I'm disgusted with Barnes & Noble now, especially after reading some of the comments here, but I'm writing this in response to my visit to one of the stores yesterday. I went in just to browse and find a book or two on certain subjects. I was accosted by no less than EIGHT -- 8 -- staff persons, asking me if they could help me find anything, how was my day going, what was interesting that I'd found to read (I was leafing through a book I'd only just picked up), etc. etc. I got tired of it and put in my earbuds, which didn't stop them! One staffperson interrupted me with, "Hey, how are you today?" and when I didn't answer, she LEANED DOWN INTO MY FACE AND REPEATED THE QUESTION. Um, stupid sh**, I'm wearing headphones and looking at a book. I don't need you inquiring about my day! I'm in a freaking bookstore -- where, last I checked, people come to browse books! Not be hounded by every staff person in sight, every few feet, every few minutes. It was worse than being on a used car lot!
After 45 minutes of this, I finally just grabbed up the book I'd picked up (without even knowing if I really wanted to buy it, since I hadn't been given a chance to look through it and see if it fit my needs) and headed for the cashier. There I encountered yet more salesy tactics, trying to sell me the ubiquitous Membership, which I used to have but dropped because it's not worth the cost. I politely told the cashier no, thank you, and she came back with the "You'd be saving X dollars on today's purchase!" then when I didn't take the bait, proceeded to ask for my email. I said I was already on the list. She said, "Well, it pops up every time anyway, so why don't you give it to me?" WTF?! I again declined, and she said, "Well, let's get you signed up right now!" I was seriously so over it. I wanted to literally just punch her in the face -- what part of "NO" do you not understand?
My experience yesterday completely ruined my afternoon. I'd already left work that morning because I was not feeling well, and I'd hoped a nice relaxing visit to B&N would result in me finding a book or two to go home and lie down and read. Instead, I left there more agitated and with an even worse headache than when I went in.
Now I remember why I shop Amazon for books.
