B&N Complaint

[GinnyEmma]

DH always purchases vinyl. And I love my ipod. I will always own books. I do like my kindle, too, though. Like much in life it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

 

[cm8]

Here is the address of their Corporate Headquartes from the SEC filings:

122 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011

And here is a link to information about their management team. If you write to one of them by name you will probably get a Special Assistant with lots of authority.

I have found that if "Customer Service" does not give a satisfactory response, writing poliltely to someone at the top usually gets the problem taken care of.

Does the same apply to Disney, I need to get someone with lots of authority because the general address did not provided any assistance at all

 

[cats mom]

Borders will be the first to go under -- and unfortunately, it won't be long from now. Recently their stock dropped below $1 per share. This month they could not pay all of their vendors.

B&N will survive longer, but eventually the B&M bookstore as we know it will no longer be. Books will be read via ebooks or ordered online. B&N will continue with online sales like Amazon if/when their stores have to close because they have the Nook -- an andriod machine that they are selling way under cost and taking a huge loss on so that they can continue to stay in business with their ebooks sales -- something Borders does not have.

Oh, and about online prices vs B&M prices -- We got a new xbox 360 for Christmas and needed an mdi cable. I went to Walmart where the cheapest 6 ft cable was $28.00! Called DH and he checked walmart online and found basically the same cable for $3.98 with site-to-store delivery. That was a HUGE difference for the same product.

You're probably right, and that makes me REALLY sad.
I like my local Borders much more than my local Barnes & Noble.

 

[KellyNY]

I think the bottom line is that books are just one of the forms of delivery of whatever info is inside. For a long time books were only form and if you wanted to hear a story you had to pay a lot. Today you can pay much less with online books and it is a good thing even so it will couse some stores to close. I love to read from paper instead of computer but I hate paying $15 instead of few $$ to hear a story. If there is a book I fall in love, I will invest in hard copy, but otherwise, read and forget. And yes, I believe at some point books will not exist at all. Probably there will be service when if you want hard copy, you will be able to print it(not very hard to do). Is it sad, to some degree yes, but it is also sad not to see horses on streets but you cannot hide from pregress.

 

[McIntoshTx]

But generally, bn.com IS competitive with Amazon; Barnes & Noble bricks & mortar (which, with rent, taxes, utilities, salaries, maintenance, etc., IS more expensive to operate) is competitive with stores like Borders.

I agree, online retail is online retail and in store is in store. Might not be fair but it is currently how most retailers run, it will be interesting to see how continued online sales growth effects this in the future.

 

[dbrn]

I had this same experience with B&N before Christmas. A book I wished to purchase was on sale online for half of the cost in the local store. Books on sale online are not necessarily on sale in the local store. I wanted to purchase locally to be certain I had the book before Christmas. Amazon had the book even cheaper and with free shipping, so I purchased through them - and the book arrived 2 days earlier than I expected.

I prefer to purchase locally, but when there's that big a price difference, it just makes more sense to purchase online.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Probably there will be service when if you want hard copy, you will be able to print it(not very hard to do).

You mean, like, buying it for the Kindle (or nook) application on your computer and, print it?

 

[KellyNY]

You mean, like, buying it for the Kindle (or nook) application on your computer and, print it?

I'm not familiar with this apps, I was talking actually about option to buy print instead of ebook, when book is printed to order. Sure it will not be fancy cover and probably only limited size but it is possible. I'm talking about future as I see it for books.

 

[Planogirl]

Our B&N has converted a large area of the store to displays about the Nook and another area to toys and games. Luckily, Starbucks is still in there so I can sip and browse and way too often buy something.

I wonder if the prices of online products might just go up if there is someday no more actual stores? Why wouldn't they raise the prices since they will have in effect a captive audience?

Also, if everyone is ordering online now why is our mall so darn crowded all the time?!

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I spend way too much on books, mostly at B&N. I want to point out that the difference in price is not unique to B&N. Borders has it also, and so does nearly every store that has an online store to go with it. The online versions are totally different companies and they don't have to offer the same deals. That's how you get online only deals and vice versa. In regards to the books I've noticed the price difference mostly with new releases in hard back. Online is a HUGE savings.

But in regards to that in my area at least they are using a new company to deliver. No longer UPS. It's now Argix. My books now take much longer and never arrive by the release date. Keep that in mind

 

[kaytieeldr]

I spend way too much on books, mostly at B&N. I want to point out that the difference in price is not unique to B&N. Borders has it also, and so does nearly every store that has an online store to go with it. The online versions are totally different companies and they don't have to offer the same deals.

Even Walmart - not so much the online version being a different company, but I bought a book recently (Cook This, Not That) there. Publisher's price $19.99, walmart.com price $9.99, I wanted it while I was in the store so I paid - hold on - $16.97.

 

[KellyNY]

Even Walmart - not so much the online version being a different company, but I bought a book recently (Cook This, Not That) there. Publisher's price $19.99, walmart.com price $9.99, I wanted it while I was in the store so I paid - hold on - $16.97.

I know what you mean. When I want something, I want it now.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

Even Walmart - not so much the online version being a different company, but I bought a book recently (Cook This, Not That) there. Publisher's price $19.99, walmart.com price $9.99, I wanted it while I was in the store so I paid - hold on - $16.97.

What drives me nuts about Walmart is there is a price difference on-line vs store- but you can have it shipped to the store for free with 'site to store'- now they are sending it to a b&m, associates has to handle it, wait on you, etc... Kind of goes against the argument of why they can charge less online vs a b&m store. Also, if the item is eligible for free site to store why won't they just price match to keep a customer happy? Walmart had a Razor scooter online for $29, so did Amazon- but I wanted it now so went to the store. It was $35 and since they don't price match their own website they lost the sale. Ordered it from Amazon so it would get shipped to my door (vs Walmart 'site') and tax free.

 

[chisnpeke]

Borders will be the first to go under -- and unfortunately, it won't be long from now. Recently their stock dropped below $1 per share. This month they could not pay all of their vendors.

B&N will survive longer, but eventually the B&M bookstore as we know it will no longer be. Books will be read via ebooks or ordered online. B&N will continue with online sales like Amazon if/when their stores have to close because they have the Nook -- an andriod machine that they are selling way under cost and taking a huge loss on so that they can continue to stay in business with their ebooks sales -- something Borders does not have.

Oh, and about online prices vs B&M prices -- We got a new xbox 360 for Christmas and needed an mdi cable. I went to Walmart where the cheapest 6 ft cable was $28.00! Called DH and he checked walmart online and found basically the same cable for $3.98 with site-to-store delivery. That was a HUGE difference for the same product.

This breaks my heart. One of my favorite things is going to the bookstore. Both Borders and Barnes and Noble. I LOVE the smell of the bookstores, the relaxed atmosphere. And I admit that I buy online but I also buy in store. It just depends on which is more convenient for me. I can't always run out and browse the bookstore...I could go in and find what I need but I ALWAYS get distracted at the bookstore

 

[KittyHellstrom]

I have currently been working for BN for 11 years, I find this thread to be entertaining

-Hellstrom

 

[jme829]

I have currently been working for BN for 11 years, I find this thread to be entertaining

-Hellstrom

Maybe YOU can help me out ! I have a different issue with BN Nook right now and it's not leaving me very happy.

I "bought" several FREE books at the beginning of the month. None of them will download saying there maybe a problem with my payment. They are FREE, there shouldn't be a payment. (the fact that my credit card is fine, is besides the fact).

I emailed bn customer service and got a generic response. Then I called Customer service, spent 1/2 hour on hold and another 10 speaking to a girl who while polite, could barely speak English (and had a hard time understanding it as well) had me unregister, then reregister my Nook, I changed my default credit card to a different one hoping that would help and NOTHING.

The books are in limbo on my Nook and on my BN.com account and I can't even erase them. Their customer service is SORELY lacking.

A girl I work with is having the same issues , but since she just got hers, she is thinking she may return it and buy a Kindle. Which I wish now I would have done in the first place, but since I've had my Nook since Spring, unfortunately I am now stuck with it.

 

[KittyHellstrom]

Maybe YOU can help me out ! I have a different issue with BN Nook right now and it's not leaving me very happy.

I "bought" several FREE books at the beginning of the month. None of them will download saying there maybe a problem with my payment. They are FREE, there shouldn't be a payment. (the fact that my credit card is fine, is besides the fact).

I emailed bn customer service and got a generic response. Then I called Customer service, spent 1/2 hour on hold and another 10 speaking to a girl who while polite, could barely speak English (and had a hard time understanding it as well) had me unregister, then reregister my Nook, I changed my default credit card to a different one hoping that would help and NOTHING.

The books are in limbo on my Nook and on my BN.com account and I can't even erase them. Their customer service is SORELY lacking.

A girl I work with is having the same issues , but since she just got hers, she is thinking she may return it and buy a Kindle. Which I wish now I would have done in the first place, but since I've had my Nook since Spring, unfortunately I am now stuck with it.

I can try, I will be in touch privately

-Hellstrom

 

[Kathi OD]

Maybe YOU can help me out ! I have a different issue with BN Nook right now and it's not leaving me very happy.

I "bought" several FREE books at the beginning of the month. None of them will download saying there maybe a problem with my payment. They are FREE, there shouldn't be a payment. (the fact that my credit card is fine, is besides the fact).

I emailed bn customer service and got a generic response. Then I called Customer service, spent 1/2 hour on hold and another 10 speaking to a girl who while polite, could barely speak English (and had a hard time understanding it as well) had me unregister, then reregister my Nook, I changed my default credit card to a different one hoping that would help and NOTHING.

The books are in limbo on my Nook and on my BN.com account and I can't even erase them. Their customer service is SORELY lacking.

A girl I work with is having the same issues , but since she just got hers, she is thinking she may return it and buy a Kindle. Which I wish now I would have done in the first place, but since I've had my Nook since Spring, unfortunately I am now stuck with it.

I received the same email last week after downloading 2 "free" books for my nook. The only difference was that I was successful in downloading both books and was reading one of them.

 

[LilyWDW]

Maybe YOU can help me out ! I have a different issue with BN Nook right now and it's not leaving me very happy.

I "bought" several FREE books at the beginning of the month. None of them will download saying there maybe a problem with my payment. They are FREE, there shouldn't be a payment. (the fact that my credit card is fine, is besides the fact).

I emailed bn customer service and got a generic response. Then I called Customer service, spent 1/2 hour on hold and another 10 speaking to a girl who while polite, could barely speak English (and had a hard time understanding it as well) had me unregister, then reregister my Nook, I changed my default credit card to a different one hoping that would help and NOTHING.

The books are in limbo on my Nook and on my BN.com account and I can't even erase them. Their customer service is SORELY lacking.

A girl I work with is having the same issues , but since she just got hers, she is thinking she may return it and buy a Kindle. Which I wish now I would have done in the first place, but since I've had my Nook since Spring, unfortunately I am now stuck with it.

Have you attempted to download them onto a computer? Are they showing in your account at all? Are you having issues downloading anything else, or is it just the free books?

 

[vicki_c]

Well I just wanted to say that we had a great B&N experience today. We bought some books for Christmas and realized after the fact that we didn't get our member discount on them. DH took the receipts back to the store today and they determined that our member account was somehow linked to an old phone # not our current one so since we used our phone # when we purchased, it didn't get linked to our cards. So the cashier was going to give us a credit, but it got kind of complicated due to the fact that we used multiple debit and credit cards for the purchases.

In the end, she decided to credit and re-charge all the transactions (there were 3 or 4 difference receipts) and give us the discount back on a gift card. Then she told DH - oh, some of these things are on sale now so you will save even more when I ring them up again - we ended up with a gift card for $25.

So I thought that was great customer service!