Borders Doesn’t Bite Keith

Borders Didn’t Bite This Martial Artist

Many of you know that Borders Books is Bankrupt — closing their doors — liquidating all of their stock. They are even getting rid of their martial-arts books.

I hope this doesn’t sound like I am too full of myself or that I am wishing ill will on anyone, but I am proud to say that you won’t find a single Keith Pascal book being sold by Borders. Not a one.

And there’s a story behind it …

Borders Disappoints Author

Way back when Coin Snatching was new, I approached the local Borders, to start carrying my books. I really wanted them to make my titles part of their stock. In fact, so much so, that I let slide the fact that they never paid me for the single orders of Wrist Locks that they had made over the years.

You see, from time to time, they’d order a single copy of Wrist Locks that one of their customers had requested. I’d get a copy out to them quickly. And the Borders never paid me. Not once.

Back to the story …

So, the manager expressed interest in Coin Snatching. I gave them sample copies, postcards with the cover on them, wooden nickels advertising the book, and oodles of Coin Snatching bookmarks.

This guy kept stringing me along. And along.

All the way to my next book, Tiptoeing to Tranquility: The Parable for Finding Safety and Comfort in Dangerous Times. I tried to bypass him and go directly to the lady who ordered the books and was a bit of a fan of mine.

The manager interrupted and told me that local band CDs didn’t sell. The dude was comparing me to a garage band.

I pointed out that my books were not some amateurish attempt; I was an author who just happened to live in his city.

I don’t know if the guy hadn’t had his Grapenuts® that morning, or was in a fight with his significant other, but he was a total turkey to me — to the point that the other employee was embarrassed.

No problem.

I told him that I still loved Borders. I walked out … and started doing business with the other big bookstore in our area.

The result of all of this is that thankfully, my books will not be liquidated in the Borders locations in the next month. And they won’t be defaulting on any debt that they owe me for a large quantity of books.

As I said, I really don’t wish bad luck on others, but the writing really was on the wall:

  • The manager made an enemy (not really) of Keith Pascal which is pretty hard to do
  • They had a Rewards program that they could never get straight at the store
  • They had a Business discount card, and one for educators …
  • The Borders employees could never seem to keep them straight. Which discount you got, which card you could use, and which sale applied, depended on which employee was at the register.

Woo-weee! How confusing!

Last Thought on The Closing of the Bookstore

I am sad to see another bookstore bite the dust. With the Nooks, Kindles, and other eReaders abounding, I am finding fewer and fewer printed books out there.

It’s sad.

I am definitely Team Book and NOT Team Nook. While I do like to read books on my iPod®, the feel of paper in my hands, of receiving a tangible gift, of not relying on technology to get immersed in the book … well, it just can’t be beat.

We need to keep books around.

I hope another bookstore will sprout up in place of Borders, but with the eBook revolution, I have my doubts.

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