Raven Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Border's are no longer selling books on-line in the UK, amid reports that they are in talks with buyers for the company. Could they be this year's Woolworths? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 (edited) It's hardly surprising to be honest; even as far as high street chains go they're expensive - I for one have never bought a book from Borders in my life, could never afford it. Edited November 24, 2009 by BookJumper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie2008 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I've never bought anything from Borders either. As you said BookJumper, it's too expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 The problems have been brewing for a long time. It is difficult to know where it all began to be honest - out of town sites play a part, as do problems with credit insurance and supply, the constant rumours (two takeovers in little more than two years) and various other things. Speaking as a customer Borders are not what they used to be - the stores are tired and tatty and the staff seem to have lost their spark (not surprising when one reads about how they are treated by the management). As an author they are quite possibly the worst company I have ever dealt with - the left hand doesn't know what the right is going. You ring the stores about them stocking your book and are told to ring Head Office, you ring Head Office, leave ten messages on answerphones, eventually get the name of a buyer from a friend, telephone him direct and are told to go back to the stores ! I have had staff blantantly lie to me, telling me they will order my books and then not do so. I even had one tell me he was the Manager for this store, it turned out that he was just a Saturday Boy. If this is how the company is run, then I am not surprised they have problems, the only thing that I am surprised at is that they have lasted this long. Having said all this, I am sure that a lot of the staff are loyal and hard working employees with a genuine love of books and the industry that they work in and they do not deserve to be kept in the dark the way they have been. It is only just over a year since I went through a similar thing, so I know what it feels like. I came out the other side, and am now a lot happier, but it is still not an experience I would wish on anyone. I fully expect that an announcement will be made about their administration within the week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 My first thought when I heard yesterday that they were looking for a buyer was that they must be in trouble, and I too am expecting an announcement. Alarm bells started ringing when they closed the Swindon store (and other branches) in the summer. I've only been to the Borders store in Clifton, Bristol, and it's ace. I shall be sad to see it go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 This makes me quite sad. I like using the Borders in Preston as it's quite a nice store and they usually have the same offers as at least Waterstones. Although online business is hard to compete with, there's nothing more satisfying than wandering around a shop full of books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I think a lot of the problems to be honest are to do with supply - with Borders (until recently at least) everything was done centrally with individual Managers having little or no control over what they stocked. With Waterstones it is different, as about half their stock comes from their main distribution hub, being bought in direct from the larger publishers, with the remainder sourced from smaller and independent publishers (including self publishers like me) via wholesalers. It is only recently that Borders started to use wholesalers at all to any large degree, and it is them complaining about not being paid and subsequently cutting off supply that seems to have led to this situation - from what I understand anyway. I suspect that the problems were there long before then, and there definately seems to be a lack of communication within the company, but at the end of the day, if they can't get stock (and three wholesalers have now cut off supply - two of which are owned by the two largest publishing houses and other of which is the second largest wholesaler in Britain) then what are they going to sell, and more to the point, how are they going to make money. If I worked there, I would be ringing my nearest Waterstones and asking for a job ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 hmm, I never use Boarders really. I don't think I've ever actually bought a book there, I use the Paperchase and the Starbucks. Ours barely has any books anyway, more of it seems to be taken up with CDs and DVDs and I'm more likely to go somewhere like HMV for those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 They will almost certainly be gone by Christmas. It won't be as big as Woolworths though, as Woollies had over 500 stores, but Borders (with Books Etc) have just 36 now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 It won't be as big as Woolworths though... No, it won't be (my comment above was more along the lines of another famous name disappearing from the high-street, rather than a comment on the size of the company). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peacefield Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Borders is expensive here in the US as well, and I must admit I only go there when they email me a coupon. Raven, had you heard they are having any financial difficulties here in the States? I have two quite close to me but it seems like there are more Barnes & Noble stores than Borders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 Raven, had you heard they are having any financial difficulties here in the States? I have two quite close to me but it seems like there are more Barnes & Noble stores than Borders. No idea I'm afraid, my knowledge is limited to the article above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 (edited) Borders in the UK is very little to do with Borders US anymore. I think they may have a minor share in the business but nothing more. Edited November 30, 2009 by Talisman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Styut Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 There was a big sale in our local branch today - looks like they were trying to clear as much stock as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Aw, I hope they stick around, I buy from there all the time. They're the only bookstore in my town, besides the tiny used bookstores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 I have checked my emails to find a link in the Book Brunch newsletter that I subscribe to - Borders enters admininstration. In typical fashion, the press appear to have been told before the staff. Imagine going to work (most of their shops will be opening in around 5 minutes, so I expect they are all in meetings now) to be told this. I haven't read it yet, but from The Bookseller and Reuters The fall out of this for the publishing industry in Britain will be enormous - some publishers and wholesalers (often the same thing anyway), not to mention authors, must be owed thousands. I just hope they are able to pay the staff - the Insland Revenue though, as always though gets first call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilywhite Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Such a shame. I loved going to Borders and have probably spent more money in there this year than in Waterstones. I popped in yesterday because I was in the retail park and bought a lovely novelty Christmas tree. Didn't buy any books though because I'm restricting myself until after Christmas. I hope the staff are looked after. How horrible to face this a couple of weeks before Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 As an amendment to the story, The Bookseller are now saying that it appears that Reuters have jumped the gun. The management have asked the courts to approve the appointment of administrators, but they have not as yet been appointed. The site is predictably filled with comments rather angry employees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted November 26, 2009 Author Share Posted November 26, 2009 As an amendment to the story, The Bookseller are now saying that it appears that Reuters have jumped the gun. Not by much, the BBC are now reporting that they have gone into Administration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Yeah it was on radio 4 earlier, the bbc is usually pretty reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 I heard it on the news too on my way home from work - it is now official, and the search begins for buyers for individual stores. It is a sad day for publishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 Do you think Waterstones will follow? We only be leaved with Supermakerts and Library?God forbid! Nothing against the library (it's a great and sacred institution), but I'm a proud gatherer and need to own the books I enjoy; as for supermarkets, selling books in them should be illegal. A book's not a tin of beans, for cryin' out loud! The bright lights, the sterile atmosphere, the proximity to packaged food and noisy people... hardly an atmosphere conducive to happy book-buying. Besides, they only really stock bestellers and therefore don't even cater to my needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 Do you think Waterstones will follow? We only be leaved with Supermakerts and Library? I think I've heard recently that Waterstones are doing okay at the mo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisman Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 God forbid! The bright lights, the sterile atmosphere, the proximity to packaged food and noisy people... hardly an atmosphere conducive to happy book-buying. Besides, they only really stock bestellers and therefore don't even cater to my needs. Couldn't agree more - the damage they have done to independent book stores (along with the Internet) cannot be calculated. I can't imagine why Tesco is so succesful as a book seller, since all they sell is rubbish - not one book that I would be interested in anyway, apart from road maps ! I don't think there is any chance of Waterstones going the same route though - their business seems to be flourishing. Everything there seems to be done in the opposite way to Borders - their stores are all on the High Street (no out of town sites), they specialise in books with just a few novelty items (no music or silly meaningless gift items), and at a time when Borders moved away from central supply they are embracing it (albeit not without problems). They still however obtain a sizeable amount of stock from wholesalers, which makes them much more small (and self) publisher friendly. Everything about them seems to be so much more professional - they even have an independent author advisor who is always at the end of a phone, in contrast to Borders where all you got was an answerphone ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Waterstone's also sell online, something that I don't think Borders did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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