Great Success in E-Commerce

The online world, as you may have noticed, has not been terribly kind to me lately. I am pleased, however, to offer an unquestionably strong recommendation for a website that sells books, movies, and assorted other print products.

And no, it's not the one you're expecting.

Barnes & Noble is like the reliable, friendly neighbor who's always willing to lend a hand when you need something done around the house. Sure, they may not have everything, and they may not be able to give you exactly what you need right at that moment and for the most reasonable compensation, but damned if they aren't at least consistently willing to give it a try.

I make this comparison because I've been a Member for nearly three years now. For the low price of $25, I score 10% discounts (at least) on all purchases, and, as I recently discovered, an instant upgrade to Expedited Shipping on all my online orders, whether or not those orders total $25.

This is a far better offer, in my view, than Super Saver Shipping, because Amazon, God bless their souls, may offer everything under the sun, but can often drag their feet when processing your order. So while the 5-9 day shipping estimate is often correct -- and more times than not, the order arrives in less than 5 days -- it takes longer than it should to get the order shipped.

Consider my experience with Barnes & Noble today. I needed to buy a book (Marina Lewycka's Strawberry Fields [or Two Caravans]) and a DVD (the 1997 adaptation of Mrs. Dalloway starring Vanessa Redgrave). Upon making my purchase, I realized I didn't know which credit card I'd used.

In mere moments, I was on the phone with 1-800-THE-BOOK, talking to a real, living, breathing human being who helped me confirm my order was placed correctly. I then checked my e-mail. At 11:17am, I received my order confirmation. And at 11:35am, another e-mail, telling me my order was scheduled to ship.

18 minutes. To receive and pack my order. That's fucking impressive, no matter how you slice it.

Perhaps Amazon has overstepped its bounds a bit in an effort to be the world's foremost online retailer. I love their pricing, I love their selection, and I've never had a problem with their services. It's just that, for books, movies, and music, Barnes & Noble just seems to take care of its Members better. So even if it costs a couple bucks more, I feel like I'm getting a better value for my money, and that's something you don't find often nowadays -- and especially not in e-commerce.