3 ms·

In the last year or two I've decided B&N is done (caveat, sample size of one). Watching it through the years it has been clear that it was on a downward descen

by LanceH 7y ago

In the last year or two I've decided B&N is done (caveat, sample size of one). Watching it through the years it has been clear that it was on a downward descent, but lately it looks like they've given up, again maybe only my location. 20-25 years ago, B&N was packed end to end with books. Books were spine out unless they were popular and trying to draw someone in. Coffee table books were limited to a rack or two of shelves near the front for impulse buys. Games likewise had a small section. Along came the nook. It ate up a large section of the "fiction & literature" area. Obvious classics were still there, but deep cuts were few and far between. About this same time they moved to largely selling trade paperbacks in lieu of mass market paperbacks. So my option to buy a book that was in public domain started at $17.95. My experience at this point was that I would come in and look for something and it usually wouldn't be there. They would helpfully tell me that they could order it for me. The books they did have were the obvious popular ones -- exactly the ones that I knew about and could order from home. There was virtually no discovery. But maybe that worked. Maybe not everyone is like me. At least they were trying. Today it looks like they've given up. The ex-nook-section has tables with some books laying out. Most sections have trade paperbacks set up cover out (meaning fewer different books, on more prominent display), and the bottom shelf is empty is large parts of the store. Basically they just aren't restocking anything but the most liquid of books. I still go every now and then because I have kids, but Half Price Books is far more enjoyable for the possibility of finding something that I'm not particularly looking for.

JoeAltmaier 7y ago
Once they fired most of their experienced help, the experience went downhill. Including bad placement of books, empty shelves, squandered opportunities to turn the ex-nook section into a showcase etc. When you get rid of your enthusiastic, experienced employees and go to minimum-wage 'whatever' employees, that happens.
- LanceH 7y ago
  That definitely smells of desperation, but again, at least they were trying something. Now though, they have fewer books on fewer shelves. Maybe they're trying something, but it's not about being a book store. I know carrying inventory is expensive. But old inventory in a bookstore should almost be considered a marketing/advertising cost. There will be a reason to browse and stay. The store will smell like a bookstore. The discovery process at B&N is minimal and sometimes worse than Amazon. At least with Amazon, I get the "people who bought this also bought this". Especially when dealing with a series, it makes a lot of sense. The "people who looked at this also looked at that" suggestions are great when comparing which book of non-fiction to get. Going to B&N and trying to buy a specific book in a series is pure frustration. More people read the first book, so it's commonly not in stock. Or the series isn't popular enough and the subsequent volumes aren't available. Really, I want them to do well. I tell my kids about the golden age of big bookstores where there were books and books and books. I try to buy things where I discover them, even if that makes them more expensive because I want the ability to discover things to stick around.

by LanceH 7y ago

JoeAltmaier 7y ago

Once they fired most of their experienced help, the experience went downhill. Including bad placement of books, empty shelves, squandered opportunities to turn the ex-nook section into a showcase etc. When you get rid of your enthusiastic, experienced employees and go to minimum-wage 'whatever' employees, that happens.

LanceH 7y ago
That definitely smells of desperation, but again, at least they were trying something. Now though, they have fewer books on fewer shelves. Maybe they're trying something, but it's not about being a book store. I know carrying inventory is expensive. But old inventory in a bookstore should almost be considered a marketing/advertising cost. There will be a reason to browse and stay. The store will smell like a bookstore. The discovery process at B&N is minimal and sometimes worse than Amazon. At least with Amazon, I get the "people who bought this also bought this". Especially when dealing with a series, it makes a lot of sense. The "people who looked at this also looked at that" suggestions are great when comparing which book of non-fiction to get. Going to B&N and trying to buy a specific book in a series is pure frustration. More people read the first book, so it's commonly not in stock. Or the series isn't popular enough and the subsequent volumes aren't available. Really, I want them to do well. I tell my kids about the golden age of big bookstores where there were books and books and books. I try to buy things where I discover them, even if that makes them more expensive because I want the ability to discover things to stick around.