Runs with scissors discussion

Yesterday marked the end of an era for me and the end of employment for Narzain. As of yesterday, Waldenbooks closed it's doors for good. Borders, the parent company, made this a few months ago in order to save money, and generate capital to start their own e-book division. CEO Ron Marshall stepped down from his position to go to another retail company. Forbes.com gave Borders a 50/50 chance of surving by the end of 2010.

For me, this has been a hard thing to deal with. The Waldenbooks store that Narzain worked at has been in business since 1976. I have been going to that store for it's entire run. My dad was a vast reader. Everytime we went to the mall, he had to go to the book store, later on, I would also have to go the bood store when I would go to the mall.

Narzain has spent 5 years at this location, and his acting manager has spent 25 years of her life with the company. I would like to rail and say what I would like to say, but I will honor a request from Narz not to say anything until he is completely severed from Borders.

I will say this. I feel, as a customer, Borders droped the ball with P.R. The only communication I was given regarding the closing of the store was a very lame e-mail, telling me that the store was closing, so come on in and save ______%! now while I can. When leaving the store itself, a sign cheerfully stated that "see you at Borders.com!".

Where was the thank you for being a customer? Where was the anything resembling respect for the customer you may have just alienated? There was nothing. For a company in such financial staights, you would think that they could and should have handled this better. All I know is that the nearest store is not as conveniently located or does it have decent parking, as the mall location did. I will be using my gift cards A.S.A.P. so I don't get caught with worthless plastic, and I will be much more cautious about dealing with Borders in the future should they survive 2010.

A good note to all of this is that Narzain does have a job to go to as of next week. More details will follow on that one soon.

I can now officialy say that Narzain is going to be working for Joseph-Beth, which is an independent book store on the East side of Cleveland. They are now running the gift shop at the Cleveland Clinic. Narzain will now be working in at the gift shop, which we have heard may be an idea expanded to other area clinic system hospitals. (I wasn't allowed to say anything, but he was offered the job at Christmas, pending the end of his current job.)

Dear Kim,that is truly wonderfully great news indeed.I am utterly delighted!!!!

Hey! I've been to Joseph-Beth! Congrats, that's great news. I'll have to make sure I stop in the next time I'm visiting my folks.