All Borders Bookstores closing

[Jodah]

http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/07/18/borders-liquidating-closing-all-stores.html

So, because they could not find a buyer, all Borders Bookstores (and sister companies such as Waldenbooks) will be closing. On a personal level I am sad because my Mom had worked for the local Waldenbooks for years and had become friends with the manager of the store even after my mom had left. Its also saddening to see one of the few remaining large bookstores closing down. Granted I own a Kindle and love it but I still enjoy the feel and smell of a real book from time to time.

Anyways, what are your thoughts on this?

 

[Unesh52]

IMO, books are a little obsolete and I haven't bought a physical book (except for school) in ages, but this makes me a little sad. If only because Borders was a meeting place in my local mall.

 

[vance32]

AHHHH this is the end of the world were am i going too buy all my Dungeon and Dragons books now?

 

[Kryzantine]

I can't remember the last time I saw a Borders. If I ever buy a book, it's usually at Barnes and Noble.

To be fair, when the market for book buying is dropping, what with a little thing called the internet providing a free way to access a lot of books, as well as gizmos like the Kindle making it more convenient to read, at the expense of the bookstore - we should be expecting casualties in the bookstore department.

 

[Necator15]

Well this sucks. The only major bookstore where I live is Borders. There's a really shitty smaller store called Nonesuch books, but it's extremely small and very disorganized.

Well, I guess that means Amazon for me.

 

[smearyllama]

I rarely go to bookstores, since the library is easier, and my dad doesn't get fined for late books since he volunteers.

It is a shame though, since I really do like Borders.

 

[Aris Khandr]

AHHHH this is the end of the world were am i going too buy all my Dungeon and Dragons books now?

Amazon, most likely.

 

[thiosk]

Its the cycle of things. The mega stores crushed and exterminated the local bookstore. Amazon crushes the mega bookstores. Borders is the first to fail. I wouldn't invest in the other players in this area, either. Luckily, boutique bookstores are on the comeback.

Remember when we had local video stores? And they were crushed by Blockbuster? Hollywood video died first, now blockbuster-- crushed by Netflix? I know they're in bankruptcy, but I cant be bothered to find out if they've survived or not.

 

[Dranae]

(and sister companies such as Waldenbooks)

Aw, that's a shame. There's a local Waldenbooks I enjoy going to periodically.

I really like Borders, mostly because of the little Seattle's Best outlets it has in them. They make amazing hot chocolate.

 

[RandallJohn]

I find this depressing. I love books, and this was one of my favorite franchises.

I also hate e-readers, so there's that. :/

 

[Dags90]

IMO, books are a little obsolete and I haven't bought a physical book (except for school) in ages, but this makes me a little sad. If only because Borders was a meeting place in my local mall.

Book sales seriously slowed down even before e-books anyway. The only reason bookstores survived that initial downturn in book sales was by heavily prioritizing other media sales (music, movies, TV). iTunes and Netflix (and piracy) are as big a reason for this as the e-book or Amazon.

I also echo the sentiment of being sad to see the Seattle's Best Coffee stores go.

 

[Unesh52]

Book sales seriously slowed down even before e-books anyway. The only reason bookstores survived that initial downturn in book sales was by heavily prioritizing other media sales (music, movies, TV). iTunes and Netflix (and piracy) are as big a reason for this as the e-book.

You know, I see other forms of entertainment and even education eclipsing paper books, and I can't help but feel like literature teachers and librarians everywhere are depressed about it. But for all those motivational posters I saw when I was sitting in english, the ones with little kittens and skateboarding cartoon characters telling me it's cool to read, I can't help but think this isn't a bad thing. What's so great about reading, in itself? After all, it's not the act that betters you, it's the places it takes your imagination and the information it gives you, and other media can do that, sometimes much more efficiently.

So, I guess I'm ok with this.

 

[Shadow flame master]

There are alot of sad things that can happen. For instence:

the closing of a library due to no money/remodeling/water damage.

Even though I haven't bought a book in a while, it is deffinitly sad to see a place to buy books shutdown.

 

[GrimTuesday]

Oh well, I guess all of my business is going to Powells in Portland, its out of my way, but it has a much larger selection of books, so I guess that's the trade off I have to make.

 

[Princess Rose]

**cries**

That sucks! I knew a bunch closed, but all of them? That's awful! There's still one near where I live - I guess it will be closing soon.

Oh, that so sucks. I bought a book there a few days ago. It was my one-stop-shop for new-release hardbacks.

 

[silversnake4133]

A sad day indeed for all book enthusiasts. Damn you technology and the internet, stop taking away all that remains of a happier time. It's sad to see Borders and Walden stores close because of how widespread they were. Barns and Noble stores are very far and few in between, and now that Borders is closing, I'll have to trek about a hour or so just to search for books. It was just such a great convenience to us and now look what's happened.

Personally I think that how we purchase things is affecting the market. Stores and businesses are closing down because we the people are buying shit from places like ebay or amazon. And while it's a great convenience in some aspects, I think this is mainly why businesses like bookstores or gift stores are going out of business. We're giving it all to the amazon monster.

**A visual representation of my sadness.

 

[Dags90]

You know, I see other forms of entertainment and even education eclipsing paper books, and I can't help but feel like literature teachers and librarians everywhere are depressed about it. But for all those motivational posters I saw when I was sitting in english, the ones with little kittens and skateboarding cartoon characters telling me it's cool to read, I can't help but think this isn't a bad thing. What's so great about reading, in itself? After all, it's not the act that betters you, it's the places it takes your imagination and the information it gives you, and other media can do that, sometimes much more efficiently.

So, I guess I'm ok with this.

I think the whole "literature" thing is part of the problem. English class is the only exposure a lot of kids have to reading growing up. Having that early exposure dominated by things stuffy old white guys wrote over a hundred years ago does nothing to foster reading.

Reading is important as a communication tool. People need to be able to assembled information from written words in order to sign contracts, read prescription warnings, or bake delicious chocolate cookies.