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| - I know, I know. You're supposed to support independent book stores. You're supposed to shun corporate America chain stores. The sentiment behind "You've Got Mail" was not lost on me. Well, this is why I don't shop at Barnes & Noble. Borders, however, is a different story. Part of it is the people, part of it is the Borders Rewards program and a huge chunk of it is the selection. I visited my first Borders in Santa Monica about 15 years ago, give or take a couple of years. I remember thinking how much cooler this place was than B&N. Everything was so much brighter, so much warmer, so much more hip. B&N always made me feel like I had snuck into some crotchety old man's library. Borders made me feel welcome.
The staff at the Scottsdale Borders store by Scottsdale Fashion Square is awesome as is the staff of the Mesa store right by Fiesta Mall. Anytime I go into either of these stores there's always someone around to help me search for whatever I'm looking for, but they don't breathe down my neck if I'm just wandering. You can tell that much of the staff is as enthused about good books as I am and it's nice to share that passion. Plus, like the Borders stores back in New Mexico (see my previous review), there's always some quirky staff member who you just can't help but fall in love with.
Then there's the Borders Rewards program...I love it! With this program I almost never pay full price for anything. I always get at least 20% off, and, if I'm patient enough, I often get 30 or 40% off coupons that have probably saved me at least a couple of hundred bucks by now. Plus, when you spend a certain amount in the stores you get Borders Bucks. Best part is, they keep track of it for you on your card (no silly stamp cards to lose).
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