Barnes and Noble or Borders?

[Itchinjim]

Every year for Xmas I get my nieces and nephews gift certificates from Barnes and Noble. There is also a Borders in town, but for the mere fact that B and N is closer to my house, I buy there. My question is this, is one better than the other? Is one a Wal-Mart and the other Costco?
Oh and by the way, there are no indie book stores left in town so it's B and N, Borders, or the library.

[Florida_Geek]

It is a local Thing

My local B&N is Freeper heaven and to get a non Freeper book you have to go to Borders 1/2 mile away :)

But I have heard good things about other B&N... It is up to the manager.

[MemphisTiger]

22. Can freepers read? I thought rush and hannity just sold

books on tape for all their dittoheads. Seriously, the Barnes & Noble in my area is almost all democrat. It just depends which part of town you're in around here. The burbs are repub and in the city is democrat

[Richardo]

26. B&N is painfully non-partisan...believe me.

As a corporation, at least.

Our store was considered 'way-liberal-Bush-bashers' because of all the anti-Bush books that came out this year, plus we're in Houston so any nay-saying is of course treasonous. :eyes: Boycotts were threatened, etc.

There is some small latitude for display, but very little. The publishers of new releases pay for display, and B&N stores must comply.

That being said, in the section (the general shelves) the decision to "face out" a book is the shelver/book seller's so that often will reflect a certain *ahem* agenda. (Somehow there are a lot of Franken/Moore/Krugman/Susskind face-outs when I get off-shift ;-)

[skypilot]

1. They are both the same.

Borders has managed to maintain its laid back "kumbaya" image but it really is just another McBook store that pays HORRIBLY. The only difference between Borders and B & N is that you don't have to wear a tie at Borders. I'm not bitter.

[Richardo]

5. We don't wear ties at BN.

Plus they offer health care benefits to part-timers if you need it, and domestic partner benefits also.

Pretty progressive company really.

[skypilot]

12. Ties.

Must be a store by store thing. The one here in Philly makes the male employees wear ties. As far as health care for part-timers, that's definitely a plus for B&N. Borders was offering part-timers almost nothing and making it so that LOTS if its employees were part time. I bailed from that place when they cut our pay.

[yellowdogintexas]

38. according to an employee at our local Borders, you get

benefits @ 30 hours with Borders.
They don't wear ties at our store either.

But the wage is not great. since I am unemployed I even considered going there to just pick up some holiday money...which would do me no good because I would spend it all on books...LOL

[Richardo]

39. Which brings up the employee discount...

:D:thumbsup:

We literally do have P/Ters that spend their entire checks on books.

[mac56]

40. My wife said the same thing about working at B&N!

Clever woman that she is, though, she took note of the books she wanted to read and ordered them through the library.

[Richardo]

41. OR - with new hardcovers, we can just borrow them from the store...

... for two weeks or so.

That's how I read my liberal political books this year... :D

[mac56]

42. Wow! That's a new wrinkle.

The downtown Mpls store didn't have that policy.

[mac56]

2. Same situation.

Gift cards for the nieces and nephews.

We usually opt for B&N because there aren't any Borders near many of them.

B&N, if I recall, is owned by Doubleday. Borders was owned by K-Mart at one time, believe it or not, but is now independent.

[Richardo]

11. B&N is its own company.

Traded under 'BKS' on the NYSE.

Doubleday belongs to Random House.

[mac56]

15. Was it ever owned by Doubleday?

My wife worked at the downtown Mpls location for several years. Somehow that factoid stuck in my mind. I could be wrong....!

[Richardo]

17. That I don't know...

I'll check.

[mac56]

20. And Random House is owned by Bertelsman.

German media giant.

[Richardo]

3. I like B&N - but then I work for them.

In general, I think you'll find the booksellers more knowledgeable and helpful, more available titles either in-store or availble to order, extensive CD/DVD departments, large kids sections, and the steep best-seller discount (30%) and the selection of 'bargain' books will let the gift cards go further.

But that's me. ;-)

[Aiptasia]

4. both are inherantly evil

I'm a former B&N employee. Both chain stores are the work of satan. I'd suggest library cards and spend the money on something else.

[K to the YLE]

28. My 2 cents...

I have recently discovered the magic of the library and I would suggest using it more if the only options in your town are major chains. However, giving a library card as a Christmas present may not get you the best reaction. So my vote goes to borders for 2 reasons...A) I used to shop at Borders very often and they always had what I was looking for at relatively good prices (except for their CDs, pricey!), 2) Borders is rated a little bit better than B&N on http://www.responsibleshopper.org a great website by Co-Op America that I use often to make decisions on companies I want to support and avoid. Everyone should check it out at some point.

[mac56]

29. thanks for the link

welcome to DU

:thumbsup:

[mondo joe]

6. If the politics are the same, Borders has a better music/dvd section

At least in my area.

[redqueen]

7. Half Price Books for me

If not them, then I guess Borders.

Maybe you could open a Half Price Books there?! :D

[mac56]

8. I frequented Half Price Books when I lived in Mpls.

But Mpls/St. Paul is a haven for bookstores big and small.

[justinsb]

9. You could always...

order online from independent book stores =)

[Beware the Beast Man]

31. Half-Price Crooks is more like it.

Have you ever tried to sell anything there?

[mac56]

33. I always had pretty good luck.

Got back more than I expected to.

[yellowdogintexas]

37. I never sell anything there, it just isn't worth it.

I take my unwanted books to The Book Shoppe here in Fort Worth. They give you trade credit for what you bring, then if you buy something, they take 50% of the book's price off your trade credits and you pay the other 50%.

Example: book is $5.00..you pay $2.50 and the store minuses your trade credit account $2.50. They will take their own books back on trade too.
anything they won't take, I truck up the street to the charity shop for the Women's Shelter of Tarrant County.

Plus, Book Shoppe is managed by Simon and Shuster the alley cats.
They were adopted as babies by the store staff when the building was being remodeled. Fat, lazy, friendly and right at home in the store, you can go in and get a kitty fix any old time. Nice kids area with pillows and cushions, and tons of books.

But I do buy books at Half Price from time to time.

[cmf]

10. I'm a library person myself

But if I give gift cards, it's usually to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. I do recall seeing in the election aftermath that B&N gave 98% to Dems, so politically they are good. I don't know anything about the way they treat their employees, though. I know nothing about Borders.

[Dr.Phool]

13. I got this shopping guide in my e-mail this morning

Activists' Christmas Shopping List

Activism/Chapters Miscellaneous Keywords: CORPORATE POLITICAL DONATIONS
Source: Center for Responsive Politics
Published: December 16, 2000 Author: self
Posted on 12/16/2000 10:37:09 PST by calypgin
With Christmas upon us, some of us might wish to be mindful of who we patronize relative to their 2000 Election Cycle political donations, as reported by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Shopping?

Price Club/Costco donated $225K, of which 99% went to democrats;
WalMart, $467K, 97% to republicans;
K-Mart, $524K, 86% to republicans;
Home Depot, $298K, 89% to republicans;
Target, $226K, 70% to republicans;
Circuit City Stores, $261K, 95% to republicans;
Rite Aid, $517K, 60% to democrats;
Magla Products (Stanley tools, Mr. Clean), $22K, 100% to democrats;
3M Co., $281K, 87% to republicans;
Hallmark Cards, $319K, 92% to republicans;
Amway, $391K, 100% republican;
Kohler Co. (plumbing fixtures), $283K, 100% republicans;
Warnaco (undergarmets), $55K, 73% to democrats;
B.F. Goodrich (tires), $215K, 97% to republicans;
Proctor & Gamble, $243K, 79% to republicans;
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, $153K, 99% to democrats;
Estee Lauder, $448K, 95% to democrats;
Guess ? Inc, $145K, 98% to democrats;
Calvin Klein, $78K, 100% to democrats;
Liz Claiborne, Inc., $34K, 97% to democrats;
Levi Straus, $26K, 97% to democrats;
Olan Mills, $175K, 99% to democrats.
Spirits?
Coors, $174K, 92% to republicans;
Gallo Winery, $337K, 95% to democrats;
Brown-Forman Corp. (Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels, Bushmills, Korbel wines - as well as Lennox China, Dansk, Gorham Silver), $644, 80% to republicans;
Southern Wine & Spirits, $213K, 73% to democrats;
Joseph E. Seagrams & Sons (includes beverage business, plus considerable media interests), $2M+, 67% democrats.
Hungry?
Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (chicken), $366K, 100% republican;
Outback Steakhouse, $641K, 95% republican;
Sonic Corporation, $83K, 98% democrat;
Tricon Global Restaurants (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell), $133K, 87% republican;
Brinker International (Maggiano's, Brinker Cafe, Chili's, On the Border, Macaroni Grill, Crazymel's, Corner Baker, EatZis), $242K, 83% republican;
Triarc Companies (Arby's, T.J. Cinnamon's, Pasta Connections), $112K, 96% democrats;
Waffle House, $279K, 100% republican;
McDonald's Corp., $197K, 86% republican;
Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Smokey Bones, Bahama Breeze), $121K, 89% republican;
Hyatt Corporation, $187K, 80% to democrats;
Mariott International, $323K, 81% to republicans;
Holiday Inns, $38K, 71% to republicans.

[goddess40]

14. Amazon.com?

Does anyone know where they are politically?

[hadrons]

18. Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bozo is a Repuke

[goddess40]

23. Darn - what about Waldenbooks?

Where am I going to shop for Christmas? - I'm just buying for the kids this year, just because the country sucks right now and I'm upset doesn't mean I'm going to ruin their Christmas.

[mac56]

24. Waldenbooks is part of Borders.

nm

[pamela]

16. Barnes and Noble gave 98%...

of their campaign contributions to Democrats and 2% to pukes. I don't know about Borders.

http://www.choosetheblue.com/main.php?backlevel=002..001Choose%20The%20Blue.002Retail%20Shopping%20and%20Fashion&prodcat=Retail+Stores

[Dr.Phool]

19. Barnes and Noble Donates DEM

In another list I got this morning, B&N was listed as a Democratic Donor.

[Crankie Avalon]

21. Never worked for either, but as a customer...

...I guess they are both the same.

Here in New York, the only Borders I really was a regular customer of was the one located on the first and second floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center (NE corner of the building). It was right by my office.

The stores near my home are all Barnes and Nobles. The ones on the Upper West Side and Astor Place and some others routinely have famous authors reading from their books, something I'm not sure the Borders's here do so much of.

[Sabriel]

25. I'd say B&N. Look at the founder's donation record. Wow!

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?city=NEW+YORK&st=NY&last=riggio&first=leonard

[noonwitch]

27. Borders is my local bookstore

They started in Ann Arbor and then expanded to the Detroit area. Then, suddenly, they were everywhere.

I prefer Borders to Barnes and Noble. They generally have more of every item and have what I am looking for. I also like Schuler books in West Michigan-they have a store in Grand Rapids and one in Okemos.

[jobycom]

30. Probably depends on location. The Borders here has nothing

I live in Austin. There's a B&N and Borders nearly across the street from each other, both are close enough to my house to be on my jogging route. The Borders here is decent, but they don't have as good a selection as B&N. Borders also seems to have more Republican propoganda books on face-out display. I often get so mad at Borders I face in the face outs. I notice they are corrected quickly. Probably an employee thing.

So it probably varies. The Borders here does live music from time to time, and for some reason seems to attract the less corporate crowd, but I think that's just the usual liberal distaste for bigger corporations.

We also have a great independent chain in Austin-- Book People-- and a lot of specialty bookstores-- though fewer than in years past. It's across town for me, so I don't shop there as often.

[China_cat]

32. What about Powell's?

Online. http://www.powells.com/

I don't know about their politics but they sure are great to buy from.

[CBHagman]

34. I'm an independent bookstore employee, but...

...I seem to recall that Borders does offer domestic partner benefits. I'm pretty sure a former co-worker of mine went to work for them at least partly for that reason.

By the way, for those of you who are searching for independent bookstores, do check out this website.

http://www.booksense.com

I'm generally in favor of boycotts, but you have to draw the line somewhere. After all, we can't all rip out the Kohler fixtures in our apartments or homes just because the company has donated primarily to Republicans. Also, at least one of the pro-Democratic Party donors above, Liz Claiborne, has other problems and is not a company I choose to support.

[progmom]

35. Just in terms of selection...

...I would say Borders. B&N does a better job, in many cases, with their merchandising, but Borders stores usuallly have a deeper selection (especially when it comes to music and dvd). I think they're pretty much the same when it comes to prices and store service.

[yellowdogintexas]

36. Borders for me, due to convenience

The B&N stores in FW are out of my normal beaten path, and the Borders is just up the street so to speak.

Now the OTHER Borders I don't like at all. It has a cold ambience, as do the B&N stores.

The Borders near my house has big comfy couches, and easy chairs, and is very laid back. More than once my daughter and I would go in and pull out a stack of books for some research thing or another, go through them, select the ones she needed, and curl up on the sofa with them..then when the writing started we would move to the big table in the coffee shop and spread 'em out all over the table do the work, buy a couple of cups of whatever and some pie. Those were some of the best times she ever had in school,doing history and geography projects at Borders. They didn't care at all.

Of course I returned the favor by buying lots of books from them.

This Borders was converted from an old supermarket, and the deli counter of the super is where the coffeeshop was built. So it is an integral part of the store and not a "Pod" that sticks off the side of the store. I think that is part of the ambience of this particular store. Old formica tables from the '50's, etc. People sit in there and play chess...

I do order from Amazon, no sales tax and free shipping if over $25.