by Princess Spanky Pants ~ The Real, Original, Heather T
Member since:
October 13, 2006

The end of Barnes & Noble cards?

January 11, 2007 08:55 AM EST
views: 133 | rating: 8.8/10 (15 votes) | comments: 35

After reading something just now about Borders being a new partner to Gather, I decided to check and see if that was a new option for gift cards here at Gather. It is. However, it replaced the Barnes & Noble card completly!

B&N is no longer an option, which bothers me somewhat, simply because I know where the nearest B&N is, where as the nearest Borders is NOT anywhere nearby. Even with B&N, it's a 40 minute drive away. :(

The only good thing, I suppose is that there are Home Depot cards available, which I can get use out of. Downside is that they are only available in $25 incriments, which means saving up my points longer. Ah well, it'll work out in the end.

 

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Comments: 35

Nancy * Jan 11, 2007, 9:00am EST
Thanks for the update on the change. Actually, for me, this works out better, as the Borders store is a good 30-40 minutes closer than the Barnes and Nobles, and is in a city that I visit more often.
Well, see, there you go, An upside!

Likely what I'll do is just save up for the Home Depot cards. I can get those at NetWinner as well, and we're attempting to buy my husbands aunt's house. If we do, I'm sure the Home Depot cards will come in VERY handy this summer. :)

I shudder to think of the cost of the stuff we'll need to get it fixed up a bit on the inside (it's far from run down, but some things do need fixing), let alone the cost of letting the kids decorate thier rooms (first time ever that they will each have their own rooms), and getting some stuff done that is purely cosmetic, but I want!
Michelle W. Jan 11, 2007, 9:35am EST
Borders and B & N are about the same distance from where my husband and I live. One is in the mall and the other is a seperate store. We usually shop Borders more often than B & N. I like B & N better as they have a much larger selection, but I don't really care which one I shop at. Thanks for the update.
You're welcome, Michelle!
Tiffanie C. Jan 11, 2007, 9:54am EST
That sucks! We have a discount card with B&N and it's hubbys favorite place too. We love B&N so much! Plus, if you just want to order online you can get free shipping, I don't think you can do that with Borders.
Good to know about Home Depot though because soon we will be spending lots of money there, I'll have to get those little buggers saved up :)
Thanks for the update
courtney m. Jan 11, 2007, 10:14am EST
I am all about the uncommon goods gift cards, it is such a great site for gifts etc...
Μόףףý ● ķ ~ Jan 11, 2007, 10:59am EST
I'm glad about the switch because Borders is within walking distance of my home! :)
Natalie ! Jan 11, 2007, 11:01am EST
This sucks because we have a Borders no where around either.
That's great for you, Moggy! I would personally love to see ANY bookstore in walking distance. I don't think I'd ever leave. ;)

I was excited by the initial thought that there would be more choices. I just wish B & N wasn't dropped. I'm sure there was a reason it was dropped, but I really like that it's at the mall, which I only get to go to once in a while. But next time I go, I know I have 2 $10 B & N cards to spend, a $15 Starbucks card to spend, and a $25 petco card to spend. Not bad for a shopping trip I wouldn't otherwise make. :)
Fran S. Jan 11, 2007, 11:46am EST
I think they should offer BOTH B & N and Borders.... there is no Borders near me, but a B & N five minutes "down the road"..... I'm disappointed they discontinued these gift cards
Tricia C. Jan 11, 2007, 12:33pm EST
I will have to check out Borders, but I have never heard of it and don't know the nearest store... guess I may just end up working to finish off the bathroom remodel we are doing so we can get the materials we need from home depot.. thanks for the heads up.. I ordered a B&N a week or two ago.. guess I am glad I did it when I did...
Trish- Apparently, Waldenbooks is part of Borders. The nearest ones to us are Saginaw and Grand Rapids. Ugh. That's over an hour each way.
Shawnee G. Jan 11, 2007, 2:43pm EST
Someone else posted about being unhappy about this change. I wonder though if B&N stepped out when Borders came into the picture, or if it was part of the deal to drop them for the Borders affiliation. I would like to see things just get added in the future without seeming to replace other things.
Nancy * Jan 11, 2007, 2:48pm EST
On the bright side, they still have options for ways in which to use points, so that is good.

I think it would be impossible to please everyone, regardless of what they do, being that we all have different preferences and stores near us.

Was it Lincoln who said that you can please all of the people some of the time, and none of the people all of the time
( my apologies to the former president, for most likely botching the quote or attributing it to the wrong person, but I am fairly certain it was he who said it, and in a similar way)

Still, I bet your Home Depot cards will get put to good use. If we owned rather than rented, I would probably choose those as well from time to time. It is a bit of a pain that the increments are so high ... maybe they can lower the amounts, making it easier for those who want to earn them though.
Cathy S. Jan 11, 2007, 3:37pm EST
I'm sure my husband will love the Home Depot cards, but I liked the B&N ones. Had I seen this coming I would've cashed out for two $10s, I'm just short of $25. I have no clue where there's a Borders around here. Bummer.
Kate S. Jan 11, 2007, 3:49pm EST
Not to sound really dumb...where did you find this info. I usually access the rewards page from my Gather homepage, but sometimes the link isn't there...Thanks!
Mary G. Jan 11, 2007, 4:03pm EST
I am sorry to see this change and feel we should be told that the change would happen before it happens, as some of the members might have spent their points, if they had known it would happen.
I shop at both book stores, but prefer Barnes & Noble, as I am a member and get discounts when making purchases. Also I like the free shipping and handling when I don't have time to get to the store, which is 30 mintes one way without traffic. Borders is the same distance, but I find parking at my local store means a long walk to get into the store, as there are a lot of stores in the shopping mall.
Kate, the only way I've found to do this is by clicking the reward points thing on my gather page.

Nancy, you are right, it's good that they still offer a way to use the points, which is great. I'm not upset or angry over the change, but I wish that there would have been notice sent to us, or that they had kept both around.
Susan *. Jan 11, 2007, 5:20pm EST
I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't other options being mulled over as well at this time. If you aren't happy with the switch, why not start a separate thread simply stating your concerns and wishes and asking those who want, to comment on WHY they don't like the change. I think gather would listen to what you have to say...they certainly seem more member friendly than a lot of other sites I've been associated with. It's worth a shot anyway.
Susan *. Jan 11, 2007, 5:36pm EST
Heather...I just took my own advice and published a thread on this subject (linking back here as well) stating the situation and asking for comments. We'll see between the two of us (or others who jump onboard as well) what the general feeling is about this change. It might be interesting to say the least.

here's my link (if you want me to delete this comment and the link, let me know. I will with no hard feelings...after all, you DID start the conversation! :-)

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976882711
Sandy (Site Psychic™) Knauer Jan 11, 2007, 5:37pm EST
Home Depot? Guess that makes (disappointing) sense.
No problem at all, Susan!
Elaine A. Jan 11, 2007, 6:02pm EST
Thanks for the update Heather.
Ronnie M. Jan 11, 2007, 6:52pm EST
They do have an online Borders so if they take the gift card ok , if not we have a problem.
Marsha S. Jan 11, 2007, 8:01pm EST
I would rather have Home Depot. I had one for a $25 gift card for B&N already. I didn't see much that interested ME. But to each their own. : )
Nanci B Jan 11, 2007, 8:16pm EST
I wish there had been some warning too since I would have gone for the two - $10 cards rather than waiting for the $25. We only have Waldenbooks and even they are 90 miles from me. I HATE Waldenbooks. They are simply crappy stores. Oh well. My article is here:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976882529
Jennifer N. Jan 12, 2007, 10:13pm EST
Heather, I'm with you on this one.

I got to Barnes and Noble TWICE a year because it's a 50 minute drive to the closest one. The closest Borders? I don't even THINK there is one in under a 2+ hour drive. Which is IMPOSSIBLE for me.

I'm so unhappy right now. Yes, I'm here for the community first and foremost, but having a place convienient to shop at with my points is pretty important as well. Right now not one place that we can redeem for is anywhere near my home, and if it is, it's more than an hour's drive and therefore not an option.

Unhappy doesn't even begin to describe what I feel now.
Jennifer N. Jan 12, 2007, 10:25pm EST
Okay, I eat my words. There are apparently two Borders in the same town as B&N. Maybe it's not so bad afterall.

I still prefer B&N though. But oh well, I guess we have no say in it, do we?
Kathy S. Jan 13, 2007, 4:09am EST
Thanks for the update. I had just checked it out a few days ago and noticed the addition of Home Depot, but not the absence of B&N. Of course I prefer B&N since it is "only" 30 miles from me and Borders is more than 100 miles away!
nathaniel s. Jan 13, 2007, 5:00pm EST
barnes and nobles is a superior store
Cynthia B. Jan 15, 2007, 1:19pm EST
Usually gift cards are redeemable online so even if you don't have a Borders store near you, you can buy online! And I love Borders so. . . just my two cents.
Clicker F Jan 18, 2007, 8:25pm EST
I thought B&N would be more versatile than Borders when I gave the card as a gift for a grandchild.

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