Borders trouble, could lead to BIG TROUBLE!

[Glyfair]

Imminent death of RPGs predicted. News at 11:00.

I don't know how much the RPG industry is invested in Border's survival, but apparently Manga could take a huge hit. According to an article I was reading today, some estimates have Border's responsible for about 40% of U.S. manga sales.

Now, I have mixed feelings. One of my two primary RPG stores is an independent bookstore and was, I understand, the only on in Northern Delaware to survive Border's and Barnes & Noble moving in. On the other hand, I far prefer the feel of Border's to Barnes & Noble.

 

[Greg K]

Went to Borders with the $50 in gift cards, a coupon for 30% off the most expensive item another coupon for 20% of the entire purchase (after the other coupon).

I came back with nothing.

I really wanted Jack Kirby's Captain America: Madbomb, Captain America and : Bicentinial Battles and Captain America: Swine tradepaperbacks or Englehart's Captain America: Secret Empire and Captain America: Nomad but they were sold out and are no longer available (probably due to the combining in the Omnibus hardcover due out next month).

Guess I'll head back tomorrow and pick up two pose file books and a book on comic book writing by Peter David or Denny O'Neil.

 

[shadzar]

I don't know how much the RPG industry is invested in Border's survival, but apparently Manga could take a huge hit. According to an article I was reading today, some estimates have Border's responsible for about 40% of U.S. manga sales.

Now, I have mixed feelings. One of my two primary RPG stores is an independent bookstore and was, I understand, the only on in Northern Delaware to survive Border's and Barnes & Noble moving in. On the other hand, I far prefer the feel of Border's to Barnes & Noble.

HAD 40%, now about 20% or more, but the biggest NA distributers have other venues to get their books out like direct sales and such. I am guesing this is the article you mean?

ICv2 - Borders Woes a Blow to Manga

 

[Sorrowdusk]

This makes me sad.

One of my earliest memories of my D&D hobby was saving up my allowance and going to the Waldenbooks in Sooner Fashion Mall. I would pick up the latest copy of Dragon Magazine, and drool over the Companion Rules Boxed Set that someday, someday I would be able to afford. (Sadly, it went out of print before I could afford it. But not-so-sadly, the Rules Cyclopedia came out soon afterward, and it is hands-down the best D&D book I've ever bought.)

Sure, there were smaller gaming and hobby stores in Norman, Oklahoma, but they were hard for a 12-year old boy to get to. I could always get a ride to the mall, but getting a ride down Lindsay Blvd. to Arpegee's was a lot harder to arrange. By the time I could drive, all of the FLGSs had gone out of business or moved to Oklahoma City.

So growing up, I had to depend on the "big bookstores" to support my hobby. And seeing them all drop away, one by one, sort of tugs at my heartstrings.

I never new Waldens, but when I was buying books they were for 3.5, and they all came from borders, a good half dozen to 10 or so, and some modules.

 

[Sutekh]

What is interesting is how the fate of Borders US affects Borders AU (I dont know if they are even connected at all). Borders UK is long dead as a test case.

Ill be honest. Its been a year since I set foot in an rpg store.I buy my books online via Booko: Compare book & DVD prices in Australia with Booko which sorts the books into online shops I can purcahse from (from which I target ones with free shipping). Im not afraid to say its purely a cost and numbers game for me. I have limited funds and I want to maximise what they do.

Ill admit, some of these book purchase sites are putting Amazon itself to shame.


I work as a Librarian, and while I like to read I dont have this desire to go down to my local bookshop and peruse.

I think a lot of bookshops operate on an old model. Have you seen how many tablets capable of reading books on have come out in the past year (or will in 2011?). While I understand that the paper book will never go, financially its a cheaper way to distribute your product to the audience (printing costs, sourcing a place to get it printed etc). In a financial downturn (Which I have noticed has affected America a lot more than Australia its probably not a good time to expect tablet sales to go up, but notice that the ipad has already sold particuarly well even in this climate.

 

[Orius]

On the bright side, if Borders does collapse there might be some closeout sales where I can pick up some nice books on the very cheap. So there's always a silver lining.

 

[coyote6]

I still have books I bought last year, when the B. Dalton's in the local mall closed down.

Sadly, that was the only general bookstore in Salinas. I think there's a Spanish language bookstore and one Christian bookstore (which looks like it has more Stuff than actual books), and that's it. The next closest bookstore is only 15 miles away.

It's a Borders.

Then there's a bookstore in Monterey -- a Borders Express. DOH!

 

[Momeeche]

Maybe this, and B&N troubles, is why WotC has reducing its output - they are cutting back in advance, anticipating trouble.

 

[Stormonu]

I still have books I bought last year, when the B. Dalton's in the local mall closed down.

Sadly, that was the only general bookstore in Salinas. I think there's a Spanish language bookstore and one Christian bookstore (which looks like it has more Stuff than actual books), and that's it. The next closest bookstore is only 15 miles away.

It's a Borders.

Then there's a bookstore in Monterey -- a Borders Express. DOH!

Wasn't there a Waldenbooks in the Northridge Shopping Mall? Of course, it has been about 20 years since I was there...

 

[Greg K]

Wasn't there a Waldenbooks in the Northridge Shopping Mall? Of course, it has been about 20 years since I was there...

Are you talking about the Northridge Fashion Mall near Cal State University, Northidge?