I used to love Barnes and Noble, I could easily spend half a Saturday discovering new books to take home and read. I recently went into this location to purchase a book the same day it was released. I couldn't find it and asked an employee where it was located. I was told that all of the copies they received were sold. I was like that's a bummer, your sold out. When will a new shipment come in? The sales person then told me "we aren't technically sold out, all the copies are on hold for people who are coming in to pick them up later. After 3 days if they have not been claimed they will go back onto the floor."
This practice makes NO sense to me. You are really going to turn way the $35 I have to buy the book NOW in the hopes that someone will come claim the books in 3 days? Doesn't seem like good business practice to me. I ordered the book - for $10 cheaper with free shipping - on amazon and it was delivered to my house the next day. And earlier this month when another book I wanted came out I preordered it on amazon - again almost $10 cheaper with free shipping - and it was in my mail box the day it came out in book stores.
Thanks for the good memories Barnes and Noble! But I've moved on to a better way to buy books.