#The1800

i used to work for barnes and noble. i worked for them for 12 years. we split company six years ago. it doesn’t seem that long ago, actually, but it has been. this past monday barnes and noble fired, yes, fired 1,800 booksellers. they were all full time. barnes and noble saved around 40 million dollars in payroll and whatever else in benefits. all of those that were fired, or euphemistically “laid off” were in management or on the first rung of management: lead booksellers, receiving managers, digital sales leads, etc. many of them had over 10 years of bookselling experience. some of my former coworkers and friends were fired on monday. some of them had upwards of 25-30 years experience at barnes and noble. it was, in short, their career. on monday they were fired without warning.

i am sick about this. i have read posts online saying “i won’t shop at bn any more!” that is the wrong, absolutely dunderheaded thing to do. please, go to the brick and mortar stores and buy your books, magazines, coffee, cds, dvds, vinyl, games, etc there. don’t shop at the dotcom, that is the problem. that is why good booksellers with decades of experience, who have given their lives to barnes and noble were let go. because of the internet and “free shipping”.

so 1800 barnes and noble employees lost their jobs on monday. let that sink in: 1800.