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How about: lower your prices. Seriously, have you been to a Barnes and Noble recently? If they have any hope of competing with Amazon, or even other local book

How about: lower your prices. Seriously, have you been to a Barnes and Noble recently? If they have any hope of competing with Amazon, or even other local book stores, then the prices have to go down. Attempting to sell books at MSRP is a death sentence.

UnoriginalGuy 13y ago
That's a nice idea, but in reality a B&H branch has more overhead than an online bookstore. Rent, electricity, local taxes, cleaning, and even transport costs (e.g. moving books in and out of stores). So while I'm sure B&H could 1:1 match Amazon in prices, with Amazon's economies of scale, and the tax loopholes online retailers get, I highly doubt a B&H store could do it and still be profitable. So, yes, lower prices. Just give the books away. It will get people through the doors, no doubt, but they'll still go bankrupt.
- nhangen 13y ago
  They'll need to do something. I typically go to B&N to beef up my Amazon wishlist. So they're paying all of that overhead to send customers to another marketplace.
- chimeracoder 13y ago
  FYI, B&N is a bookstore - B&H is an electronics store run by Hasidic Jews: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%26H_Photo_Video http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%26H_Photo_Video :)
- VLM 13y ago
  " more overhead than an online bookstore" So the TLDR is a B+M bookstore is fancier and more expensive than a typical amazon warehouse. I wonder if a "amazon warehouse"-like experience at a cheaper price would be workable for a bookseller. Probably still have some issues with lack of centralization. Oldest business trick in the book... instead of paying for labor, convince your customers its a privilege to donate their own labor... If you're telling yourself this sounds ridiculous, think about supermarkets and then consider Sams Club... Turns out lack of marble floor tiles is not much of an issue after all...
kbd 13y ago
Absolutely. Recently there was a book I wanted that a local Barnes & Noble actually had in stock. I was happy to go there to buy it, but not for a $15 premium verses Amazon (or bn.com!) That book was only $35 list price too. Being able to go and get something you want immediately – and happen to not want in eBook form – is worth some small premium, but not at nearly 100% markup vs your own online store.

UnoriginalGuy 13y ago

That's a nice idea, but in reality a B&H branch has more overhead than an online bookstore. Rent, electricity, local taxes, cleaning, and even transport costs (e.g. moving books in and out of stores). So while I'm sure B&H could 1:1 match Amazon in prices, with Amazon's economies of scale, and the tax loopholes online retailers get, I highly doubt a B&H store could do it and still be profitable. So, yes, lower prices. Just give the books away. It will get people through the doors, no doubt, but they'll still go bankrupt.

nhangen 13y ago
They'll need to do something. I typically go to B&N to beef up my Amazon wishlist. So they're paying all of that overhead to send customers to another marketplace.
chimeracoder 13y ago
FYI, B&N is a bookstore - B&H is an electronics store run by Hasidic Jews: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%26H_Photo_Video http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%26H_Photo_Video :)
VLM 13y ago
" more overhead than an online bookstore" So the TLDR is a B+M bookstore is fancier and more expensive than a typical amazon warehouse. I wonder if a "amazon warehouse"-like experience at a cheaper price would be workable for a bookseller. Probably still have some issues with lack of centralization. Oldest business trick in the book... instead of paying for labor, convince your customers its a privilege to donate their own labor... If you're telling yourself this sounds ridiculous, think about supermarkets and then consider Sams Club... Turns out lack of marble floor tiles is not much of an issue after all...

kbd 13y ago

Absolutely. Recently there was a book I wanted that a local Barnes & Noble actually had in stock. I was happy to go there to buy it, but not for a $15 premium verses Amazon (or bn.com!) That book was only $35 list price too. Being able to go and get something you want immediately – and happen to not want in eBook form – is worth some small premium, but not at nearly 100% markup vs your own online store.