When does reading at Barnes and Nobles become morally wrong?

TStoneMBD · #1 07-15-2005, 05:56 PM

When I was about 17 there was a summer in which I would go to Barnes and Nobles just about every day, pick up a book and read it for like 3 hours. I never bought any books because I was reading them all there and enjoyed their setting. I wouldn't have read the books at home or anywhere else.

I felt bad about this and felt like I was mooching off the store so in exchange, every time I went to B&N I purchased a frap for like 4 bucks. I was tearing through like 4/5 books a month and didn't want to buy them after I'd finished reading them.

Some days I would go during the day when noone wanted to use the chairs and other days I would go at night and would have people waiting for a seat and would camp there for hours.

When do I cross the line of being a valued member of Barnes and Nobles and being a nuisance?

I feel like this thread is 1 star but this is a question that I thought about for quite a while.

citanul · #2 07-15-2005, 05:59 PM

Did you bring the big comfy chairs or did they put those there themselves?

Question answered.

citanul

TStoneMBD · #3 07-15-2005, 06:01 PM

bring your own chair? what barnes and nobles has you bring your own chair? i always sat in the big comfy ones. the other chairs they used were made of wood and very uncomfortable and there was just no way i was going to sit in one of them for 3 hours as my ass would have been sorely wounded.

swede123 · #4 07-15-2005, 06:02 PM

His point being, if they didn't want people to come in and read they wouldn't provide big, comfy chairs.

Swede

eric5148 · #5 07-15-2005, 06:11 PM

LOL, I just went on a mini rant about this exact thing in the zoo 11 minutes before you posted this.

Linky

TStoneMBD · #6 07-15-2005, 06:17 PM

i actually saw that which inspired me to post this

TStoneMBD · #7 07-15-2005, 06:18 PM

they certainly want people to come into their shop and read some of their books for a little while with the intention that the customer might actually buy the book. i dont know if they would appreciate it if someone came in, read a book 10 hours a day and never purchased anything. someone once told me that barnes and nobles wants people to read at their shops because its creates a nice atmosphere and they dont care if you buy their stuff, but i dont agree with that.

spamuell · #8 07-15-2005, 06:20 PM

If you read a book and liked it enough, you'd buy it, right?

If so, then I think doing what you did was fine. If you had no intention of buying any book from them, regardless of how much you liked it, I think it's less clear.

stabn · #9 07-15-2005, 06:21 PM

As soon as you know you intend to completely read a book but not buy it. Why not just go read books at the library?

TStoneMBD · #10 07-15-2005, 06:28 PM

as i said, i was reading the entire book at barnes and nobles through multiple sessions and would never buy the book after i was done. its not like i was going to read the book twice and at the time i was somewhat financially strapped. the cost of the frappucinos costed more than the book prices anyway.

i wasnt going to read at the library because their selection of books wasnt as broad and current. i wasnt reading storybooks but the latest informational books. also, the barnes and nobles setting was very comfortable, moreso than most barnes and nobles ive been to. they had very nice, relaxing music playing. the place was very quiet and peaceful and the seating area was very lofty and spacious. i could concentrate well there.