1 post tagged “barnes and noble”

Everyone who knows me well knows I adore bookstores.  Even long before I worked for B Datlon Booksellers (ok -- that dates me doesn't it?), I love to visit bookstores and BUY BOOKS!

Barnes & Noble has become my drug of choice.  Having books shipped to Alaska is viable; but it is so much more fun to go to the store and hold the book and buy it.

Recently BN has sent out coupons for the holiday season.  They have a narrow validity period to encourage you to hurry up and buy.  I knew we'd be going to the store last Friday so I printed one for 15% off any BOOK.  I had a book in mind... a

new tech/CSS book by Andy Clarke "Transcending CSS".  I found it as well as my usual trade magazines.  My daughter added her two magazines and we meandered into the cafe for our Starbucks fix.  I get the usual club member discount (more on that later) and whipped out my coupon for the expensive BOOK.  Now, I can get that book online with free shipping for $30.  Purchasing it separately, I could have applied !0% off as well.  so it would have been less than $30 to have it shipped.  When the clerk applied the coupon and hit total, the 15% off was awarded to the least expensive item... NOT the book - a magazine so I only saved $1.50! 

The clerk suggested taking off the book and coupon and running them separately.  That would save me the cost of my daughter's Vendi Peppermint Mocha with whipped cream.  I looked at the line of impatient Starbucks addicts behind me and my rather upset husband.  I let it go - but I'm NOT happy.  The coupon says BOOK.  Grrrrrr

Ok - that membership club has a wonderful new benefit.  You get 20% off and HARDCOVER new title.  Have you checked the tech books recently?  NONE of them are issued in hardcover.  They are first print in trade paperback.  Just as expensive, of course; but not eligible for more than the usual member discount.  DRAT!

I hate to think BN is trying to dupe their loyal customrers - it would be a sad day  I do feel like a traitor inserting Amazon links in this blog.  But, it is the only available option and I think being able to insert book links is cool..

Wish I could still go back to work for a bookseller...maybe when I find a cure for this miserable disease.