Borders to Quit Selling CDs and DVDs?
The book and music retailer Borders may soon be removing CDs and DVDs from its stores' shelves, according to a report in the Consumerist.
Apparently, this past Monday, a Borders employee wrote the Consumerist, claiming that "most Borders [stores]" will remove 75-percent of their CD and DVD inventory over the next couple of months. According to this tipster, whose veracity has not been confirmed, CDs and DVDs will be gradually, and drastically, marked down over the next seven weeks in order to clear the shelves.
With the closings of Circuit City and Tower Records stores, and the upcoming closing of Virgin Megastores, the success of iTunes, and the illegal download boom, we wouldn't at all be surprised if this rumor winds up being true. That being said, we're not in the business of counting chickens, so why not let us check out these supposed mark-downs first? [From: Consumerist Via: Blogging Stocks]
Death of Print
Elle Girl
In April 2006, Elle Girl's print edition was closed down, but the Web site lives on at ellegirl.com.
CosmoGirl
Though it will be folded into Seventeen magazine, the teen version of Cosmopolitan will publish its last print issue in December 2008. It will live on at CosmoGirl.com.
Christian Science Monitor
Founded in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, this venerable paper will move all its daily content to the Web starting in 2009, though it will still publish a weekly print version.
Radar Magazine
Was it too snarky for its own good? We'll never know, but this modern-day successor to '80s-era Spy magazine shut down in October. AMI, owner of the National Enquirer, bought RadarOnline.com, however, which will focus on celebrity gossip a la TMZ.com.
US News and World Report
Once a serious competitor to Time and Newsweek, US News and World Report is now best known for its College guides, which it will continue to publish. The weekly newsmagazine, however, will be turned into a monthly, and all daily operations are moving to the Web at usnews.com.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steph said 3:47PM on 3-26-2009
Never bought them from Borders anyways, way overpriced.
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Lillie said 8:13PM on 3-26-2009
WHAT!? You have to be kidding me? I buy all my CDs and DVDs as well as books at Borders! There's one really close to me and I really enjoy going in and spending time in there. And I use their online site alot as well. This really inhales profusely!!!!!!
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Lilacs said 8:49PM on 3-26-2009
I worked for Borders for 12years. This info is nothing new. They have barely been breaking even on DVD's for quite awhile and people now get their music in other ways. It's a definate bye bye.
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Heather said 9:04PM on 3-26-2009
I Bought Some CD's At Borders I Can't Believe This Change .
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Blazer said 9:16PM on 3-26-2009
I'm surprised they didn't do this years ago. They charged a ridiculous amount for cd's and dvd's.
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Lindsay said 9:38PM on 3-26-2009
Borders will start cutting back on printed matter soon too. It's not my supposition; it's my observation of my profession. I worked 19 years for a premium newspaper, eight years for a top pharmaceutical that cut back on in house services for communications....go a buy out...and I've written several books--with good reviews--less sales with each and every one.
Why? Because people read what they want on the web and learn much on the learning channels on cable tv. They don't need to read books or papers any longer.
It's the same for music...why buy an entire album when you can download your faves, individually?
Now I have to find another way to make a living and it's not going to be Internet blogs.....any suggestions in order to stay in the communications loop?
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Robin said 10:50PM on 3-26-2009
Who cares. Borders is way, WAY over priced.
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cris said 3:42AM on 3-27-2009
I agree CD's and DVD's at Borders are way over priced. Borders is walking distance from my work and frequent Border's but I never buy anything from Border's aside from books. I go to Best Buy which is a few doors down to buy audio and video disc.
OMGSTFU said 11:04PM on 3-26-2009
Our local Borders has started clearing out the MEDIA section already. It's really empty and plain looking. :(
They (Borders) tried to jazz up the store by rearranging the line/cashier area but it doesn't make up for the fact that the MEDIA section is empty - and now the front just looks plain silly.
And Borders is soooooo cheap for new books. I love the Bargin section.
I
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Alexandra said 11:01PM on 3-26-2009
No big surprise. Borders sent me one of their 40% off coupons, and even with the 40% off, their DVD prices were more than Target or even Blockbuster. They should stick with books.
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Keiko said 6:12PM on 3-27-2009
I work for Borders - its no rumor. It cost way to much money to maintain the DVD and CD sections, especially with theft and online downloading. And let's face it, the company is hurting anyway
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Robert said 11:27PM on 3-26-2009
Corporate heads that know not how to do things the right way.
This line of thinking is only going to bring to an end a store like Borders (it happened with other multi media bookstores chains that "trimmed" down and ended up offering nothing - while a chain like Newbury Comics which sells cd's and dvd's both new and used, as well as vinyl (now up to 10% of their sales!) and fun toys, books and magazines, will end up thriving and growing...
Borders thinks everyone wants e-books, which is not true, and that everyone just wants to download music and movies, which is not true. People want tangible items to hold in the hand, as well as some downloading.
Part of the economic problem with retail is corporate not knowing what they are doing and so out of touch with how to grab patrons. Don't be duped by Blu-ray and support the shops that stock books, cds, dvds and in some cases vinyl.
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Kirk Griffiths said 12:01AM on 3-27-2009
Although I like CD's, I rarely buy them since there are usually only a few songs I like recorded on them, but 10-12 songs I don't like and never listen to. I think most CD's are a waste of money as a result nowadays.
Like all electronic media, (including live T.V., recorded DVD's and CD's), there is way too much junk mixed in with a few good pieces of worthwhile content.).
T.V. - a wonderous electronic medium with huge potential - is 80% commercials, 10% crappy "who cares?" programming with only about 10% of actually worthwhile program content. That's why I rarely watch T.V. anymore because, I beleive, there is usually nothing on worth watching.
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sarah said 12:15AM on 3-27-2009
The last time I was at Borders I wanted to buy a DVD box set (a season of a TV show). I had to search out an employee to open the case (even though one walked right past me when I was looking and didn't bother to ask if I needed help) and when I saw the price my jaw dropped. It was $59.99! It wasn't even a new release! I was just astounded. I said never mind, and ordered it from Amazon for 27 bucks. I couldn't believe how overpriced they were. I guess they think their shelf space is worth the extra 33 bucks? No wonder they aren't flying off the shelves.
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larry said 1:07AM on 3-27-2009
THE ONLY DVDS I HAVE BOUGHT ARE THE COMPLETE SERIES OF FAWLTY TOWERS. BOUGHT VIVA ZAPATA IN VHS. HAVE YOU NOT HEARD OF RENTING 3 PR WEEK FOR 16. BUCKS. HAVE FUN
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J E SMITH said 1:21AM on 3-27-2009
I think both the industry and the consumer are at fault for the demise of all kinds of media.When the industry had the opportunity to respond to customer desire and need,they instead of listening and taking suggestions to improve delivery chose instead to charge more and criminalize the behavior of those simply wanting better access. Consumers instead of banding together with ideas and buying power simply took themselves out of the mainstream waiting for only bargains.The truth is both in electronic and print media there is so much available that isn't listed as top sellers which is actually better than some of the mainstream offerings.When it's gone it will be missed and if it returns it will be more expensive than ever,take a look at vinyl.
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tyler said 3:08AM on 3-27-2009
The only reason I go to Borders is for DVDs when they have coupon sales. If they are going to stop selling dvds, I suspect, no predict that they will be declaring bankruptcy in the next year and going out of business in a lot of places. Their books are grossly overpriced and anyone can do better online or elsewhere. Bye bye Borders
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kinney said 6:56AM on 3-27-2009
good. one less non-music store selling music and DVD's means a better chance for actual music stores to survive, in my opinion.
i don't want big box stores to sell CD's, either. the record stores did it best. the other stores should be our option, not the only place to find a CD. theres a lot of talk of the success of itunes, but at the end of the day, i love buying CD's too. and not at bookstores and best buy's.
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cathy said 6:16AM on 3-27-2009
i was a weekly borders shopper, but since I got my kindle 2 reader 4 weeks ago I have not been there once.
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