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[Cat-Scratch]

http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/goodby ... trade.html

Goodbye letter from Borders employee(s) (?) spills secrets of bookselling trade



A large handwritten poster (purportedly) from a laid-off employee of the defunct bookselling chain Borders entitled "Things we never told you: Ode to a bookstore death," reveals several key truths of bookselling (and some cranky griping):

Things we never told you: Ode to a bookstore death

• We hate when a book becomes popular simply because it was turned into a movie.

• We greatly dislike the phrase "Quick Question." It's never true. And everyone seems to have one.

• We always knew when you were intently reading Better Homes and Gardens, it was really a hidden Playboy.

• It NEVER bothered us when you threatened to shop at Barnes & Noble. We'd rather you do if you're putting up a stink.

• "I was just here last week and saw this book there" meant nothing to us. The store changed once a week.

• Oprah was not the "final say" on what is awesome. We really didn't care what was on her show or what her latest book club book was. Really.

[Zechs]

[Spidey-Man]

http://boingboing.net/2011/09/29/goodbye-letter-from-borders-employees-spills-secrets-of-bookselling-trade.html

He sure got the last laugh. It's not like the company went under, and he's unemployed in the worst economic crisis since the great depression.

Maybe if they cared a little more if customers went to b&N, well, they'd still be here.

[BlueStreak]

He sure got the last laugh. It's not like the company went under, and he's unemployed in the worst economic crisis since the great depression.

Maybe if they cared a little more if customers went to b&N, well, they'd still be here.

B&N isn't doing too hot either.

[GOSD]

The customers get the last laugh.

You lost your job.

[doombug]

it's like reading the complaints of someone who never worked hard a day in there life.

[Cat-Scratch]

What got me, it also sounded a bit like some LCS folks I've heard from over the years.

Yeah, be aloof and bitchy, it'll do you great in the UEI line.

[xaraan]

I can see why they are out of business.

[US Agent]

[CountD]

B&N isn't doing too hot either.

I hate to argue you, cuz you are almost always right, but I SWEAR i saw a news piece on tv about how B&N is doing ok financially.

Then, i found this from LISnews (http://lisnews.org/why_barnes_amp_noble ... s_bankrupt)

Why is Barnes & Noble performing well while Borders is bankrupt?
February 23, 2011 - 8:22am — Blake

Why is Barnes & Noble performing well as a business while Borders is near (or has even reached) bankruptcy?
What is so different about how they are run?
1.Failure to adequately address the internet sales channel and the subsequent ebook market.
2.Poor real estate strategy - Borders leased space that was too large, the storefronts did not compare well to B&N, and they were complacent in picking and relocating existing stores to the best locations.
3.Over-investment in music - while this was a big plus for this in the early to mid 90's, this was a disaster in the long run.
4.Over-reliance on assortment size to compete as opposed to efficient operations - Borders was renowned for its wide and quality assortment of titles.
5.Failure to build efficient systems and processes

[Kolimar]

[CountD]

"Quality in a product or service is not what the supplier puts in. It is what the customer gets out and is willing to pay for." Peter F. Drucker

[BlueStreak]

I hate to argue you, cuz you are almost always right, but I SWEAR i saw a news piece on tv about how B&N is doing ok financially.

Then, i found this from LISnews (http://lisnews.org/why_barnes_amp_noble ... s_bankrupt)

Why is Barnes & Noble performing well while Borders is bankrupt?
February 23, 2011 - 8:22am — Blake

Why is Barnes & Noble performing well as a business while Borders is near (or has even reached) bankruptcy?
What is so different about how they are run?
1.Failure to adequately address the internet sales channel and the subsequent ebook market.
2.Poor real estate strategy - Borders leased space that was too large, the storefronts did not compare well to B&N, and they were complacent in picking and relocating existing stores to the best locations.
3.Over-investment in music - while this was a big plus for this in the early to mid 90's, this was a disaster in the long run.
4.Over-reliance on assortment size to compete as opposed to efficient operations - Borders was renowned for its wide and quality assortment of titles.
5.Failure to build efficient systems and processes

Barnes and Noble is getting its ass kicked by Amazon online and in ebooks. The nook offered some relief to the company, but they suspended dividends back in February and are projected to take a loss this year.

They suffer from many of the same problems Borders did. They got caught with their pants down on the ebook and most of their stores' sales are stagnating and taking losses from the stupid, overpriced leases they signed.

[CountD]

see. I've been humbled.

*lumbers off*

[LobsterJ]

so you guys never worked anywhere where the clients made you grouse?