A perfectly nice online bookstore with a first-rate retail presence, too.
by jmr50 - Written: Apr 12 '04
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I've used Barnes & Noble's online store (bn.com) since it's inception in the late 90s. As a stand-alone web site, it is a poor second to Amazon.com, but when combined with the reach of the many Barnes & Noble stores scattered all over suburbia, it becomes significantly more useful.
First of all, their web site is a pretty decent site. They have good searching capabilities, although their recommendations aren't nearly as refined as Amazon's collaborate filtering can produce. Their catalog is complete, descriptive, and generally has what you need. I've never had a situation where I wanted something that they didn't have which was generally available.
I've ordered books, movies, and music from bn.com. They deliver from 11 regional centers. This insures very quick delivery -- 3 days at the worst. Best yet, if you live in Manhattan, you can get same day delivery, which is the best: order it this morning, get it this afternoon.
Their customer service via email or the web has never been outstanding. They have the usual 1-800 numbers buried in their site, and you can send them email to get a canned response. The good news is that you can generally get satisfaction at their ubiquitous retail stores. While there are some distressing limitations between retail and online stores, they've gotten much better recently. Gift certificates, returns, and receipts are now coordinated fully between both types of stores. If you have a discount card, you get a discount at both types of stores.
Overall, my satisfaction is fairly high. Their product and pricing is totally acceptable. Their web site is good, and their fulfillment is well executed. That said, make sure to shop around, and make sure you're getting exactly what you expect. And, if you make a mistake, know that you can get satisfaction at their retail stores.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Books, Movies, and Music
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