April 01, 2006
On the Borders
Let's not give these people our business. What they are doing sets a dangerous precedent.
Hackbarth warns us not to take our frustration out on Borders employees; Samizdata explains that Borders is
already in dire financial straits and can't afford to flip intellectuals the bird.
I wonder if Borders carries Mein Kampf. It's also offensive, right? Ah—but Jews don't behead people who disagree with them. We must defer to those who engage in that type of behavior.
Insty suggests we "throw down the gauntlet," and links Bidinotto's approach. I definitely think writing letters is good, but mostly I'll be voting with my checkbook.
From now on I'll be shopping at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the independents, like these guys. Actually, since I live near Pasadena, I'll be buying at Vroman's for the most part—but not everyone is that lucky.
UPDATE: How pathetic is this? I guess one doesn't need steak when there's sizzle. Via Insty.
Posted by: Attila Girl at
12:08 PM
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1
I agree that is a very bad thing. (I'm a Borders shareholder, and will be sharing my views with BGP Investor Relations.) About the only slightly-redeeming factor I can see is that they openly admitted it was about fear, rather than blathering about sensitivity or some such.
There seem to be a lot of cases of institutions deciding to cave in to political extortion. One of the scariest examples is the campaign that has been waged against biotech companies by certain "animal rights" activists--especially in Britain but also in this country. It appears that the decision of the New York Stock Exchange to deny a listing to Life Sciences Research (previously Huntington Life Sciences) was due to fear of violence.
Posted by: David Foster at April 01, 2006 03:16 PM (/Z304)
2
15-20 years ago the same thing happened with rushdie and "satanic verses". i found an independent that carried it. but it seems that the chains all think that freedom of the press is free.
Posted by: jw at April 02, 2006 09:33 AM (tUwzR)
3
I've heard rumors that Barnes and Ignoble is touch and go.
Posted by: Sissy Willis at April 02, 2006 02:25 PM (FU1id)
4
I buy mostly computer books and Borders has the best local selection. I browse through their selection, find something I like, copy the ISDN and buy the book from Amazon; usually at 30% off the cover price. I hate to see the "bricks and sticks" bookstores fall to Amazon because I like to flip through a book before I buy it but I don't see how Borders or B&N or Books a Million can compete with Amazon's almost limitless selection and lower prices. I guess they will use a more internet centered business model and pluck off the dead weight stores.
While I'm at it, same with Blockbuster. I've given with them because they never have what I want.
Posted by: al at April 02, 2006 03:26 PM (pe3qi)
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