Borders Files Chapter 11

To anyone who has been following this story, its no surprise Borders has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Theres tons of articles out there.

Theyre hoping to simply reorganize, but that includes closing 30% of their stores, which some articles say will only be the Borders Superstores.

Anyone who wants up to date facts can go here, its a site Borders has put up completely about their Chapter 11 process.

As they are trying to keep open all coupons and gift cards are redeemable, you can still buy gift cards (except at stores that will be closing) and they will continue to email coupons through their membership program.

I can’t yet find a list of stores that will be closing, but those stores and customers are going to be notified. I don’t know if the one by me will close since it is not a superstore, it is in a good shopping location, but it is still a suburb and may not get the volume other stores receive.

I’m also a little annoyed with myself because I forgot to use my 40% off coupon this past weekend, but oh well. I still have 35.06 to use in gift cards.

Update:

You can get a list of closing stores here, just click on Borders Reorg. Store Closure List.

Borders Bankrupt?

There’s a lot of articles out right now about Borders and its quite possible file for bankruptcy.

It is too bad if/when it happens, besides the Barnes & Noble 15 minutes from me, the only other bookstore I know of is an Aunt Annies used bookstore with rather slim pickings.

Though, I have to admit, when they first opened I always wondered how they could afford all their discounts. Even without being a member they have buy 1 get 1 half off tables, a standing manga deal of buy 4 get 1 free, which if you’re just getting into a long standing series is a damn good deal.

My other loss is the Seattle’s Best coffee. I don’t really like coffee that much, I go to Dunkin Donuts for coffee no lie maybe 3-5 times a year, and I even more rarely brew my own, I just don’t drink it. Seattle’s Best was the only cafe I liked, by usual is a raspberry mocha kiss, and I usually get 1 or 2 a month, quite rare for me since there have been weeks where I’m at Borders almost every day.

I hope they stay open, but I don’t think I’ll hold my breath. But as soon as I hear confirmation they’re closing, I’ll book it to o use my remaining $35.06 in gift cards, down from $110 at xmas.  It might have been a waste to spend $20 in gift cards for the membership, but with the free shipping and 10% off I may have recouped about half of that anyway.

Another option is being an online vendor, but with Amazon its probably not feasible either.

And the Winners Are…

On Monday the American Library Association, ALA, announced it’s Children’s Book Winners for a slew of awards including the Caldecott and Newbery.

As a kid of course I noticed the award stickers, I mean they were bright and shiny and pretty, but I didn’t really know what they meant or what they were for really. I would read anything, whether or not someone said they were good. And even now when I do get a book for a young cousin I usually first think of the books I read and really liked as a kid, and go from there. I do still like to look at kids and young adult (YA)books, kids books are just fun for the illustrations, I still pick some up. And there are some YA books which are just very good reading.

But with the shear number of books, aaward winners and lists are a great way to find good books easy, and just get to know more authors you may have otherwise (literally) overlooked.