Almost on sale
Today’s LA Times features a full-page sales ad from Borders, one of the surviving chains offering books, music, coffee, and other things aimed at people who like books, music, and coffee. The sales ad promotes “educator appreciation week!” (Exclamation point theirs.) “Current and retired educators save on purchases for personal or classroom use.” Cool.
That discount equals “30% off list price of almost everything!*” (Asterisk theirs.)
So of course my eye tracked down to the spot the asterisk points to. In type so small that I doubt most book readers can read it, I found this:
Yes, it’s too small for my iPhone to capture it well either. Here’s what it says: “…Excludes previous and online purchases, special orders, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, comics, coupon books, eBooks, digital downloads, self-publishing programs, Smartbox products, Rosetta Stone software, shipping, and all electronics, including but not limited to the Sony Reader and the Zune. Also excludes all Dean & DeLuca and Starbucks cafe items and products….”
I count at least 17 product categories excluded above. So… what does “almost” mean?
September 27th, 2009 at 10:11 am
The only thing I can see that would remain are books (as long as they aren’t e-. comic or coupon books). Would 30% off be the final incentive you need to buy Dan Brown’s latest?
Yeah, me neither…
September 27th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I use their coupons. They apply to the in-store stock of books, CDs and DVDs, as well as their exciting stationary items. They also offered me a chance to win a free copy of the new Dan Brown, but I chose not to participate.
At the same time, they continue to reduce their stock of… well… everything. I’m wondering if, when their lease comes up for renewal, they’ll opt for a smaller store. And the last time they rearranged the layout of merchandise, the erotica department went somewhere and now I can’t find it.