Borders

Sad that Borders is closing!
That said — be prepared to search if you are looking for particular title (s). Everything is a jumble now.
All the computers are gone.

You know those books that you have wanted to buy but didn’t because they were too expensive? Go to Borders RIGHT NOW and buy them for 50% off.
I just spend a few hours getting lost in the cookbook and psychology sections while loading up on good books. That’s right… I’ll cook you dinner and then get all up in your head.
The store is closing, but the selection is still really great right now. The employees are still friendly and don’t have that frenzied I-hate-people-and-I’m-going-to-lose-my-job attitude. There is very little organization, though, so if you’re looking for something specific it’s a bit of a crap shoot. Also the gifts, DVD’s, CD’s, and anything else that they normally carry are 50−70% off.
As an added bonus, the fixtures and furniture are also for sale and discounted. So… if you need a bookcase…

Guess what? I saw a proposal here a few weeks ago! I was studying for the LSAT when all of a sudden there’s a camera flash and a woman in the corner starts crying — happy tears, of course. We clapped and it was the cutest thing ever! The Borders Café cashiers brought out the flowers and champagne that the guy bought. So cute! =) +1 star
I read or study in the Café a lot — it overlooks State and Randolph, and it’s across from ballet studios, so there’s always people-​watching during short study breaks. The service is usually good, but the bathroom is always dirty and disgusting. Sometimes the baristas talk amongst themselves a little too loudly though — if I’m trying to study, I shouldn’t be able to overhear every little detail in a conversation across the Café.

Worst. Customer. Sevice.
Borders has always had a soft spot in my heart since I worked at one in the suburbs of Chicago for several years when I was in high school/​college. But this Borders just SUCKS for customer service. What ever happened to offering to call another store to see if they have what I need? What ever happened to answering the goddamn phone? What ever happened to friendly cashiers. Come on, guys. I know it’s retail, but it’s your job. Take a little pride in it and do it well.
it’s really a shame that this store had to put a bad taste in my mouth for the whole Border’s brand.

I’m just so grateful that this store is still open! Now that they’ve all been closing, I was holding my breath as I approached, thinking this one would be gone, too. I still can’t believe that the store on Michigan Avenue is gone.
I wandered in here to browse the sale books while killing time for a Gene Siskel Film Center documentary. It’s so nice to have this store nearby. Nothing better than a book store to browse in when you have the time.
To my delight, I found a bogo on two classic books so that I wound up paying only $ 2 for each book. I had a really great blended vanilla coffee drink that was sugar free, too!
The staff is very friendly and even though it gets crowded, it’s still a nice place to be. Sitting in the café there is some great people watching on the street below.
I do hope this store stays open and I will visit every time I’m in the area and try to contribute to it’s financial health!

I love the selection at this 3-​storey location. They have plenty of foreign magazine and this is my go-​to place to get my Jamie magazine. They also have a good sale section where you can get books for very cheap prices in the loop.

If you were planning on grabbing a coffee, relaxing in the café and reading that $ 60 modern interior design book you don’t want to buy (like me), choose another location. The fact that this is downtown means that the café is inevitably always packed, so if you want to sit and read with your drink, you’ll have to settle for the floor (I’ve seen people do this, but seeing as how I’m usually wearing a skirt or a dress, I haven’t been able to join them).
Otherwise, good selection (I have fun wandering through the travel section here) and friendly people, in my experience.

This will not be a narrative review. That’s right, no story. Just some (hopefully) useful bullet points.
Good
=It’s conveniently located.
=They have a lot of cashiers working during busy times (like lunch time, when I usually go) so you shouldn’t have to wait more than a couple minutes to check out.
=Pretty good selection of books.
=Hardcover best sellers are discounted.
=If you join Borders Rewards (for free, as in beer!) they will email you coupons (and other non-​Borders offers) frequently that are good for 30−40% off one item or other such offers. This somewhat helps offset their high prices (see under Bad below).
Bad
=Not so good selection of DVDs/​Blu-​Ray or CDs.
=Movies are expensive.
=They move stuff around, but don’t update the directory on the wall. Looking for the Bargain Books on the 2^nd floor where the sign says it should be? Don’t bother, they’re up on 3 (for now).
=With the exception of bargain books, paperbacks are usually sold at list, meaning you can almost always find better prices online if you’re willing to wait a bit.
=Not enough self-​serve information kiosks to look up where a book is (as they’re shelved by genre, and it’s not always clear – to me anyway – what a book’s genre is).
All in all, it’s an OK bookstore. Make sure you sign up for Borders Rewards and use their coupons, otherwise you’ll be paying through the nose… or some other body part.

I really dig this Borders. The staff is really helpful, the books are well-​organized, and the café workers are super friendly. ALSO — you can see the Joffrey ballet dancers rehearse from the café. I always get totally captivated by them when I stop for coffee.
It’s quiet here too — almost like being in a library. Also, the other day, the checkout lady told me I looked lovely. I mean really, what customer service!
It is, of course, overpriced and corporate-​ish, but duh, it’s Borders. And I happen to love Borders.

I give this Borders five stars not just because I like the store, but because of one employee in particular. I wish I had remembered to ask her name, but she is a very friendly African American woman, and I have been lucky to have her as my cashier 3 out of 7 times I’ve been in the store in the past six or so months. She is the most positive salesperson with which I have ever interacted.
Today, I was in a truly awful mood after work, near tears, but needed to stop and pick up a book before I headed home. I was in line and about to step up to her cash register as she told the woman next to her she was going on lunch. But then she saw me start to step forward and said with a big smile, «After I take care of you, of course.» Then she proceeded to be so kind and considerate and chatty that I felt so much better walking out of the store. And I have had a similar experience every time I’ve interacted with her. She just puts you in a good mood.
With all the people that salespeople interact with on a daily basis, I don’t know how you can be so positive and genuine and kind hour after hour. But she’s unfailingly so. I should have told her how much I appreciated it. If she sees this, thank you for making a rough week a little brighter!

The first sunny Saturday in March! Hurrah! My friend and I decided to go for breakfast and do a little bit of shopping. Our last stop: Borders.
As we’re browsing through the magazine I realize I need to get a book for the next book club. I glance over at a computer to see if it the man standing there can help me out. I see a GIANT butt-​crack on the screen! Yuck!
This man proceeded to zoom in and zoom out on this unsuspecting woman’s exposed behind. At a computer that was clearly visible to every customer, you could even see it from outside! I checked!
His colleague come over and asks if he saw anything. He changes the screen and tells her that he didn’t see the man steal anything. Nice security, man.
I wish there was some creep-​o screening test for hiring employees who are going to be operating these computers/​cameras. Yuck!

I’ll admit, I prefer Barnes & Noble over Borders… but when I’m in a pinch or I’m bored, I’ll venture into whatever bookstore is around.
The campus bookstore is out of the book I need, and I have Barnes & Noble check their system and nothing. Now, I used to shop at this location when I was younger, and I hated the layout then. Nothing’s changed. It still sucks.
I check the computer and it says the book is there. Apparently, it wasn’t. However, it said it was in architecture and then urban planning. Cool. I head upstairs, look around, don’t see «architecture» and as I’m heading to the third floor I ask an employee if the architecture section is indeed upstairs and got a snippy «yes». Look, I was just checking and I wasn’t asking you to walk me around… just «yes» or «no» minus the attitude, please.
I find «art and architecture» and that’s it. Can’t find «urban planning» to save my life. I walk around the entire floor. Nothing. FINALLY I find someone who looks upset that I spotted him and I politely tell him that I checked the system and it directed me here, but I couldn’t seem to find the section, would he point me in the right direction. He looks at me blankly then finally says «yeah, that’s because it’s really small». O… k…
After dealing with another sales associate he looks it up and finds it is indeed not in their store. Doesn’t bother to offer to see if it can be ordered or anything because he’s «not on the right computer». THANKS. I called another Borders and the sales associate was awesome and polite and didn’t even care that I told her I usually shop B&N.
Thank you rude associates for reminding me why I don’t go to this location when I’m downtown. Also, I worked with the public for 8 years. For the jerk I can be… I always start off polite. The employees here need to work on that.

I was hoping Borders would be my one-​stop shopping experience for Christmas. I came in with a list of about 10 things, and Borders didn’t have a single one! But that’s not one what earns the one star. It’s the atrocious customer service.
Me: «Excuse me, your website says you have this movie, but I don’ t see it. Do you have any in the back?»
Salesgirl: «Um… No, I don’t think so. Did you check on the shelf?»
Me: «Yes, it’s not there. I just looked.»
Salesgirl: «Well, let’s look again… Where is the foreign language department?»
I point her in the right direction. We look. Nothing.
Salegirl: «Well, I don’t know what to tell you.»
Me: «Do you know if another store has it?»
Salegirl: «I guess I can check… Hold on.»
While she signs in and starts looking for another store’s inventory, a salesguy comes up, and asks her if she needs any help.
Salesgirl: «Oh, yeah. This isn’t my department, so I’m a little confused.»
Salesguy: «This isn’t my department either. I know how you feel»
Salesgirl: «Oh, good, I’m so glad. I’m starting to get overwhelmed!»
They proceed to have a conversation about this, while I look around for a more competent employee.
Salesgirl: «Okay, it says they have this one at the Michigan store.»
Salesguy: «But it also says we have one and we don’t, so… You can’t really tell from these things.»
Me: «Could you call and check?»
*Blank stares*
Salesgirl: «Um, do you want their number? Hold on, let me find a pen and paper.»
Usually this is a great store, and I never have this kind of problem. I don’t know if these were new hires for the season or what, but it was a huge problem, and I observed it with a few other people. I’m not entirely sure why I thought my experience would be different. Until everyone gets settled in (or the season is over), stay away!

Quiet friendly place to work in over the weekend — why is it so hard to come by one~?
I need a quiet place where other people are also reading/​working. Is that too much to ask for?
What distracts me here: the café is really small and so the coffee machine noises are loud and distracting no matter what part you sit in. Their internet is also not working because their older contracts expired and the new Verizon service isn’t actually running yet.
All in all though, still the best option in downtown Chicago because of normal crowd, friendly staff and clean/​quiet environment.

If you were debating on coming to this Borders based on other reviews, you would almost expect to see homeless people wandering around the store aimlessly searching for books and berating customers. I’ve been here at least 10 times and can’t remember seeing anything like this. When people shop at a store do they spend more time checking out other customers instead of shopping themselves?
This store is quite nice and has a few levels to it. I mostly spend my time on the 3^rd floor where the cookbooks can be found. That area is fairly empty and the selection is decent. The checkout area is back on the first floor and you will often see a long line twisting around. Don’t worry, it moves fast since they usually have at least 5 employees checking people out.
My main issue with Borders in general is that their prices are much higher than what you will find online. The good news is that Borders now offers a free membership which provides regular coupons through your email. I have seen anywhere from 30%-40% off a single book in the last few months. If you are someone who likes paging through a book prior to purchase, definitely sign up for this membership program. It’s free, what do you have to lose?
There is a reason Amazon exists. People enjoy selection. For a store, this place does a good job. But expect higher prices on some of the books and make sure you use coupons.

I really really like this Borders. The way people talk about the homeless, you’d expect to walk in and see a parade of homeless people ready to accost you. There’s usually someone asking for change on the corner, but actually inside the store, I’ve seen very few. I’ve never been bothered by them, or had a nasal attack of street-​smell. They’re usually just tucked into some corner, reading, just like the rest of us. No big deal.
What you do smell when you walk in is BOOKS. That famous new book smell definitely permeates the store, which I love.
They’re got a great selection of fantasy, horror, scifi, romance, and manga– all of which I adore. You can browse in peace without being pestered, but if you do need help, a staff member is usually right around one of the search computers, ready to help.
It’s right next to Argo Tea! Love it.
I also frequently take the South Shore train (from Millenium Station/​Randolph) home to visit family, so that makes this the perfect place to pick up a book to make a long train ride more bearable.
Thanks Borders, for fulfilling all my public transportation entertainment needs.

Offering me a piece of candy will not offset the fact that I just found out you do not take travelers checks (which I did not know because they was no sign) after I waited in line for close to 30 minutes.
Guess what — I am now buying my daily cat calendars, tattoo mags, and drug addict memoris from Barnes and Noble! harrrumphf.

Yay for having many copies of the new Kings of Leon, whereas Target had none, nada, zip, zilch, zero! But Borders’ CD selection is woefully small for something that is not a new release or on a major label push for Double Platinum sales. Their prices on CDs are pretty good though for old releases, if you can get what you need!
The store in general is tightly packed and busy at all times. It’s super convenient for Loop workers and I do enjoy a visit before I head home; maybe do a little book browsing and last minute Gift shopping. Sign up for Borders Rewards– the coupons far outweigh the annoyance of an occasional email. In fact, even though the coupons may say «not available on items on sale price», the helpful checkout people will ring it through anyway, garnering great deals!

This place is way too crowwded and clustered… they need more room to breathe… maybe a big comfy chair, a couch… more room to breathe, a bigger comic book section… room!!!
Thankfully its probably the coolest place i go. the staff kicks ass, and they always have the book or magazine i need, even the hard to find or «never in a million years did i ever think i’d find that». and usually the prices are extremely reasonable.
the music and movie section needs a little re-​organizing, and again… more room, please. nevertheless they have good choclate chip muffins and big gooey cookies. Plus they make the best hot drinks during the christmas season. Borders is cool, despite having no room to breathe.

Ughh, I can’t stand this Borders even though I go here for my favorite mags and the occasional book. This Borders is always mass chaos at every hour of the day. It’s one of those places to avoid while walking on State Street. I hate that the various bums are hassling you for money when you walk by.
I like this Borders for their extensive magazine collection and stationary section. These are the two redeeming qualities. They have a ton of magazines like Bust, Everyday Food, and Knit Simple. I go in here to get my copies of these mags most often and generally avoid the books. Their stationary section is nice and filled with fun novelty items.
I can’t stand how they arrange the books here. I went looking for the book club book and it was in history and politics. The book is an autobiography, what’s it doing there! You have to spend a good ten minutes trying to locate everything there. Like I said, I only go here for magazines and stationary. Beyond that, I’ll get my books on