Whenever I go to B&N they ask me if I want to get an annual membership which costs $25 but would allow me to save 40%, 20%, or 10% off the list price of books they carry. That sounds like a good deal but I never seem to have the desire to plop down another $25 today. It seems like a deal for the mathematically challenged. First of all, what does list price mean? Is that the cover price that no one actually pays? Secondly how much would I need to spend at this brand to break even before I started seeing any real savings? Am I going to spend that much this year and every year?
| Purchases | Discount | Savings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bestsellers | $62.50 | 40% | $25 |
| Hardcovers | $125.00 | 20% | $25 |
| Almost Everything else | $250.00 | 10% | $25 |
When I go into a bookstore like that I’m usually not in a position to wait or I would just order it from Amazon.com. The most common case is for a gift. The bookstore gives me the opportunity to browse the store and get the immediate satisfaction of walking out with the dead-tree version of a published work. Border’s free membership removes the barrier of entry and I willing participate in their program.