This *is* discriminatory.

[mamadeb]

I reserved OotP at Barnes and Noble. I did this because Amazon insisted on delivering the book on Saturday, and at the time, I was convinced that Fedex would not leave the book without a signature. This apparently was incorrect, but by the time I'd found this out, I'd canceled the order.

My plan was to pick it up today (Sunday) if I had the time after Uncle Max's unveiling and felt like going out of my way. Otherwise, I'd get it after work on Monday. After all, it's on *reserve*. That means I can pick it up for up to a week, right? Or they'd tell me differently when I reserved it, right?

This morning, we listened to phone messages. B&N called. I could pick the book up Friday at midnight *or* on Saturday, and it would remain on reserve until Sunday. Or so it seemed. I called them up. Yep. Only until Sunday.

So, because I observe the Sabbath, and have important Family things to do on Sunday, my copy of the book would have gone off reserve. Now, most of that is Scholastic's fault for not making a big enough print run, but also for doing it *this* way, which basically tells Observant Jews and Seventh Day Adventists to screw themselves.

First, they tell me that I could pay for it over the phone and they'd *mail* it to me. Excuse me? If I'd wanted that, I wouldn't have reserved and I'd have combined the book with some sort of supersaver thing on Amazon. I mean, bad enough I have to wait until Monday. It took *three* different people to for them to let me pay for the copy already on reserve so I could pick it up today or tomorrow.

And, you know, if I'd been *told* this when I reserved the damn thing, I'd have been *happy* to prepay? It wouldn't have been a problem?

And she rattles on about how it made the news, and how all the bookstores were full and there were crowds outside and all I could think was, yeah, but none of them were Orthodox, were they?

I'm seriously thinking about writing to Scholastic and Barnes and Noble.

Comments

[gingicat]

Yes, it is discriminatory, and I absolutely agree that you should write to B&N and Scholastic.

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

Well, it's annoying and a bummer, but I think we should reserve the word discrimination for things like being fired because you refuse to work on Shabbos. Don't you?

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

The thing of it is, this particular Barnes and Noble serves three major Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn - go there on a Sunday and you'll see lots of frum kids. (This will change. One is in process only a few blocks from where I live now.)

And today is graduation day pretty well neighborhood wide - no chance of hoping a bus or train for the bookstore. By only having effectively one day to buy the book, they are being discriminated against, even if not maliciously.

Re:

[taffimai.livejournal.com]

I think discrimination implied intent, though. I'm sure that Scholastic wasn't thinking of Shabbos when they released on Saturday. They were thinking of getting the largest possible weekend audience. And B&N was only thinking, "We're got tens of tens of people begging for this book. We can't keep these books on hold any longer."

I don't think they're guilty of discrimination any more than the corner McDonald's is guilty of discrimination for not ridding their menu of pork, milk, and getting a hectsher.

[sweetbriar.livejournal.com]

Target has the book for $16.99. My Target still had tons of copies, and at that price, it's hard to beat. :)

[elance.livejournal.com]

*incoherent*

Really? Really really?

I can afford that, and I have an employee discount.

Off to Target with me, then!

[sweetbriar.livejournal.com]

Yep. ;) I almost wet myself when I heard the price, especially compared to the full monty Borders and B&N are charging--like $29.99 a copy. Ouch! Also, if you don't have the first 4 books, you can pick them up cheap this week, too, as they're on sale.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Targets are pretty thin on the ground here in Brooklyn. :)

I got this for $17.59, including tax, because I'm in the Reader'sAdvantage club.

[rocky-t.livejournal.com]

One solution to the shipping problem would be to have it sent to your office (which presumably is open on Saturdays?) and someone there could sign for it. And then you'd just pick it up the next day.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

There's no difference between my office and the bookstore, as they're three blocks apart, which is why I was content with the idea of going there on Monday to pick it up.

It's more the idea that no one told me I had to prepay or the word "reservation" would be meaningless.

[leela-cat.livejournal.com]

Definitely discriminatory. I thought about that when I heard that they were releasing the book on a Friday/Saturday. I think you should write to both Scholastic and B&N. Especially B&N, who are the ones causing you the grief over your reserved copy.

I didn't reserve a copy -- although I do have a Brit/Canadian version coming in the next week from amazon.ca. However, I got a copy from a local independent children's bookstore. Paid full price, but that's okay. I had budgeted for both these copies.

The US copy that I own now will be handed on to a currenly unemployed friend who can't afford to buy the hard cover. After she's done, she'll hand it over to someone else, or I'll take it to the local library. I'll either donate it (it's a very small branch), or stand in the kids area and see if I can give it away.

[cellio]

What part of "reserved" does B&N not understand? You're right to complain to them and to make sure the publisher knows about the problem. (The publisher didn't cause the problem, but they should know.)

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Publisher underpublished for the preorders, which is extremely stupid.

And they timed things for Friday night, which was not malicious, but is annoying.

[cellio]

If they underpublished for the number of pre-orders, then I agree that that was stupid. (I missed that before.) They ought to have a pretty good idea of how many copies they'll need even without data on pre-orders, too; it's the fifth book.

[vass]

Definitely discriminatory. And no, it doesn't have to be intentional to be discriminatory.