How are B&M bookstores still alive when online is 30% off?

[JEDI]

heck, barnes and noble online is 30% cheaper (in general) than their B&M counterpart.

B&M stores usually sell the books at full suggested price.

How is B&N, borders, and books-a-million B&M stores still around when the online bookstores are undercutting them by a huge margin? (and $25 free shipping)

 

[KayKay]

returning things in person is easier? people like to skim books at the bookstore?

 

[theGlove]

well some people like to handle things before actually buying it
others just like to go and read books there for free but end up buying it anyways

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: JEDI
heck, barnes and noble online is 30% cheaper (in general) than their B&M counterpart.

B&M stores usually sell the books at full suggested price.

How is B&N, borders, and books-a-million B&M stores still around when the online bookstores are undercutting them by a huge margin? (and $25 free shipping)

Can your grandparents use computers?

 

[Kadarin]

Because cost isn't always everything. For example, I like to browse the book selection in an actual store, and if I see a book I like, then I take the book home with me to read right away.

 

[FoBoT]

the last book i bought at B&M bookstore was 30% off

 

[Parasitic]

If the price differential isn't big it's quicker to just get it at stores.
What if you want a magazine to read while you're waiting for the bus/shuttle?

I like BN because I get 15% off all their purchases at minimum (credit card perk), so that brings the cost pretty close to Amazon.
Although BN does lack the highly technical stuff Amazon has.

 

[MBony]

Shipping and handling and the need for a book today, not 5 to 9 business days. Think about schools who have lists of books to read.

 

[LS20]

how is that unlike anything other product?

 

[OutHouse]

the barns and noble i go to is always packed.

 

[iroast]

Convenience.

 

[ElFenix]

convenience, browsing the stacks, etc.

 

[yowolabi]

If I have a book I really want to read, i'm walking down a few blocks and buying it. I'm not going online and waiting a week to receive it in the mail. Paying for rush delivery would pretty much eliminate the cost savings.

 

[xospec1alk]

instant gratification

 

[0roo0roo]

browsing books online sucks, unless you know exactly what you want you can't really shop.

 

[radioouman]

Convenience, browsing the book, and don't forget about the environment. Many B&N stores are really nice.

Besides, you can sign up for their member's discount, or you can just wait until you get a coupon through email and then the price is very similiar if not cheaper.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

I used to swear I would never buy books from a brick and mortar store again when Amazon.Com came along. Then they started selling everything under the sun and their overall service took a nosedive. They also quit offering discounts on a lot of books.

Plus, their price fluctuations get out of hand. I can understand if a book price changes as weeks go buy, but to put an item in my shopping cart, click "Proceed to Checkout" and receive a notice telling me the price has gone up by ten dollars in the thirty seconds since I placed it in my shopping cart is just ridiculous.

 

[herbiehancock]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
I used to swear I would never buy books from a brick and mortar store again when Amazon.Com came along. Then they started selling everything under the sun and their overall service took a nosedive. They also quit offering discounts on a lot of books.

Plus, their price fluctuations get out of hand. I can understand if a book price changes as weeks go buy, but to put an item in my shopping cart, click "Proceed to Checkout" and receive a notice telling me the price has gone up by ten dollars in the thirty seconds since I placed it in my shopping cart is just ridiculous.

A-freakin'-men to that! I hate the price went up after you put it in your cart scenario, or the worse one....the you weren't quick enough pressing the checkout button and someone else got what was in your cart and now it's sold out crap.

Never seen that happen in a B&M store....once I have the item in my hands or cart, it's there until I either decide to buy it or put it back.

Otherwise, I like browsing the aisles, random reading a few pages in a book here and there that looks good, having it in my hand when I leave the store, being able to take it back if the item is defective and not waiting 2 weeks for getting an RMA number...shipping it back....inspecting it there....shipping a new one back to me.

I sometimes wonder why so many people insist on trying to buy everything online....it's not always cheaper and it's certainly not more convenient in the end, esp. if you have a problem.

 

[foghorn67]

You can't judge a book by it's cover. Or by stupid reader reviews.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

because an online bookstore you can't buy a cup of coffee and make small talk with the hottie in the fiction aisle.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Just looked up the next few paperbacks I intend to purchase. Amazon only has them for MSRP.

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion
because an online bookstore you can't buy a cup of coffee and make small talk with the hottie in the fiction aisle.

Very true.

This is why all my books from Amazon are either technical stuff (where I know I need it and have little need to preview) or books that I read bits of at the local store and didn't pick up right away.

 

[KaChow]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion
because an online bookstore you can't buy a cup of coffee and make small talk with the hottie in the self-help aisle.

fixed.

 

[CellarDoor]

Most of the time if I have to buy a book it's for class, it's the last minute, and I don't have time to have it shipped.