*Ahem*: If you want to buy your books from a solid blue company...

[Richardo]

http://www.buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=43

BuyBlue.org's Position:

Barnes & Noble currently has a 100% BuyBlue rating due to political contributions for the 2003-2004 election cycle. Barnes & Noble executives contributed heavily and exclusively Democratic in the past election contribution over $78K in total. Barnes & Noble does not have a political action committee.

[benburch]

1. Even better than Barnes and Noble!

Powells Books!

Powell's books is a 100% blue, UNIONIZED bookstore. And I even knew the owner many years ago at University of Chicago.

[Richardo]

2. Another 100% rating for Powell's...

http://www.buyblue.org/detail.php?corpId=42 :thumbsup:

[HuckleB]

4. Exactly. Powell's is the way to go. It has even got a union.

Barnes and Noble is not good for local business. It's a Wal-Mart style biz.

[Richardo]

5. I disagree.

Large, yes.

But about as far from a 'Wal-Mart style biz' as you can get and still be that large.

I'm biased, I work P/T for them.

[benburch]

6. Nothing wrong with B&N!

But you folks ought to unionize. It would be good both for you and for B&N.

[HuckleB]

7. Sorry, but they're not good for local business. Nor for writers.

Nor are they good in terms of offering a truly wide range of books. They hurt small publishers, which are quite necessary in terms of getting people published these days. One might have to pay more to purchase a top 30 selling book at a local bookseller, but one can also find books there that B & N simply refuses to carry. One can argue that this movement in books, which is similar to that in CD/music, of pushing only the top sellers has actually hurt sales and hurt literacy (not to mention active literacy) in the long run. I find that disturbing. But that's just me.

[northzax]

12. Wal-Mart style extends to more than labour

it also extends to the underpricing of popular items to collapse the local market to themselves only. Why do people shop at B+N? because it's cheaper. that's the whole point. But every single one has the same selection (within a small margain at least) every one has the same decor, the same starbucks,

[blondeatlast]

13. Great place to buy used/out of print online, too. The reason:

Powell's is not a third party used books dealer like Amazon and ALibris. everything they sell, they OWN. When they say it's in near-mint, you can take it to the bank.

I used to work at a B&N; for a corporate biggie, they're good folk.

[WildClarySage]

3. We're finally getting a B&N locally here.

I'm a bibliophile and can't wait!!!

[stray cat]

8. BarnesNoble sounds good. I also like their online discounts.

[CBHagman]

9. I work for an independent bookstore.

So spare a thought for the indy bookstores in your region. While I realize most areas are dependent on B&N and Borders, independent bookstores continue due to loyal customers. And there are lefties galore where I work.

[Richardo]

10. Literacy attracts lefties! Cause? or effect? ;-)

Good points, CBH :thumbsup:

[HuckleB]

11. Exactly!

Actually, few areas are "dependent" on the chains. If it weren't for local bookstores, many rural areas would have nothing.

Please, everyone, spend your money wisely. Spend it at your local bookstore.

[Dervill Crow]

14. Powell's is my local bookstore.

One of the blessings of living in Portland.