On the Death of Borders

Sad, funny, and all too true:

Documenting the Fall of Borders Through Its E-Mail Newsletters

Being a subscriber to Borders’ e-mails, the only way to get a hold of
those coupons, I’m privy to these attempts and all their overzealous
subject lines, which seemed to culminate in a rather startling offer
with this morning’s e-mail. In chronological order, here’s a selection
of how it’s gone over the past few weeks. These are merely the subject
lines of the e-mails:

December 27: WATCH ALL WEEK! 2-Day Deals — Deal #2: 50% off bestsellers
December 31: 50% OFF ANY ITEM! Don’t Miss the Last of Our 2-Day Deals!
January 3: Ring in the New Year with Big Books & BIG SAVINGS!
January 6: $10 in BONUS Borders Bucks — Limited Time Only!
January 6: Eat This, Not That — Shop Here, Not There… And SAVE! [Two e-mails in one day…things are getting serious.]
January 10: 500 Million People Like This [Not Borders, of course — Facebook. This was a Facebook-themed e-mail tied to the release of The Social Network on DVD. Clever.]
January 13: WOW! A Wireless eReader Under $100 — 4 Days Only!
January 20: 4 DAYS LEFT! A Wireless eReader Under $100 [Wasn’t that deal over on January 17?]
January 21: Snowed In? SAVE UP TO 46% at Borders.com [Winter-themed e-mails!]
January 24: Don’t Miss the Book BOGO: Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off
January 27: MUAH! Be My Valentine — Gift Ideas & SAVINGS! [Gross, Borders]
January 31: FREE SHIPPING — No Minimum Purchase! Stop Shoveling, Start Shopping!
February 3: Life Is Good with FREE SHIPPING & Ultimate Mochas! [What?]
February 7: Dare to Compare! Kobo Wireless eReader Now
$99.99 Every Day! [Oh, so that deal is on for four consecutive days,
repeatedly, forever]
February 9: 6 Hand-Selected Wines for $6.99 Each — Plus a Free Gift [?!?!?!]

Spread the love

More Articles for You

Puerto Rican Porridges: Maizena, Harina de Maíz, and the Comfort of the Boricua Breakfast

A personal and cultural essay on Puerto Rican porridges, including silky maizena, avena and harina de maíz recipes with cinnamon, fresh ginger, and dried orange rind, plus lactose-free options.

Spread the love

Yesteryear and the Problem of “This Moment” Fiction

Disclosure: I received a complimentary advance review copy of Yesteryear. As always, receiving a galley does not influence my opinions. …

Spread the love

42 of the Best Feminist Rage Books and Feminist Theory Books to Read Right Now

I have been seeing a lot of requests for feminist rage books lately, and I understand why. We are living …

Spread the love

Resilience Is Too Often a Word Used for People the System Has Exhausted

Puerto Rico is often noted for its resilience, but “resilience” can be a dangerous word. It can turn endurance into …

Spread the love

Basque, Portuguese & Noble Families of Puerto Rico: The European Roots You Didn’t Learn About

Explore how Basque, Portuguese, and noble European families shaped Puerto Rico’s southern towns (like Ponce) through surnames, migration paths, and hidden ancestral histories.

Spread the love

Puerto Rican Surnames with Taíno & African Roots: Origins in Ponce, Juana Díaz & the Southern Highlands

Many of the names we still see today (Montalvo, Negrón, Fontanes, Rivera, Chamorro, Zapata, Maldonado) carry the intertwined legacies of Taíno survivors, Africans and European migrants who moved through the island. This guide unravels those lineages with care.

Spread the love