Borders at Wheelock Place closed over dispute with landlord

[LeMans2011]

Dun zap me ah... i think this kind of free browsing does not work in SG because consumers are generally cheapo and will not buy if they can browse for free.

 

[Rogue Trader]

Yes Kino at Taka is by far the best bookstore in singapore. Their range of books is the best. But expensive as hell.

Actually the japanese expats do not go to Taka. You will find them at the Kino at Liang Court. The volume of jap books there is quite amazing. More jap books than other languages combined.

 

[Captain Singapore]

Yes Kino at Taka is by far the best bookstore in singapore. Their range of books is the best. But expensive as hell.

Actually the japanese expats do not go to Taka. You will find them at the Kino at Liang Court. The volume of jap books there is quite amazing. More jap books than other languages combined.

I remember going to a Japanese supermarket at Liang Court previously. But not many customers there. The prices there are rather high, but you are able to find unique items not found elsewhere.

 

[Rogue Trader]

Dun zap me ah... i think this kind of free browsing does not work in SG because consumers are generally cheapo and will not buy if they can browse for free.

That's also my point. How to earn money like that? Especially with shops in the expensive areas in cities all over the world. I'm quite surprised they lasted so long actually.

 

[krafty]

true, this kind of concept doesn't work in asian countries. especially,where there are kiasu sinkies abundant. to think that a little start-up like facebook can accumulate hundreds of millions over few years compare to a book-store started over few decades is dis-heartening for those in brick-n-mortar type of business.

Dun zap me ah... i think this kind of free browsing does not work in SG because consumers are generally cheapo and will not buy if they can browse for free.

 

[red amoeba]

Yes Kino at Taka is by far the best bookstore in singapore. Their range of books is the best. But expensive as hell.

Actually the japanese expats do not go to Taka. You will find them at the Kino at Liang Court. The volume of jap books there is quite amazing. More jap books than other languages combined.

about 50% of the shopspace dedicated to Jap books.

Actually Liang Court is like a mini Japan. From Meidiya to the ramen shops.

Only thing lacking is chio jap meis meis LOL

 

[Raiders]

Only thing lacking is chio jap meis meis LOL

There is always the milfs to go for
You should get drifter and Ramseth to teach you some Japanese.

 

[Rogue Trader]

about 50% of the shopspace dedicated to Jap books.

Actually Liang Court is like a mini Japan. From Meidiya to the ramen shops.

Only thing lacking is chio jap meis meis LOL

yeah come to think of it, there's even a japanese clinic there..

 

[Captain Singapore]

There is always the milfs to go for
You should get drifter and Ramseth to teach you some Japanese.

I noticed the MILFs tend to hang out in pairs and with kids in tow. Probably not easy to strike.

 

[red amoeba]

actually that area have a lot of Jap expatriates. Neighbouring UE Square & the adjoining condos...

 

[red amoeba]

I noticed the MILFs tend to hang out in pairs and with kids in tow. Probably not easy to strike.

yah man...its easier to tackle their pinay maids than the MILFs LOL

 

[Captain Singapore]

yah man...its easier to tackle their pinay maids than the MILFs LOL

You are very adaptive. Just don't target the kids and you should be fine.

 

[applei]

Personally I find Times Berjaya looks rather rowdy and crowded, but that's still ok just to check out the shops and browse around but I dislike staying too long there. It looks dim somehow.

Among all I shall say I love the KLCC Kinokuniya. I remember it was bright and the paint is white (especially in the Japanese books section). And I enjoyed looking at the outside sceneries that looks down at the skies, ponds and the trees.

Times in the Pavilion is not bad, but I rather be spending time browsing other shops around the Pavilion mall than Times :P
Whatever Times has, Kinokuniya at KLCC also has it. The organization of Times bookstore looks "messy" to me.
The Pavilion is a very good place to shop.

The only MPH I went to was around Lot10 area. What was it called? BB Plaza? or is it the one besides it?
Similar to Times, nothing fantastic.

I was in Kinokuniya South store in Shinjuku, the one besides Takashimaya Times Square. It was big with many storeys to sneak / roam about, but surprisingly the store organization is so unlike the ones in KLCC or Singapore, it is so crampy and cluttered.
Getting books from those stores are way cheaper than in Singapore, but they are very heavy to lug through the rest of the shopping hours, unless they are dumped in some locker or back to hotel and return to the area for more shopping.

Now the Japanese books in Singapore's Kinokuniya is getting way more expensive, probably double its original price, especially since this year, probably of the better exchange rates.
~sighs~:(

In terms of size when you put together the size of the different stores like MPH at Mid Valley, Border at Times Berjaya, Kinokuniya at the KLCC, Times at the Pavillion, they all add to a more diverse experience

Don't forget that many of these stores have to cater to Bahasa Melayu, Chinese & English readers in terms of language & interests. So their stores selection may appear to have a smaller selection to someone from Spore, but actually they are physically larger with more books than Kinokuniya(Spore).

 

[Forvendet]

true, this kind of concept doesn't work in asian countries. especially,where there are kiasu sinkies abundant. to think that a little start-up like facebook can accumulate hundreds of millions over few years compare to a book-store started over few decades is dis-heartening for those in brick-n-mortar type of business.

This kind of concept originated from US suburban town bookstores. Land is cheap and a single bookstore may be as big as a supermarket. Borders or other US bookshops in prime land cities don't offer seats too. And you're right about the cultural difference. It's supposed to work this way. Customers walk around the shelves, collect five or six titles that they're interested in, then sit down to browse through to decide which two or three to buy.

 

[red amoeba]

This kind of concept originated from US suburban town bookstores. Land is cheap and a single bookstore may be as big as a supermarket. Borders or other US bookshops in prime land cities don't offer seats too. And you're right about the cultural difference. It's supposed to work this way. Customers walk around the shelves, collect five or six titles that they're interested in, then sit down to browse through to decide which two or three to buy.

the concept of try before buy is prevalent everywhere.

you test drive your car before you buy...you sample some food before you eat.

except you cannot sample your guay before you fuck ... LOL

the logic is nothing wrong, just when you abuse it, its not correct. Honestly, I won't read the whole book in the bookshop, either i buy it or i go library n borrow or i try to dl the e-version.

 

[Maximilian Chua-Heng]

Another one biting the dust soon. Sian.

Nothing beats holding a real book with both hands. Reading e-books makes me feel dizzy.

 

[Raiders]

Another one biting the dust soon. Sian.

Nothing beats holding a real book with both hands. Reading e-books makes me feel dizzy.

Yeah, I love the smell of the paper. Sometimes when I'm too engrossed in reading, I can even paste my nose shit onto the pages. Those were the times

 

[johnny333]

Maybe recent years this is true. But I recall, a few years back, I used to send books to my friend in US because they are cheaper here. Also, I heard, for US publishers, they treat Singapore as 3rd world country and so, text books are priced cheaper here (compared to US). Another country having this status is India. The English books are much much cheaper in India.

And Chinese books are much much cheaper in China (of course)...even with the higher RMB vs SGD rates. Of course, you cannot find those "interesting" books in China LOL

The books I'm referring to are not text books but more specialised e.g. candlestick patterns, technical analysis, health books, etc

I do know that there were some cheaper versions of some books out there. I remember seeing a bookstore at the basement of Sim Lim Tower that would sell cheaper indian versions of computer related books. In JB I've seen cheaper paperback versions of some american books.

Unfortunately I've never found cheaper versions of books I'm interested in getting:( I use Amazon because many of the books are not even available in Spore. By buying many books each time, I reduce the cost of shipping per book.

 

[johnny333]

Times in the Pavilion is not bad, but I rather be spending time browsing other shops around the Pavilion mall than Times :P
Whatever Times has, Kinokuniya at KLCC also has it. The organization of Times bookstore looks "messy" to me.
The Pavilion is a very good place to shop.

The only MPH I went to was around Lot10 area. What was it called? BB Plaza? or is it the one besides it?
Similar to Times, nothing fantastic.

I was in Kinokuniya South store in Shinjuku, the one besides Takashimaya Times Square. It was big with many storeys to sneak / roam about, but surprisingly the store organization is so unlike the ones in KLCC or Singapore, it is so crampy and cluttered.
Getting books from those stores are way cheaper than in Singapore, but they are very heavy to lug through the rest of the shopping hours, unless they are dumped in some locker or back to hotel and return to the area for more shopping.

Now the Japanese books in Singapore's Kinokuniya is getting way more expensive, probably double its original price, especially since this year, probably of the better exchange rates.
~sighs~:(

Pavilion reminds me too much of Taka with it's expensive branded stores & the Food Republic.
Call me jaded but I find Pavilion boring

I actually find BB Plaza more interesting because of it's maze of stores. One part BB Plaza & one part Sungai Wang Plaza Actually reminds me of old Spore:o If you are looking for architectural or photography books go to the 3rd or 4th floor, there is a book store which specialises in such books.

With the price escalation of everything in Spore due to high rentals & utilities, recreation reading has become a luxury few can afford. You also need space to store all those old books.

 

[red amoeba]

The books I'm referring to are not text books but more specialised e.g. candlestick patterns, technical analysis, health books, etc

I do know that there were some cheaper versions of some books out there. I remember seeing a bookstore at the basement of Sim Lim Tower that would sell cheaper indian versions of computer related books. In JB I've seen cheaper paperback versions of some american books.

Unfortunately I've never found cheaper versions of books I'm interested in getting:( I use Amazon because many of the books are not even available in Spore. By buying many books each time, I reduce the cost of shipping per book.

bro, one question, did your pkg ever kenna checked or opened up by customs? Of course I am not doubting you buy prawn or what - but would just want to know if customs got open for inspection or not.

there are books that i would want to buy online (not prawn but eg: books by Francis Seow)