asprilla

TWO of Australia's struggling bookshop chains have told gift card holders they will have to spend double the value of the cards in order to redeem them.

Now that's a little unfair, isn't it?!

This can only mean one thing, to my untrained eye(s). Borders & Angus Robertson bookstores will be empty shells, far more quickly than we realise.

bcworld

It is a tad annoying...I have a $50 Borders card at home I got from work at Xmas.

What will $100 get me in an Aussie bookshop!?

asprilla

a paperback "confessions of a shopaholic", and the latest masterchef cook book.

cresta57

Very true, when you can buy the latest James Patterson in Big W for 22 bucks & directly across the plaza Angus & Robertson have it for 40 bucks they aren't really going to sell many.
In my area the few that can read probably view a $40 book as a carton of beer.
Not really a tough decision Book or Beer

Deb & I spend a fortune on books, both of us are compulsive readers. There are three large bookcases overflowing with books in our house. I'm currently reading Jo Nesbo's latest "The Leopard" If anyone has a copy of The Snowman I'll trade any of his other titles for it lol can't find a copy locally

Amazulu

Beer

Burp

Gibbo

Pity it wasn't for BigW! You could buy 2 there.

Swerv-o

Hey! I've got a PhD in Physics, and I view $40 as a carton of beer!


S

hoofie2002

more like :

a paperback "confessions of a shopaholic" OR the latest masterchef cook book.

newjersey

Did not read the whole thread, but the Borders (3rd largest US book store chain) went into bankruptcy. Losing out to e-books, what a shame.

roaringmouse

Australian farmers still receive government support, even if it isn't in the form of subsidies. You mentioned government support for Australian farmers, not government subsidies.
The article you link to refers to a one-time withholding of information by senior civil servants during the 2010 general election campaign in the UK.
There are still protectionist policies in place for Australian farmers, with very strict import policies being the main one. Even the US (one of the countries that you mention) imports Australian beef. Of course, something which can be missed by many consumers in Australia is that the best produce is used for exports whilst most of the produce on the domestic market is mostly not as good.
You should go to France if you really want to see this - the reason the French are always the first and loudest about keeping the CAP subsidies. No matter how many times the UK government (and others) have tried to reform the subsidies, the French always get in the way. Not sure what it is like now, but France certainly used to have a lot of small family farms (average size smaller than average size in UK) which is one reason why the French are so vocal in keeping subsidies.
UK is within Europe as far as I knew, it's also within the EU which is what I think you're actually referring to.

GarryP

I wonder, what would happen if you bought something for $100, then took it back and refused book tokens as they were in receivership? Could you force them to give you the money?

Either way, those shops are going to be vacant pretty soon.

quoll

Yes, absolutely spitting chips over that one as both the DH and I have $50 gift cards from the inlaws for Christmas and I almost spent mine a couple of weeks ago but was running a bit short of time. I dont think I will be giving Borders any of my money. I began to boycott them some time ago when they wanted to charge 10c for a plastic bag and the bimbo at the till gave me a lecture on the environment which was refutable at the time. So I refused to pay to advertise their product and only ever bought anything from them if I was desperate (I did patronize Gloria Jeans from time to time however)

quoll

Not very much in Borders!!!

Wol

I have an A&R book token (a golf prize) that is valid until June. Seeing on TV how some stores are refusing to honour them unless you make a purchase of double the face amount I will be interested to find out! I can see the NSW OFT coming into this!

bcworld

As far as I know as the company is in administration you (and me) are a creditor. They could offer nothing at all at this stage...the spend double option is really a goodwill gesture! Maybe.