–A Former Borders’ Employee Says Shop the Sales

As a Borders bookseller from 2006 until our store closed in April, I would like to respond to your last post Caveat Emptor: Skip the Borders Fire ‘Sale’.

You quote articles that say the Borders’ liquidation is “not that good of a deal” and that “some of Borders’ prices have even gone up.” These articles fail to take into account how liquidation works. Book prices are set by the publisher and printed on the cover. However, Borders discounts no longer apply. A bestseller may have been up to 40% off while Borders was still in control of the pricing matrix, but under liquidators, books are discounted by category. These prices continue to drop by about 10% each week, so that remaining books are 80-90% off during the final week. Those who choose to shop the Borders liquidation within its first weeks are essentially paying a premium for access to the more popular titles that will not last two months of discounts.

You also argue that shopping Borders sales will not help the employees, but in fact it can help them.  While we never work on commission and do not get a percentage of the store’s sales, employees can get extra hours if a closing store is consistently busy. I was able to pick up extra shifts as our liquidator green-lighted more payroll. Those padded paychecks helped tide me over until unemployment benefits kicked in.

Sadly, a bookstore in liquidation is no longer a place to sit for hours over coffee. The liquidator cannot pay for café perishables to be shipped to a closing store.  Expect seating areas and restrooms also to be closed in most Borders. The change in atmosphere is depressing for customers and staff alike, but a necessary part of the wind-down.

Your final advice, to seek out other local bookstores to support, I agree with wholeheartedly. As John Connolly, one of my favorite authors (who I have been lucky enough to get to know through my work as a bookseller), has said repeatedly, “Buy books locally – or you will not be able to do so for much longer.” Make sure to visit the bricks-and-mortar stores of your choice, whether independent, used, or chain.  I am grateful for booksellers of every stripe in my community. Last week, I attended a signing at an independent store less than two miles from the Borders where I worked. The sales clerk told me, “We never saw you as the enemy. Amazon is the enemy.” While some independents may be glad to lose the competition, most that I have talked with are simply sad to see another book outlet disappear.

If you do shop the Borders liquidation, either now or when the discounts get steeper, please be gentle to any remaining books and employees.  We are all very sorry to see this chapter of our lives ending, but would be glad to have you in our stores one last time.

Sincerely,

Rachel
Founder,
Booksellers Without Borders  (We are the Remaindered)
@BksellerExpats on Twitter
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