Simon Finally Goes To Borders Bookstore

Yeah, I know I swore not to step foot into Berjaya Times Square again, but I’d make an exception for Borders. I read a few blogs saying that it was quite a disappointment, but I went to see it for myself. It was quite nice actually, not as big as I envisioned it to be, seeing all those empty shoplots at that place, anyway.

Comparisons will inevitably be drawn with Kinokuniya KLCC and MPH Midvalley (or 1 Utama new wing). I won’t go into the details, but I feel that Borders in still in the setting-up stage, they would probably fit in more shelves and sections in the near future. Well, let me list down some pros and cons based on my observations:

Pros:

• Some sections are quite impressive: Art, World History, US History, Science Fiction, etc.
• Spacious

Cons:

• Store assistance fooling around while me & some customers wait for them to help us.
• Most books not exactly new, probably ex-stock from Singapore.
• Not that many places to sit and read; not cosy and inviting.
• Price is roughly the same as Kino (which means MPH would be generally cheaper)
• Tiled flooring is so passé.
• What the heck is World of Feng Shui doing in the shop?!

Despite trying my best not to buy something, I fell hook, line and sinker for their “Buy 3 for 2” gimmick. I got the following for about RM76:

• John Le Carre’s “Absolute Friends”
• Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time”
• Ian Caldweld & Dustin Thomason's “The Rule of Four”
• Spelling book for my kid.
  

I would say the place was alright, but it would take a few more trips to really explore the whole inventory. Too bad about its location, though…

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