From: Norma Jean Sawicki <nsawicki_at_nyc.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:55:57 -0500

There is a tremendous difference between Barnes and Noble and Amazon...Barnes and Noble is primarily a bookstore and apart from books/magazines, stocks very little merchandise.

Through Amazon, in addition to buying books, one can buy pots and pans, perfume, olive oil, and hundreds, if not thousands, of other products. In most cases, the order for the pots and pans, etc., is forwarded to a store who will fill the order and ship it but Amazon keeps a portion of the sale. It is a multifaceted mail order business, not a bookseller only.

Books sold online by Barnes and Noble are cheaper than books sold in the their stores because the stores carry more overhead. Each store must generate enough income/profit to pay for the staff, rent, gas and electric, tables, etc.

On another note...we do not all want and love the same books...nor do most books sell at the same rate in every part of the country. The Hoban black and white board books are fabulous but we are steeped in a visual and somewhat slick society/culture and except for the most sophisticated customer of children's books, I cannot imagine black and white board books attracting attention in most bookstores but I would like to think the Hoban board books are well loved and introduced to kids by librarians. Norma Jean
Received on Fri 12 Nov 2010 03:55:57 PM CST