Comments on: Fighting For Survival, Borders All-But-Abandoning E-Commerce http://storefrontbacktalk.com/supply-chain/fighting-for-survival-borders-all-but-abandoning-e-commerce/ Techniques, Tools and Tirades about Retail Technology and E-Commerce Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:02:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dave King http://storefrontbacktalk.com/supply-chain/fighting-for-survival-borders-all-but-abandoning-e-commerce/comment-page-1/#comment-53912 Dave King Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:40:23 +0000 http://www.storefrontbacktalk.com/?p=2356#comment-53912 "Excessive investment" in e-commerce. If that's an issue at Borders it doesn't show (on their site). The major reason for Borders to abandon e-commerce is pretty simple -- it's Amazon. They lost that fight a long time ago. While it's virtually impossible for any business not to have a web site, Border isn't going to generate much business regardless of what they do. On the bricks and mortars side, they have ceded the lead to stores like Barnes and Noble. Their "loyalty" program is convoluted (or useless), their inventory management is poor, and their in-store experience is virtually non-existent. In our area the only reason to shop at Borders is if Barnes and Noble doesn't have a book that you need (B&N is always cheaper) or you don't want to wait a day to get it from Amazon. I hate to see Borders go. I used to live in Ann Arbor MI (the home of Borders) and the downtown store was a show case. However, overtime they lost whatever competitive edge they had. On the bricks and mortars side, I don't think their problems are insurmountable but in this economy they may not have enough time. “Excessive investment” in e-commerce. If that’s an issue at Borders it doesn’t show (on their site). The major reason for Borders to abandon e-commerce is pretty simple — it’s Amazon. They lost that fight a long time ago. While it’s virtually impossible for any business not to have a web site, Border isn’t going to generate much business regardless of what they do. On the bricks and mortars side, they have ceded the lead to stores like Barnes and Noble. Their “loyalty” program is convoluted (or useless), their inventory management is poor, and their in-store experience is virtually non-existent. In our area the only reason to shop at Borders is if Barnes and Noble doesn’t have a book that you need (B&N is always cheaper) or you don’t want to wait a day to get it from Amazon.

I hate to see Borders go. I used to live in Ann Arbor MI (the home of Borders) and the downtown store was a show case. However, overtime they lost whatever competitive edge they had. On the bricks and mortars side, I don’t think their problems are insurmountable but in this economy they may not have enough time.

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