 is a fair amount!).

[BlacktotheBlind]

It's bound to happen, and you can't have your cake and eat it too. I'm talking to all of us Android/iPhone iPad/tablet users.

We enjoy having all these toys and what they give us at the touch of a button.

[jmattbassplaya]

I'll miss it. Some of my favorite memories involve my dad taking me to our local Borders on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, finding a book, and reading it for 30 minutes to an hour.

But like others have said, we as consumers have made this sort of thing happen. I don't see why you feel the need to say "political commentary aside" because this is just simply economics happening right here.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

Now, the book stores are vanishing.

Borders sucks. Barnes & Nobles is still around. But in all honesty, I prefer to buy used books from Amazon.com. I often find great books selling for 1 penny, and pay $3.99 to ship. Books in new condition, even Hardcovers, can be had for less than a 5spot.

[Longhair]

I never did understand the concept of giving people coffee, couches, and the freedom to stay there all day reading books.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Longhair

I never did understand the concept of giving people coffee, couches, and the freedom to stay there all day reading books.

I went in there a couple times and wondered the same thing. What's the point of buying the book when you have that environment to read in?

-Mike

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I went in there a couple times and wondered the same thing. What's the point of buying the book when you have that environment to read in?

-Mike

You only have to buy the book if you take it into the bathroom...

[hover]

I imagine it's a mixture of betting you only have so much time to spend in the store mixed with the hope the book you sit down with you will invest enough interest in that you'll want to leave the store with a copy. Simple, yet it doesn't always work.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

You only have to buy the book if you take it into the bathroom...

We have a 51-50 in paperbacks. All units respond.

-Mike

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by aborgman

Ummm... Borders WAS a "big box store" that did the "put independents out of business" for years.

It's sort of like complaining that Amazon is putting Walmart out of business.

Well, I did say that first the indy stores got put out of business, and now the corporate giants themselves are going out of business.

The only indy bookstore in my town was not pleasant though. It was damp (roof leak), smelled like piss and cigarette smoke, and was in the ghetto.

Borders has air conditioning, couches, smoothies, and music coming from the PA....

[NateS]

i don't know about where you at but indie music and book stores are doing pretty well in downtown Richmond, VA, especially with VCU art/hipster kids. I don't mind the hipsters as long as i can still browse vinyls and books.

[stratovani]

Fifty years from now you'll buy just about everything on the Internet. All that will be left will be Walmart, maybe Target, upscale stores like Kohl's, a couple of specialty stores like Best Buy and Home Depot, and grocery stores. That's it. Mom-and-Pops will be just a fading memory. Sad, but that's the way it's going to be.

[rr5025]

About time. About 3 of them closed around here and I was wondering when they all were going to go under (not that I was wanting them to, just waiting to see when it would be national).

That being said I far prefer indie book stores.

I also feel the need to add - I win Borders! See what happens when you reject my employment applications for 4 years!?

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

We have a 51-50 in paperbacks. All units respond.

-Mike

Swarm! Swarm!