Bookstores like Barnes and Noble now selling toys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh... are reporters from the Washington Post really supposed to be on here?

I guess it's easier than actual reporting which would involve going to the bookstore, lurking there, and try to chat up the customers. In any event, the toy section at either Borders or B&N is nothing new and parents have to deal with this kind of stuff all the time. I'm tired of the microscopes being put on parenting these days. There's your real news story. The worst purveyors of that stuff are Petula Dvorak at WaPo and some other columnist at the awful Examiner (can't remember her name).

I disagree- there are now many more toys and many fewer books at Borders. Yes, there were always some toys, but Borders now has very few books.

[Anonymous]

I don't mind the toys for sale but I do get annoyed at the Thomas train tables at the B&Ns. DD looks at the packaged toys but knows she can't play with them. The train tables are another story and I usually have to drag her away. As long as there is a train table around, the kids aren't going to be interested in the books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind the toys for sale but I do get annoyed at the Thomas train tables at the B&Ns. DD looks at the packaged toys but knows she can't play with them. The train tables are another story and I usually have to drag her away. As long as there is a train table around, the kids aren't going to be interested in the books.

This is ridiculous - maybe your children are like this - but mine love to play at the train tables AND love to look for books. Perhaps many of these posters who have whiny children that throw tantrums when they can't have a toy or play with the train table aren't parents who set firm limits -and therefore when the parent in question tries to set a limit, all he** busts loose. Just parent - it's not up to the store to disallow children to play, it's up to the parent to set limits of when and how much to play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind the toys for sale but I do get annoyed at the Thomas train tables at the B&Ns. DD looks at the packaged toys but knows she can't play with them. The train tables are another story and I usually have to drag her away. As long as there is a train table around, the kids aren't going to be interested in the books.

This is ridiculous - maybe your children are like this - but mine love to play at the train tables AND love to look for books. Perhaps many of these posters who have whiny children that throw tantrums when they can't have a toy or play with the train table aren't parents who set firm limits -and therefore when the parent in question tries to set a limit, all he** busts loose. Just parent - it's not up to the store to disallow children to play, it's up to the parent to set limits of when and how much to play.

Well, yes, but for some reason, train tables are just catnip to some kids, and I've had my share of spectacular meltdowns upon removing a kid from a train table. Even though we have one at home, even though I've been very clear about letting him know we're leaving. Of course, I know the train tables are there, so if I want to avoid a meltdown for sure, I don't take him there. And a child can be both interested in books and trains, it's not mutually exclusive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh... are reporters from the Washington Post really supposed to be on here?

I guess it's easier than actual reporting which would involve going to the bookstore, lurking there, and try to chat up the customers. In any event, the toy section at either Borders or B&N is nothing new and parents have to deal with this kind of stuff all the time. I'm tired of the microscopes being put on parenting these days. There's your real news story. The worst purveyors of that stuff are Petula Dvorak at WaPo and some other columnist at the awful Examiner (can't remember her name).

I disagree- there are now many more toys and many fewer books at Borders. Yes, there were always some toys, but Borders now has very few books.

Me too. Have you been to Barned and Noble lately? They took down half of an entire floor and turned it into a toystore. I was shocked!

[Anonymous]

I have to say I used to wonder for an hour or more at Borders downtown and discovered some wonderful books, now it is all commercial promotion stuff or top sellers. The way I see it I can go to any big box store and find that stuff for a lot less and not have to worry about a coupon. So I could live with toys if they had not sacrificed the variety of books. You will find this phenomenon at local stores also both Playtime and Sullivans have books and toys, the difference they are more unique and have interesting books and toys.

[Anonymous]

People posting here do realize that if B&N and Borders did not sell toys and other "gift items" they might not even exist? I was a buyer at a independent book store here in the DC Metro area (at out largest we had 8 stores). We recently closed shop but "Side lines" (trade talk for product other than books) made us a ton of money and kept us afloat for a while. Bricks and mortar bookstores are going away.

[Anonymous]

I mean "our largest".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind the toys for sale but I do get annoyed at the Thomas train tables at the B&Ns. DD looks at the packaged toys but knows she can't play with them. The train tables are another story and I usually have to drag her away. As long as there is a train table around, the kids aren't going to be interested in the books.

This is ridiculous - maybe your children are like this - but mine love to play at the train tables AND love to look for books. Perhaps many of these posters who have whiny children that throw tantrums when they can't have a toy or play with the train table aren't parents who set firm limits -and therefore when the parent in question tries to set a limit, all he** busts loose. Just parent - it's not up to the store to disallow children to play, it's up to the parent to set limits of when and how much to play.

you sound like a total bitch

[Anonymous]

And here's the article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121707466.html?hpid=artslot