Thursday, March 13, 2008

I heart Half-Price Books


I went to Border's Bookstore this morning, just a mile or so down from my work. It was shortly after 9:00 am, opening time; only a few people were in the store.

Four workers asked me if I needed any help. They didn't all ask at once, mind you, but enough of a quick succession to be irritable. I gave an emphatic "No" to the last worker who asked. He probably thinks I'm horribly rude, but I didn't mean to be. He didn't know I had been working all night and just wanted to be left alone.

I looked around a bit before spotting the table I always like to see: buy one, get one half off. Many appealing titles and covers lined neatly side-by-side, waiting for their turn to go home with an eager reader. I saw several books that intrigued me, but only two I seriously considered purchasing - Heat and Kitchen Confidential. I thought for a moment, and then a moment more. Finally, I decided against buying the books. I'd still be paying around $25, and I had better uses for my money.

I left the store and immediately drove to Half-Price Books, just around the corner from Borders. I walked to the food section, and quickly found both books I had been eyeing at Borders. I picked them up, walked to the check-out counter, and bought them. Ten dollars less than I would have paid at Borders.

Half-Price Books is truly a thing of beauty.

2 comments:

  1. I had some free time to myself a couple of weeks ago. I wondered into a Barnes and Noble and had no intention of buying another book. However, I found a book (The 8th Habit-Covey) that looked very interesting and I decided I wanted to buy it. However, they wanted $15 for the paperback.

    So, while still in Barnes and Nobel, I got out my dumb smart phone, went to half.com and ordered the same book (in hard back) for $1.15. I was so proud of myself.

    Thanks for letting me look through a book and decide that I want it so I can order it from somewhere else without ever leaving your store, B&N!

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  2. That's a great story, Brian. We have several Half Price stores in the Indy area (two on the northside, one on the south), and they have a good selection and variety.

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