Though they swear everything is hunky-dory, Borders is delaying payments to big publishers and setting up some coffee klatches to talk it over. Is Borders reaching its final chapter?

“We value our relationships with them, which is why we’re engaging in discussions with them,” a Borders spokesperson told NYT. “We’re committed to working with our vendors as part of our overall effort to refinance.”

I’m guessing it will go something like, “Brick and mortar bookstores have had declining sales for years and face serious competition from online stores. Discuss!”

Struggling Borders to Meet With Publishers [NYT]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.