I'm a admitted fan of Barnes and Noble bookstores, but I occasionally visit other stores to see what they have on tap. Today, I swung by my local Borders (located on Rosewood Drive in Pleasanton) to check out their current selection. I encountered my first issue while trying to get into the store itself. The outer door is not disability-accessible, and since I had my toddler in her stroller along for the ride, I had to pull it open and then quickly push her inside. Once we were inside, I was surprised by how warm the air was, and disappointed that on a hot, humid day like today, they apparently hadn't turned on their air conditioner so customers could be comfortable.
We wandered through the aisles. The books, movies and CDs are organized sufficiently according to genre, and the aisles are wide enough for a stroller to be comfortably navigated through them. They offer a solid selection of items. Although the book pricing is similar to that of other bookstores, the DVD prices are completely outrageous and significantly higher than you'll find at other stores. I strongly recommend against spending your money on their movies! Finally, to my surprise, I didn't once encounter a salesperson on the floor. This is ok with me since I didn't need any help, but still surprising since I'm accustomed to being approached at other stores.
Although I'd classify the visit as 'ok', I'm not overly impressed and won't change my current bookstore-preferences.
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