Just got off the phone with Borders Corporate .... Call them!

[Room101]

I told here that I'm a serial book reader who swallows a book a week, and that I have a family member who is librarian. And that I will no longer purchase books from Borders or Walden books, because of the incident regarding a singer getting banned from the FREDERICKSBURG, Va store for making a joke about Bushes chicken legs.

She said she had no idea how the story got out. Danced around the actual reason of why the singer was banned. So I asked her the official reason from borders. She replied that there were several complaints and people walking out for both the style and the Bush joke.
I asked if they have the number of people in attendance as opposed to the number of complaints. What a shock they do not.

She went on to say they have people from all political backgrounds at borders, and that the singer is still scheduled to perform in and around FREDERICKSBURG, Va. I directed her to the following poll that 65% people believe it is a violation of free speech. http://www.local6.com/news/2357475/detail.html
All in all she was a very nice woman who said we here found the chicken legs comment funny. 1 800 644-7733 if you wish to call.

[linazelle]

1. The response I got from Borders: Should I go back or not?

From: Borders Customer Care <[e-mail]> Add to Address Book
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2003 12:13:00 -0400
Subject: Borders (CC0000000465778)
Attachment: winmail.dat


7/26/2003


Dear xxxxxxxxx:

Thank you for contacting Borders Customer Care. Please accept our
apologies regarding any misunderstanding about the decision not to invite JuliaRose for future performances in our Fredericksburg, Virginia store. We appreciate the opportunity to clear up this matter.

Borders Books and Music stores around the world represent an environmentwhere ideas across a wide spectrum of political, social and academic viewpoints are expressed. Our stores have hosted everyone from Hilary Rodham Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Al Franken, and Michael Moore to Ted Nugent, Newt Gingrich, Dr. Laura and Bob Dole. All have been given the opportunity to talk openly about their books and their viewpoints. As a retailer, we simply make a wide variety of materials and ideas available. We do not seek to take any political, social or academic stance and certainly do not presume to
take a stance on the issue of the President's legs. We let our customers choose what to read, watch, listen to and buy.

We host live music events in our stores to provide entertainment and to make the shopping experience enjoyable for our customers. Again, if political and/or social commentary is mixed in with the entertainment, we do not judge the viewpoints expressed. The bottom line is we seek enjoyable entertainment for all of our customers.

Julia Rose was not "banned" from the Fredericksburg store or from any of our 400 plus stores in the United States. She is more than welcome to shop at our stores. However, the quality of entertainment she provided that night was not what most Fredericksburg customers thought to be enjoyable.

First of all, the store's staff noticed customers were vacating the cafT area where Ms. Rose was performing. Second, several customers complained, mostly about her particular style, which that evening included much more stream of consciousness banter with the audience about a variety of topics rather than actual singing. Although a few customers did complain about her comments regarding the President, it was not paramount in the decision to not ask her back. The decision was strictly based on the Fredericksburg customers' negative reaction to the overall quality of her performance. It caused the staff to ask that she not be invited back to the Fredericksburg store.

Ms. Rose was scheduled to perform at the Manassas store on the 25th and has future events scheduled in our Woodbridge and Fairfax stores. With this in mind, we hope you understand our objective to create an enjoyable shopping experience for all of our customers and perhaps now you have a greater understanding of how this decision was made. Your comments have been noted and logged in our records for corporate executive review. We appreciate the loyalty of all of our customers and everyone's comments are taken very seriously. We hope that you will keep in an open mind about our viewpoint as well.

Sincerely,

Dan
Borders Customer Care
100 Phoenix Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
[e-mail]
www.BordersStores.com

[Alexander]

2. That is an automated message. Don't go back.

The only reason I might go back is just to sit on a chair and read books - I will not spend a dime in those stores until there is some form of apology.

Not that it's difficult to do so, I've got plenty to read here, and their chai sucks ass.

[Skidmore]

3. This part...

"The decision was strictly based on the Fredericksburg customers' negative reaction to the overall quality of her performance."

...sounds like that garbage presented by that idiot from the company that decided to ban the Dixie Chicks to the Senate committee hearing on the FCC regulation changes .

[Room101]

4. Same message I got freakin AUTO reply

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