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Swift Boat Ban at Borders - Mom tells it like it is

Posted on 08/20/2004 8:56:39 AM PDT by pfloyd95

I thought I'd share this with everyone. Please excuse me if I post incorrectly I rarely post here.

This is an e-mail my mother sent after having an interesting experience at a Borders book store. I thought I'd share it with everyone.

Subject: Borders Policy

Borders:

Yesterday, by chance I was in your Eatontown, New Jersey Branch store looking for a book on a particular subject. Not able to find what I was looking for I went to the reference desk. Three clerks were there and in discussion over a book. I waited and none of the clerks turned to me but I heard them say "Unfit for Command". Finally, a clerk asked me if I needed help (I was the only customer at the desk) and I told her what I was looking for. She very kindly escorted me to the bookshelves and I asked her what was the problem about "Unfit for Command" and she told me that a Marketing/PR employee of Borders had been on a radio station and had said that Borders was not carrying this book because it was full of lies. I did ask her if this branch carried it and she had said that the last copy of "Unfit for Command" was sold a few hours earlier and there were no more copies in the store. So I commented to the clerk since when does a bookstore chain make a judgement about the accuracy of a book's contents. This same book is also on the top of the New York Times best seller list. I thought it was their business to sell books and not to be censors. Look at all the copies of books you have by Bill Clinton, Michael Moore, and everyone else of the political left. I do not support any of their anti-American propaganda, however, I go to your store to purchase books that I want to read and have the strength and conviction to be able to withstand the onslaught of left-wing, anti-American propaganda written by these so called authors. I consider these books full of lies but I also have the right to purchase or not purchase these books. I thought bookstore chains were big supporters of freedom of speech. Since when has it become the policy of a bookstore to decide when and what its customers may purchase and read. Since when did Borders decide to go into the censorship business? If I as a consumer can tolerate walking thru aisles of Anti-American propaganda, the least you can do is give me the choice to buy the books that I want to read and not what you have decided politically to make available.

Since when has it become a book seller's policy to decide on what the public can and cannot read? Where in your Mission Statement does it say that Borders will not sell best seller books because it decided it has "lies"? Who made the decision that this book is full of lies? Strange - the one book in just about every category aisle throughout the store that you are pushing is the biggest liar of all "My Life" by Bill Clinton. Isn't he the one who lied before the Starr Commission and finally admitted it in his book?

Acknowledgement is requested of your policy regarding the sale of books.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: borders; kerry; swiftboat; unfitforcommand
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1 posted on 08/20/2004 8:56:40 AM PDT by pfloyd95
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To: pfloyd95

Is this a local ban by Borders, or is it nationwide?


2 posted on 08/20/2004 8:59:37 AM PDT by KellyAdmirer
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To: pfloyd95
Since when did Borders decide to go into the censorship business?

I am not sure this qualifies as censorship. They have the right as a private business to sell what they want to. And, of course, we have the right not to shop there.

3 posted on 08/20/2004 9:00:41 AM PDT by KJacob (God's purpose is never the same as man's purpose.)
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To: pfloyd95

I don't think there is a Borders-wide policy. I think Borders is suffering from disinformation and Democratic/liberal employee activists.

Expect a formal statement disavowing the statements of employees implying Borders is refusing to sell the book to be made next week if this continues and gets press coverage.


4 posted on 08/20/2004 9:00:50 AM PDT by coconutt2000
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To: pfloyd95

Great post! But I stopped going to Borders because their selection is so lame.

BTW, they feature books on astrology and the occult, so I guess they're vouching for the veracity of tarot readings and horoscopes.


5 posted on 08/20/2004 9:01:18 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Imagine whirl peas)
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To: KellyAdmirer

Another thread is reporting that the publisher is busy with another printing, so it's not the publisher. I called my Borders and they're sold out; the manager didn't know anything about a recall like this but, she said, if headquarters asked for a recall, they will comply. I have the scissors next to my Borders credit card, waiting for confirmation.


6 posted on 08/20/2004 9:01:57 AM PDT by sarasota
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To: pfloyd95

Did they EVER respond to that e-mail?


7 posted on 08/20/2004 9:02:26 AM PDT by NCC-1701 (ISLAM IS A CULT, PURE AND SIMPLE!!!!! IT MUST BE ERADICATED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH.)
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To: pfloyd95

Border's Books Email

Borders is also partnered with Amazon

8 posted on 08/20/2004 9:02:26 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: pfloyd95

NO KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, I think based on your description, and what has happened in other places, we should form an email campaign to straighten these people out about censorship and Freedom of Speech..........unbelievable!!!! Can anyone get one of those whiz-bang email listings together......you know, the cut and paste kind so you can fire off 1,000 email replies to dipwads like this and expose them for attempting to censor what their customers read??????????


9 posted on 08/20/2004 9:03:25 AM PDT by soozla ("I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not too sure............"-John Kerry)
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To: pfloyd95
You are only the victim of personal propaganda.

Borders is only the retail arm of Amazon.com. Amazon has so many back orders for the book that shipments that were destined for retail shelves have been redirected to cover online orders. The people in the store just lied to you out of their own animus towards the Swifties.

10 posted on 08/20/2004 9:03:31 AM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: pfloyd95

Go to drudge and see for yourself Kerry people are trying to get the book banned. They are putting pressure on the publisher and Book chains. This is the same thing that they did with the TV ads. Imagine the media's reaction if Bush tried to ban Moore's movie or books or any of the other books over the last year. I think you should call Borders and raise heck


11 posted on 08/20/2004 9:03:34 AM PDT by jbwbubba (stunner)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Borders is based in Ann Arbor; could, should I say more?


12 posted on 08/20/2004 9:03:42 AM PDT by Oystir
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To: KellyAdmirer

Borders in Livinston, NJ has it.


13 posted on 08/20/2004 9:03:49 AM PDT by whatexit
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To: pfloyd95
did ask her if this branch carried it and she had said that the last copy of "Unfit for Command" was sold a few hours earlier and there were no more copies in the store.

The store didn't ban the book, it sold it's copies...

Moving on, nothing to see here...

14 posted on 08/20/2004 9:04:09 AM PDT by Zavien Doombringer (I am not late for Zots, I have stealth Zot capability.....)
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To: NCC-1701

They haven't replied as of yet. I'm waiting to see what they say though.


15 posted on 08/20/2004 9:04:55 AM PDT by pfloyd95
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To: pfloyd95

See, be VERY suspicious of these stores claiming that they are already sold out. I just do not believe it. You can buy it at all the conservative outlets. Heck, subscibe to Human Events and you will get a copy for free. I am going to renew my subscription right now in fact.


16 posted on 08/20/2004 9:05:09 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Legislatures are so outdated. If you want real political victory, take your issue to court.)
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To: coconutt2000

My brother and I have been calling our local Borders each day asking about the book.

The clerks in my town have been saying the book is on back order and they should have some in the store next week. We'll see if they get a shipment or if they are just covering for not carrying it.

Yesterday they tried to get me to order it and have it shipped to me.


17 posted on 08/20/2004 9:05:22 AM PDT by Rebelbase (Bush is Hell on liberals and terrorists.)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
Barnes and Noble sells it...Walden sells it, and so does a few Mom and pops shops here in town. Go somewhere else to get it.

There really isn't any reason for not having it.

18 posted on 08/20/2004 9:07:19 AM PDT by Zavien Doombringer (I am not late for Zots, I have stealth Zot capability.....)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
The other thing is this, how many copies did the retailer purchase to sell?

They may have sold out of all 5 books...

19 posted on 08/20/2004 9:08:20 AM PDT by Zavien Doombringer (I am not late for Zots, I have stealth Zot capability.....)
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To: pfloyd95
... she told me that a Marketing/PR employee of Borders had been on a radio station and had said that Borders was not carrying this book because it was full of lies. ...

Greeaaat. As to see a copy of the (actual book carried by Borders) I Hate Bush Handbook

20 posted on 08/20/2004 9:08:48 AM PDT by Smedley
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