and i have 3 unused Mazatlan guidebooks since i went to Honolulu instead this year. call amazon.com for me, would ya Scarlett honey?

I was going to say that B&N, Borders, etc. is like a library, then Bonnie posted about her son. I didn't see the original post, but why bother to purchase and return. Just go in when you have an hour, get yourself a fancy coffee, and go through a few travel books, magazines. I see plenty of people researching, taking notes.

Dreamer2, the employees at the Waldenbooks chain could bring books home, keep them for weeks, whatever. My son didn't engage in the practice, felt it was like stealing from the authors to do that ...

Gee, guys, I found an old "Europe on $5 a Day" while I was cleaning out a closet. It's been sitting around moldering for probably about 45 years. Do you think the bookstore will take it back? I think by the time I got around to using it, Europe was up to about $7.50.

Meetshare...why don't you ask if they'll upgrade it (for free of course) instead.

The new Barnes and Noble here said that if a person has a receipt, they can exchange the book.
But when I told him why I was asking, he frowned and said there are some things that they cannot do anything about, it is up to the individual to make these choices LOL But they do make sure the books show no sign of use, but if , like some people, you are adept at this, you get away with it.

Scarlett,
I hope you don't have a card at B&N - if so, they just flagged your account!

I did sit in B&N looking up things for a trip to Boston last year (before finding fodors.com) without buying a book, but right now I think my BF & I have about 20 books we PURCHASED on Prague/Vienna. So, I more than made up for it!

I missed the first part of this.

I've bought a travel book at B&N, trip was cancelled and returned the book. Book never left the bag.
Of course, I do have a bunch of books at home I plan on reading real soon.

I've also bought stuff at TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Belk, Wal-Mart, etc. that I didn't end up needing or using. I'd rather have my money back than have more clutter in my house.

No, LOL, I do not have a B&N card
But I did tell him my name was Lee

<I missed the first part of this.>

The other thread discussed, IS it OK to buy a travel guide, use it for a few hours, then return it to the store for credit?

I think that the book stores and video stores encourage the employees to read/watch for free so they can advise the customers.

At one time when I was in school, I almost took a job with Blockbuster. They wanted the employees to watch the movies. Employees ought to know the merchandise.

Why didn't the original poster just read the book in the store (or was it Amazon)?

Maybe I ought to work on that pile of books instead of read the forum.

I think people can take just about anything back just about anywhere, within the refund period, and the company asks no questions, unless it's been obviously, terribly abused. I recently took a t-shirt back to Ross's, a Liz Claiborne lime green one where the color ran, although I'd washed it exactly per the instructions. When I put it on the counter and started to show the CSR why I returned it, she said, "You don't need to explain. You can return anything here, no questions asked, period. We don't care what the problem is or why." I was dumbfounded! She then proceeded to re-ticket it, without even looking at the condition of the shirt, put it on a hanger, back on a rolling rack to go back into stock.

And at the bookstores, the policies have been very liberal for a long time. My son, when he worked at Waldenbooks, said that he wasn't kidding that a book had to look like it had been dropped in a toilet for the customer to ever get questioned about the return. He said things like crumbs between the pages or looking well-handled....... that would never get a customer questioned! If you think about it, Barnes & Noble is not going to lose a customer over a returned book unless it's really been battered. It has really surprised me the way they've turned the stores into living rooms and encouraged people to use the place as a reading lounge, but I guess it pays off for them in the long run, just as the liberal return policy must!

Yo Scarlett who's not a Southerner!!!

I bought one of the hideous blue bible books for the Big Island, read it front to back, but decided to go to other islands. Think they'll take it back? It really looks brand new!!!! And I decided not to go? Oh the shoes, those sad unworn shoes abandonded to the closet, never to be seen again! Travesty!!!! Goodwill/salvation Army here we come!

Gyppie, don't throw away the shoes!!
Write a travel shoe column on some travel forum. You will be a HUGE hit!
Save your shoes, eventually they will be back in style.
I know this because every time I hang on to a pair for years, and when I finally throw them away, they come back into style.

About book selling: it's probably the only retail industry where the producers (publishers) are required to take back unsold items and give full credit to the retailers -- something they've been trying to get out of for years.

Clothing retailers can unload their unsold (returned) items on discount chains or, sometimes, the downscale stores owned by the same umbrella corp., and they still get a tax write-off.

so what are the libraries for?

Bonnie, that is what I said, that people need to make a living by our purchasing the book. I felt it to be stealing.

And Faina, I agree, I said go to the library.

If you ask a question like that, especially knowing the people on this board, you would have to figure out the outcome, no?

Some people cannot be without attention, whether it be good or bad.

Noticed a thread Used Toursaver Book, think they could bring it to B&N for credit?!