I guess I need to start shopping Barnes&Noble!

[javasaurus]

I wonder if the book-buying addicts will be strongly affected by this:

On MSN's main page today, a headline:

"US starts fingerprinting most visitors at borders"

Comments

[javasaurus.livejournal.com]

I got the B&N card when I was working on my degree and spending a LOT of time there studying. The card paid for itself in coffee discounts, the book discounts were just a bonus for me.

For most people, the card isn't worth it. It's $25 per year and gives 10% off. If something is already on sale for 30% off, you get 10% off the sale price (i.e., total of 37% off, not 40% off). Still, you don't really see any savings until after you spend $250 (the discounts on the first $250 making up for the initial $25).

I'm not sure what the Waldenbooks discount card costs, so I can't compare, but they don't have coffee anyway, so why bother?

[terlan.livejournal.com]

Hm. Your reasoning regarding the B&N card is similar to my own. That is why I didn't choose to get a B&N card.

"I'm not sure what the Waldenbooks discount card costs, so I can't compare, but they don't have coffee anyway, so why bother?"

While it's true that they don't have any coffee, they do have some things going for them. Their "Preferred Readers" card costs ~$10.00 per year. That makes it easier to get to the point where the discount means something. You also accrue "points" towards $5 certificates good towards more books. These things, combined, make having the card a good deal more worthwhile, to me. It might not mean the same to others, but I like it!

In some cases, the Waldenbooks Preferred Reader's card combines with a First USA (FUSA)-owned credit card. The FUSA card comes in two flavors: The Waldenbooks Preferred Reader credit card (discontinued) and the Borders/Waldenbooks card.

I believe that the benefits are the same for both cards. Like the Preferred Reader card, the credit cards accrue 'points' towards gift certificates. For every $1.00 spent in a Borders or Waldenbooks store, you get 2 points. For every $1 spent anywhere else, you get 1 point. A certain number of points equals a gift certificate.

The 'bonus' is that the Preferred Reader card and the credit card can be used to "double dip" the points. Overall, a very interesting combination.