ITH Poker Forum

[Doc T River]

It seems like there was a thread discussing the state of poker book availability in brick and mortar stores, but I cannot find it and I looked at thread titles in this section created clear back in 2007.

Anyway, here in Kansas City, things have not improved and in some cases have gotten worse. The total number of books generally available is down and the quality of those books are down.

I frequent a lot of bookstores and I have only come across one selling Winning Poker Tournaments....Vol 2.

Hopefully things improve because I have a $40 B&N gift card coming my way and I plan on picking up a couple of poker books using it.

How are the brick and mortar shelves in your area?

[nsidestrate]

I believe that the stocking of books reflect the general sales trend. Stores like B&N only carry the biggest movers and the entire category is slipping. B&N's cashflow problems certainly don't help either. I wouldn't be surprised if B&N files bankruptcy before too long.

[Doc T River]

I just wonder if Borders will file frst to file or second. For the longest time, Borders has been viewed as weaker than Barnes And Noble and was expected to file, but has escaped so far.

[Zenjo]

I think most people who buy poker books would buy most of their books online.

[Doc T River]

I think most people who buy poker books would buy most of their books online.

If that is the case, I am the exception and not the rule. I think all my books, except for a couple, were purchased at B&M stores. And I really did not buy the two I got through other means. One was payment for doing some "consulting" and the other was as a result of a free offer due to buying another book.

I am very particular as to the condition of my books and so prefer offline purchases.

The state of the market is going to make me go to online purchases soon, I fear though.

[Doc T River]

Due to the liquidation sale of another Borders in our area and it still going on now that we are back from Vegas, the fiancee and I went there tonight. Not to get poker books, but to get some business books. But on our way there, we stopped to get a bite to eat and go to another bookstore to look at magazines. While at this bookstore, I noticed Byron Jacob's How To Think....book. A lot of copies in fact, but no copies of any other new book. Found that a little strange.

We went to Borders and picked up the business books, but we also picked up a couple of books on blackjack. We are both going to get into playing blackjack a little bit more.

[Doc T River]

While the fiancee was judging a bbq contest, I went to see Thor and then stopped at a bookstore. This bookstore had changed locations in the strip mall and had to downsize their selections considerably. I hope this is not an indication of things to come, but their poker magazines, and several other magazines, were a couple of months old while they had less than ten poker books. There was no decor to speak of and with no carpet on the floor, the store said used bookstore rather than new bookstore. Even if I am out in that area again, I don't see myself checking out what they have again. The vibe of it being a used bookstore just turned me off.

[Doc T River]

This does not really have anything to do with the presence, or lack thereof, of poker books, but it does have to do with the state of the shelves for reading material.

I was in a video store that is known for carrying a wide assortment of magainzes including poker magazines. It has shelf upon shelf of computer magazines, sports magazines, automotive magazines, home magazines, etc. Make that had. They really cut down their selection. Another happy memory gutted by the current economic climate.

[Avatar77]

I live in Canada and HMV (it used to be Canada's biggest retailer of CDs and DVDs) is now getting bought out.
I am afraid to say that times are changing and the internet has significantly changed the landscape for music, video and now books especially with giant online retailers such as Amazon and now the fast adoption of e-book readers. I, too, used to love going to a bookstore to purchase the newest arrivals.

The only retailers that are surviving right now are the niche players where the retailer focuses on a specific category of books.

[Doc T River]

Bye, Bye Borders.