Barnes and Noble -- barnesandnoble.com -- bn.com
Written: Nov 05 '02 (Updated Nov 14 '02)
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Barnes and Noble.com
I just may be a bit biased here but I am strongly attached and in love with Barnes and Noble.com, not to mention their brick and mortar stores.
I will admit their prices can border on extreme but I have yet to find a book store that does not on certain items. Facts are, prices are usually set in stone for new releases and there is not much one can do about that. You can opt out for a long anticipated price cut as the book ages or you can actually go to work for the place and get your discounts. Hmm... that's what I did! Even though I am a supervisor/assistant/lead or whatever you wish to call it, for Barnes and Noble, I feel I can give you an unbiased opinion for their on-line store because it was my love for them that lead me toward employment with them.
Now, since this review has to be about the .com site, I will move forward and get right to it and not attempt to let you in on all that Barnes and Noble has to offer you when you decide to become a part of the Barnes and Noble family. I will say this: Barnes and Noble can be very generous and fair minded. They feel their employees are as valuable to them as the customer is. This speaks fairness and tells me that you could not go wrong in deciding to let them be your main source for all your reading/writing and research needs, whether it be on-line at www.bn.com or at one of their physical locations all over the country.
About the Barnes and Noble On-Line Site (Cosmetically Speaking):
First off, you can reach the Barnes and Noble on-line site by way of using either http://www.bn.com or http://www.barnesandnoble.com.
A couple of most recent changes for the on-line site is the ability to utilize your Reader's Advantage membership for the discount advantages and you may also use any Barnes and Noble gift card as well. On the back side of your card you will notice a silver strip that when removed will reveal a pin number that will allow you to use it on-line. Great!
I feel the site is very well laid out and I find that everything I wish to find is right at my fingertips. The color scheme is appropriate for Barnes and Noble and tends to match their actual stores. A nice tidbit for those of you who may have never actually been inside one of their stores.
The site, as I mentioned is so easy to search. The pages load quickly and completely. Have you ever experienced a page that loads but not all the way? I have and it is a pain. Barnes and Noble has taken great care in their site structure to insure you the best possible on-line shopping experience.
Digging Deeper:
One thing that I feel the on-line site lacks verses the brick and mortar store is the ability to order books at will that they do not have in stock. However, when you attempt to order a book that they do not have in stock, they will in turn order that book and then notify you, by e-mail, when they have that particular book in stock. It is six to one and half a dozen of another really and the end result still finds us with the book we were seeking, right?
Barnes and Noble is not just about books though. They offer many great gift ideas and also have a wide variety of calendars, DVD's, Music related items, On-line courses, and audio books, if that is your thing. I go crazy with the calendars every year with Barnes and Noble and many of them have come from the on-line store. Granted, since becoming apart of the Barnes and Noble team, I shop less frequently with the on-line store but still seek them out when I am at home and wishing to find a title rather than driving an hour to work to find it.
I hesitate to sit here and list all the categories because I feel that most on-line books sites are similar in their content. But for the sake of listing for those who have never visited or may have never purchased a book on-line, I will. The sections that you will find at Barnes and Noble's .com site are:
The Bookstore, Calendars, Business and Technology, Out of Print, Half Price Books, College Textbooks, Children's, Audio Books, Music, DVD and Video, and On-line Courses. You will find other links of interest as well, such as: What's New, Bestsellers, Coming Soon, Recommended, Meet the Writers, and Ebooks.
You will be able to set up an initial account with them without providing your credit card number and use their wish list to keep track of those books that you may want to order at a later date. Their membership form is not complicated and only requires the minimum it takes to buy a book and have it shipped to you. I have also been able to use my P.O. Box address with them for shipping.
Let's talk about their Reader's Advantage program for a bit. For $25.00 annually you are able to save ten percent off purchases and five percent off those already drastically reduced half price books. For a limited time, you will also get ten percent off online. A great five percent more than usual. You can use it on-line and at any Barnes and Noble brick and mortar store. If you use it at one of their physical locations, you will also be able to get that discount in the Barnes and Noble Cafe' that is famous for the Starbuck's coffee that they serve. Yum, yum!
In addition to the discounts the card will allow you, you will also receive e-mailings and snail mail advantages. Savings on books/items that others who are not members may not receive or even know about. I do know there are certain advantages to being a Reader's Advantage member. Be sure to check it out. If you order from them frequently or visit them in your home town on a regular basis, it can be of great advantage for you to have membership.
Gift cards! Wow! What a fantastic way to say I Love You to a loved one. If they love to read this would be the perfect gift for them. You can purchase these at the brick and mortar store. Online, you may purchase gift certificates to be used online. (I needed to clarify this) If uses like a credit card and they can pick whatever they want that will make them happy. You can purchase these in $10 to $100 dollar amounts. I will be giving out a few of these this year. Soon, you will be able to purchase gift cards online, as well.
Payment and Shipping:
Right now, if you order two or more items from Barnes and Noble On-line, you will get free shipping. Anyone who buys books on-line knows how expensive shipping charges can be. It is a great deal. Take advantage of it. Shipping charges otherwise are in the norm for book shipping and using first class.
My orders have always arrived on time from Barnes and Noble on-line and I expect they always will. I have not experienced any problems with them.
Payment is standard as most any other site. Same credit cards, etc, but with Barnes and Noble, I again remind you that you can use gift cards on-line or at the brick and mortar.
You will receive an e-mail confirmation. I do not believe they use tracking numbers as they ship by USPS. But I am sure they do if anything is shipped by UPS. I have never used it myself.
Returns could not be simpler. You can either return your purchase back to Barnes and Noble on-line OR if you have a brick and mortar Barnes and Noble Bookseller's store near, you can return your on-line purchase there. Is that not neat? I like that and feel it is extremely generous. They love the customer and are always coming up with ways to prove it!
My experiences with the on-line customer service have been met with nothing short of friendly, helpful service and a willingness to help in any way possible.
My Final Thoughts and Conclusions:
I highly recommend that you shop Barnes and Noble on-line. I have loved them for a long time and took that love to a higher level by working for them. I could not be happier before or now. You may find a book cheaper someplace else but their customer service is unbeatable. Their selection is vast and if you can't find it with Barnes and Noble chances are strong that you are not going to find it. Check them out if you have not already and remember those gift cards. They make a fabulous, well thought out gift for those you care about. Try them!
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: Audrey
Location: Arkansas
Reviews written: 257
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