Christian booksellers fear being run out of the business by Wal-Mart

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-book03.html

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- At the annual convention of the Christian Booksellers Association, retailers continued to fret over competition from Wal-Mart and big bookstore chains.

Association membership peaked at around 3,000 stores in the early 1990s but now totals less than 2,300. CBA said 337 retailers closed last year.

[Cassandra]

1. I'm trying to work up some sympathy...

really.

[Syncronaut Seven]

2. Haha...Cry me a effen river.

Ignorant sheep. Mind the large rotating knives.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I guess their customers aren't very loyal

Besides how many ways can you "interpret" the bible and how many books can you publish that instructs followers who and how to hate? If they were truly "christian" wouldn't they be giving their product away?

[WI_DEM]

4. Wal-Mart puts everybody out of business

especially Main Street USA and Mom and Pop places. So join the crowd.

[No Exit]

11. GOD SHALL SMITE WAL-MART

Beware, ye Wal-mart shoppers, for VENGEANCE IS MINE, SAITH THE LORD.

Hee hee... I would just dearly love to hijack the local Wal-mart's PA system for 5 minutes, and say that.

[WhiteTara]

5. aw, poor litle snookums

they can't make a living. Ooh. :nopity:

[MinneapolisMatt]

6. Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

}(

[Dufaeth]

7. sniff....sniff

:cry:

[tanyev]

8. Words of comfort from Matthew 5:45.

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

:nopity:

[YOY]

9. Oh Jeebity!

Jubus save them!

[No Exit]

10. Delicious irony KICK!

Absolutely hilarious!

"When Christianity and capitalism mix..." That could make for a good "Far Side" cartoon, if only Larsen were still drawing them.

[earthside]

12. First Positive Thing About Wal-Mart

Well, that's the first positive thing about Wal-Mart that I've probably EVER heard.

In the end, Wal-Mart is completely immoral and unChristian ... their only principle is GREED. So, if the little Christian bookstores are driven out of business by Wal-Mart, then "HA!" It will be cosmic, karmic justice.

[BushOut06]

18. I dunno, I've never been forced into a Christian bookstore at gunpoint

Same way I've never been forced into a titty bar at gunpoint. And actually, I've found some pretty decent rock CD's in Christian bookstores (Project86, Demonhunter to name a few). I grew up in a very staunchly religious family, even though I haven't been to church in about ten years I still like to listen to some christian rock now and then - why should I limit myself?

Funny story, though. I was in a Christian bookstore a few months ago, listening to some of the CD's at the sampling station through a headset (being the considerate fellow I am). I was listening to Demonhunter - a very hardcore, aggressive metal band in the vein of Hatebreed. Some guy next to me was listening to some god-awful Sandy Patty type music - fluff music, in my opinion. But he wasn't using the headphones. I was so tempted to just yank out my headset plug and blast what he probably would have considered to be satanic rock!

[malaise]

21. Can I hear an AMEN

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Squatch]

13. Amazed by the hypocritical reaction being exhibited here...

Walmart puts a mom and pop grocer out of business, it's because Walmart is evil.

Walmart puts a Christian bookshop out of business, sucks to be the bookshop.

[Armstead]

23. Most of these bookshops support Wal Mart politics

So it's not hypocritical at all.

They are just reaping what they've sowed by getting into bed with corporate "free market" CONservatism.

[Syncronaut Seven]

24. No, it sucks to be a virulent defender of fascism, only to have it bite

you on the ass. That's the nugget to be had. Not necessarily schadenfreude, more just deserts, they earned them by towing the neoconservative line.

America is a freaking coast to coast crime scene. I have no qualms calling out the enablers when they act all surprised. So our pain has become their pain, well, civilized human beings of any depth or substance might have recognized the danger before it affected them personally.

Oh well, even amoebas jerk when you poke them.

[SOS]

26. Agree

Hypercapitalism, as practiced by Wal Mart is crushing ALL the little guys, not just the Christian booksellers.
Home Depot kills the local hardware store, Starbucks drives out the independent coffee shops, chain drugstores buy out and close the independent competitors, Amazon and Barnes and Noble have made independent bookselling nearly impossible.
It's brutal.
For all the talk in this country of "free enterprise" and the importance of small business....well, just try to open a store near any of these Wall Street giants.
They'll crush your business like a gnat. (I know because it's happening to me right now!)

[DanCa]

14. Those who live by thy sword shall die by the sword. .

:evilgrin:

[txindy]

15. My interest in this bit of news tried to evolve into sympathy

But then I remembered they don't believe in evolution which means they'd only be offended by my attempt. Wouldn't want to offend, so....

[DanCa]

16. Does Pat Robertson think that God is abandoning Christian book stores?

Or Is God abandoning Wal-Mart. That's a tough one. He will probably have to flip a coin to decide.

[BR_Parkway]

17. Tonite on O'Reilly - Walmart's persecution of Christians

[rurallib]

19. Time to take action and form a prayer circle!

By Jesus the Christ that'll show 'em. We'll pray that God drive Walmart out of business!

[Armstead]

20. Poetic Justice, I'd say

Most of these Christian bookstores support the same brand of right-wing "free market" politicians that enable the Wal Marts to take over everything.

Maybe it'll make them realize that liberalism isn't all bad.

[donco6]

22. Darn it!

I'm so sad. :-)

Don't I look it?

[noonwitch]

25. I think Borders and Barnes and Noble are killing them more than Walmart

Anything you can get at Zondervan's, you can get at Borders (or they can order it for you). The converse is not so.
I can go into Borders and buy TD Jakes' latest book and "Justine, or The Misfortunes of Virtue" if I so desire. Can't do that at Zondervan's.

Why go to two stores when you can go to one?

[LostinVA]

27. Oh, the irony!

[annabanana]

28. huh!. . . what's good for the goose is good for the gander . .eom

[KittyWampus]

29. Maybe there just aren't as many people buying the snake oil anymore.

[kay1864]

30. How do they know it's WalMart?

It could just as easily be online bookstores. I for one hardly ever go to book-and-mortar bookstores anymore, except maybe to look in the bargain section. Anything B&N or Borders has, I can find cheaper online.

[Syncronaut Seven]

31. Because in fundy world you need a target for your rage

It's more inportant to have a bogeyman than it is to examine reality, which is much more complex and difficult to understand.

[Coexist]

32. Awwwwww... poor babies

I feel so bad for them.