Activist investor draws up plan to take Barnes & Noble private: WSJ
 

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ba...-idUSKBN1DG2Q7

"(Reuters) - Sandell Asset Management Corp, an activist investor in Barnes & Noble Inc, has proposed a transaction that would take the bookseller private with the help of current shareholders and debt financing, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. "

There's almost zero chance of this happening, of course, but the "and debt financing" part is what took down the Family Christian Stores bookstore chain and more recently Toys-R-Us, so no matter what state B&N is in right now, it's better off than in the hands of private equity raiders.

Re: Activist investor draws up plan to take Barnes & Noble private: WSJ
 

Depends on whether or not you believe in euthanasia. When was the last time that a commodity retailer successfully reinvented itself in order to return to a state of robust profitablity? (Apple did sort of, but they did it by creating an entirely new market and I can't really see BN managing that)

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

Amen to that, Phantom! I buy a lot of stuff from the Bargain tables, always have. I was at a store the other night that had something on Bargain. I almost bought it, then checked bn.com- it was cheaper by 10%. So I bought it today, tried the coupon online (15%) and it worked. My mind reels.

So this store I was in last night was not one I had been to in years, it's almost an hour from my house on the other side of town (Westlake, OH-Crocker Park). However, they had a book I was looking for, I checked the website store locator and it was in-stock. So I went to pick it up. Now, this was a new paperback, $9.99 full-price, no discount other than my Membership and the coupons I had.

The clerk at the counter was helpful, I gave her my Membership and told her I had the "Mystery" coupon I mentioned in the post upthread. She said she would try and get it to work, force it through if she had to. Five minutes later, nothing. She even told me corporate is doing this, trying lots of different "extra" specific coupons to see what sticks, but that their definition of categories and the fine print makes them almost useless. Alright, fine- I gave her my last generic 20% off one item I got in my mailer...And that wouldn't work. She finally had to get a manager to key it in. This was like another five minutes of my time.

I was very polite, and told them it wasn't their fault (it isn't), but somebody needs to pass the word up the management chain to corporate that they're alienating their best customers, the Members. Hell, I would love to give more of my money to BN, but stuff like this really makes it hard to be a fan. I would have loved to have been able to use that Mystery coupon on my paperback and spend even more money with that 20%er.

Re: Activist investor draws up plan to take Barnes & Noble private: WSJ
 

Word on the street (Wall, that is) a few years ago was that besides the Cafes (which keep the stores in business), the Nook was keeping BN afloat as a company. Having never had a prayer to the Kindle as the simple e-reader, not to mention other full tablets, I'm amazed they still own it as a brand. A lot of analysts thought they would have to sell it to stave off bankruptcy.

But you are absolutely right, there's no book or tech market they're going to invent as a new category like Apple did. They struck a gold mine with expanded selection of new vinyl the past year or two, but that explosive growth/profit was never going to be sustainable.

Activist investor draws up plan to take Barnes & Noble private: WSJ
 

B&N wasn't impressed:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-b...-idUSKBN1DG2Q7
The punch line is "a debt financing of $500 million is highly unlikely" which I think is true. Anyone who invests in B&N probably supports the current management if they invest at all. Everyone else has moved on. Once investors learn the current plan is to sell $14 grilled cheese sandwiches, things could change.

Re: Activist investor draws up plan to take Barnes & Noble private: WSJ
 

Debt financing rarely works out for a company with a fading business model.

The best thing going for B&N today is that Amazon seemingly doesn't care much anymore about selling books. Amazon is going to spend all its capital on its grocery expansion.

I can see what the consultants are thinking trying to transform B&N into some kind of eatery/kitchen destination. B&N's primary asset at this point besides the retail locations is its brand, which draws in a certain demographic. The trick is converting that existing demographic into using your stores for something more profitable than books.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

DAYMAKER 20% off $50 or more
Expires November 22, 2017 at 11:59pm Eastern Time.


20% Off Single Item Online
D4M8K3B -- Unknown Expiration. Could be 11/24 or it could be Dec 31 exp

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

For those interested in the BF $50 GC deal with $10 PROMO card , it listed in the BN preview

It looks pretty similar to previous years -- Promo card will activate 12/26, but expires 2/28/2018.

No beginning date, but I'm guessing Thursday online and Friday to Sunday in in-store. Online it should be a once per account deal though in-store it's always been increments on $50

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

Store Only Coupon -- BLACKFRIDAY
25% Off One Item
coupon is valid at Barnes & Noble stores from November 24, 2017 to November 26, 2017 at close of business.

Online only
ONLINE ONLY
GIVETHANKS
valid 11/23 through 11/26 -- I'm guessing ending 11:59pm PT though it's possible they'll stop it ET and start a Cybermonday code

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

Haven't the B&N Black Friday coupons traditionally been for 30%?

https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordp...73ef9e294b.jpg

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

I thought they were 40%?? I'm sure I used a 40% coupon when I bought the Zatoichi box set.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

All DVDs and Blus are on sale 50% off this weekend in store excluding box sets.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

Is there a sign in-store stating this? Online, only select DVDs & Blu-rays are 50% off.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

Yes I saw a sign. Actually the clerk showed it to me because i'm in there so much. Actually looking online most of the Arrow Video appears to be 50% off including the 'Stray Cat Rock' box set but that same set does not scan half price at the store.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

15% Whole Order
SHOPALLDAY
expires November 28, 2017 at 2:59am Eastern Time

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

Just to be sure, there should be no issue doing the 75 + 10 and 50 + 10 online on the same account, correct?

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

Their "Pre-Black Friday" online coupon was better than their Cyber Monday coupon.

:hscratch:

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

In the continuing saga of "what the hell are they thinking" - they shipped every single item in my last bulk online Criterion order (about 10 pieces) individually, even though the tracking info indicated that 8 of those pieces originated at the same warehouse and were processed within about 20 minutes of one another. And of course every item that wasn't in a plastic case arrived damaged. Foolish me, I thought that by making 1 larger order I could "trick them" into shipping them all in a proper box, thereby avoiding the perils of paper-wrapped items navigating the postal system...

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

In-store sign said that the British sale runs from 12/1-12/18 this year.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

You're much more generous than I am. I typically chalk this sort of stuff up to organizational inefficiency (i.e. the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing) or just general waste, fraud, and abuse They're sort of doing the *exact opposite* of what Amazon does. They'll "cache" my orders for a few days to try to consolidate as much as they can.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

10% off order $35-74.99, 15% off $75-149.99, and 20% off orders of $150+.
Online READMORE
Expires November 30, 2017 at 2:59am Eastern Time.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

20% Single Item
Store Coupon V4M3T8B and Online Coupon PRESENTS
Expire Dec 4 2:59am ET online or end of business 12/3 in store

Members should be receiving a 25% off single use coupon via email

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

10% off orders of $35 to $74.99, 15% off orders of $75 to $124.99, and 20% off orders of $125 or more
FESTIVE
EXPIRES December 6, 2017 at 2:59am Eastern Time.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

Interestingly enough - the email that they sent me says the 20% kicks in at 125. But my cart confirms that it is in fact $150.

Re: Barnes And Noble Coupon Thread Part 2
 

FESTIVE code now officially changed to 10% off orders of $35 to $74.99, 15% off orders of $75 to $124.99, and 20% off orders of $125 or more