book stores

Book Stores Fuming Mad Over State Law Forcing Them To Keep Records Of All Autographed Books

Book Stores Fuming Mad Over State Law Forcing Them To Keep Records Of All Autographed Books

Walk into an independent book store in most cities and you’re likely to find signed copies of various authors’ books sitting around. Sometimes the authors will sign a bunch as part of an in-store appearance; sometimes the writer or their publisher will ship a box of signed books; sometimes authors just go into stores and do ninja-style signings without anyone knowing. This is all fine in most of the country, but no longer in California, where a new law requires anyone sells virtually any autographed item to include a certificate of authenticity and to keep detailed records of each item for years. [More]

(TravelEden)

Amazon Takes Away All Discounts In France Under New Law, Charges A Penny For Shipping

Book lovers looking for a tidy discount in France won’t be finding anything of the sort, at least not from Amazon: In accordance with a new law in that country, the e-commerce Goliath has ditched all discounts and is charging a penny for shipping, because it’s not allowed to send books for free. [More]

Amazon To Annoy Even More Book Stores With Textbook Rental Plan

Amazon To Annoy Even More Book Stores With Textbook Rental Plan

Now Amazon just seems to be toying with the retail book stores of America. The online behemoth has long been hated by many bricks-and-mortar booksellers for the hugely discounted prices it charges on books and other items traditionally sold in book stores. And then there’s Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader which some stores blame for dropping sales. Now Amazon is getting into one business still dominated by college book stores: textbook rentals. [More]

Borders Delays Payments To Vendors For 2nd Month

Borders Delays Payments To Vendors For 2nd Month

Stumbling book store chain Borders has said that it would delay payments to landlords and vendors for the 2nd month in a row. In a terse press release, the company said the move was meant to “help the company maintain liquidity while it seeks to complete a refinancing or restructuring of its existing credit facilities and other obligations.” In other words, they’re trying cling to cash and stave off bankruptcy. Borders also announced receiving a $550 million loan from GE Capital. Better keep pushing those loyalty cards to customers that could become worthless pieces of plastic if the company goes belly up, Borders clerks, you’re our only hope! Customers, if you got a Borders gift card for Christmas, now might be a good time to cash it in. [More]

Barnes & Noble Bot: Your Order Is Canceled And You Get No Refund (Updated)

Barnes & Noble Bot: Your Order Is Canceled And You Get No Refund (Updated)

UPDATE: Barnes & Noble refunded Meghan’s money and gave her a $25 gift certificate. The original post follows: [More]