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I love Barnes and Noble, however, one of my issues with BN is that they are mostly out of the way and not near malls where they'd get a lot of traffic. Another

I love Barnes and Noble, however, one of my issues with BN is that they are mostly out of the way and not near malls where they'd get a lot of traffic. Another issue I think is absolutely mind boggling is that their online prices are not what's in store; you can't even price match their website with their own in-store pricing, let alone price matching with Amazon. I generally browse BN and then pull up Amazon to check pricing there, and either order the book with same-day delivery/next day or buy the e-book. Its still cheaper to pay for same day/next day than to buy it in store.

kevin_thibedeau 11y ago
That sort of behavior is what is killing retail. If you're going to browse the showroom it is more than a little backhanded to then buy from an online competitor with less overhead. If I find a product I want to buy in a store I will buy it there. More often than not, though, retailers don't have what I need and I end up forced to buy online anyway.
- MrZongle2 11y ago
  "If you're going to browse the showroom it is more than a little backhanded to then buy from an online competitor with less overhead." How so? Why is it my responsibility as a consumer to ensure that certain companies stay in business?
  - macintux 11y ago
    It's only your responsibility to later not gripe about the fact that showrooms no longer exist.
- bonesinger 11y ago
  I'm in no way obligated to buy something in the store, especially when they have obfuscated policies regarding pricing. How can you justify a higher price in store when you have a lower price online and your competitor has a lower price and same day delivery? I get 25% BN discount from my gf's teacher discount and stuff is still more expensive than their own online pricing. If I find a significant price difference, I'm going to buy it online. However, I will go out of my way to purchase at small business because there are benefits to that.
  - saint_fiasco 11y ago
    >How can you justify a higher price in store when you have a lower price online and your competitor has a lower price and same day delivery? The fact that you bothered to go to the store when you could have just browsed their on-line catalog from your home is enough justification, IMO. A lower price online is justified because there is less overhead.
  - kevin_thibedeau 11y ago
    The higher price is because they have to pay for employees to serve you, HVAC and lighting so you can be comfortable and see at night, the capital investment for everything needed to run the store, plus local taxes. All for the convenience of letting you see the product first hand. Taking advantage of all those things and then robbing them of a sale isn't fair to the business trying to stay afloat. Comparison shopping between proprietors on equal footing is fair. Not between brick-and-mortar and a warehouse operation with huge economies of scale.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  > That sort of behavior is what is killing retail. If you're going to browse the showroom it is more than a little backhanded to then buy from an online competitor with less overhead. It makes perfect sense; there's definitely a tragedy of the commons involved, but its created by the store owner giving away their compelling differentiating offering rather than selling it. OTOH, its hard to see what the viable alternative is.
- Kluny 11y ago
  They could sell stuff online for just as cheap as Amazon. They could offer delivery to stores so you can pick it up there and save on shipping. They could do lots of things. We're not obligated to support their failing business plan. I always attempt to buy local first, and do if it's the better option. Not my fault if local stores make it difficult.
massysett 11y ago
Your behavior is not true to someone who loves Barnes and Noble. You are using them as Amazon's showroom. At best, your actions say that you enjoy the showroom BN provides but you are unwilling to pay for it. Great way to drive them out of business. Sounds like you love Amazon, not Barnes and Noble, and you're willing to help Amazon drive its competitor out of business--all while visiting the competitor and using his inventory. Delicious irony.
- bonesinger 11y ago
  Maybe you are right, but I do enjoy going to BN and I do buy stuff there from time to time. My gf is more willing to buy in store than I am, probably because of the nature of books she purchases (kids books for school) versus my books (Tech) which are significantly more expensive.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
bluedino 11y ago
It's not just Amazon - you can find the books at Barnes and Noble's website and order them way cheaper than the store!
alistairSH 11y ago
I've seen "malls" mentioned a few times in various comments. Can you elaborate on why you think B&N should be in malls, given the current poor state of malls in the US? Many are seeing financial troubles, or shutting down completely.
- bonesinger 11y ago
  It's anecdotal for me, but where I am in Illinois, there is a BN in Old Orchard Mall which is a Simon property and is a high end mall (Nordstrom, Bloomingdales etc...). It gets a ton of foot traffic and is packed on the weekends. There is another BN in Schaumburg, IL, an affluent suburb about 20-30 minutes away and it is not in a mall. I used to live there and go to that BN a lot, it was very quiet and empty unless they were running an event.

kevin_thibedeau 11y ago

That sort of behavior is what is killing retail. If you're going to browse the showroom it is more than a little backhanded to then buy from an online competitor with less overhead. If I find a product I want to buy in a store I will buy it there. More often than not, though, retailers don't have what I need and I end up forced to buy online anyway.

MrZongle2 11y ago
"If you're going to browse the showroom it is more than a little backhanded to then buy from an online competitor with less overhead." How so? Why is it my responsibility as a consumer to ensure that certain companies stay in business?
- macintux 11y ago
  It's only your responsibility to later not gripe about the fact that showrooms no longer exist.
bonesinger 11y ago
I'm in no way obligated to buy something in the store, especially when they have obfuscated policies regarding pricing. How can you justify a higher price in store when you have a lower price online and your competitor has a lower price and same day delivery? I get 25% BN discount from my gf's teacher discount and stuff is still more expensive than their own online pricing. If I find a significant price difference, I'm going to buy it online. However, I will go out of my way to purchase at small business because there are benefits to that.
- saint_fiasco 11y ago
  >How can you justify a higher price in store when you have a lower price online and your competitor has a lower price and same day delivery? The fact that you bothered to go to the store when you could have just browsed their on-line catalog from your home is enough justification, IMO. A lower price online is justified because there is less overhead.
- kevin_thibedeau 11y ago
  The higher price is because they have to pay for employees to serve you, HVAC and lighting so you can be comfortable and see at night, the capital investment for everything needed to run the store, plus local taxes. All for the convenience of letting you see the product first hand. Taking advantage of all those things and then robbing them of a sale isn't fair to the business trying to stay afloat. Comparison shopping between proprietors on equal footing is fair. Not between brick-and-mortar and a warehouse operation with huge economies of scale.
dragonwriter 11y ago
> That sort of behavior is what is killing retail. If you're going to browse the showroom it is more than a little backhanded to then buy from an online competitor with less overhead. It makes perfect sense; there's definitely a tragedy of the commons involved, but its created by the store owner giving away their compelling differentiating offering rather than selling it. OTOH, its hard to see what the viable alternative is.
Kluny 11y ago
They could sell stuff online for just as cheap as Amazon. They could offer delivery to stores so you can pick it up there and save on shipping. They could do lots of things. We're not obligated to support their failing business plan. I always attempt to buy local first, and do if it's the better option. Not my fault if local stores make it difficult.

massysett 11y ago

Your behavior is not true to someone who loves Barnes and Noble. You are using them as Amazon's showroom. At best, your actions say that you enjoy the showroom BN provides but you are unwilling to pay for it. Great way to drive them out of business. Sounds like you love Amazon, not Barnes and Noble, and you're willing to help Amazon drive its competitor out of business--all while visiting the competitor and using his inventory. Delicious irony.

bonesinger 11y ago
Maybe you are right, but I do enjoy going to BN and I do buy stuff there from time to time. My gf is more willing to buy in store than I am, probably because of the nature of books she purchases (kids books for school) versus my books (Tech) which are significantly more expensive.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

bluedino 11y ago

It's not just Amazon - you can find the books at Barnes and Noble's website and order them way cheaper than the store!

alistairSH 11y ago

I've seen "malls" mentioned a few times in various comments. Can you elaborate on why you think B&N should be in malls, given the current poor state of malls in the US? Many are seeing financial troubles, or shutting down completely.

bonesinger 11y ago
It's anecdotal for me, but where I am in Illinois, there is a BN in Old Orchard Mall which is a Simon property and is a high end mall (Nordstrom, Bloomingdales etc...). It gets a ton of foot traffic and is packed on the weekends. There is another BN in Schaumburg, IL, an affluent suburb about 20-30 minutes away and it is not in a mall. I used to live there and go to that BN a lot, it was very quiet and empty unless they were running an event.