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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: No More Follets ?
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rpbobcat
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Posted: 9/13/2019 10:37 AM
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My wife tried to place an order at Follets.

It got "rejected".

She called and was told it was "out of stock".

She asked if they'd be getting more in.

She was told they'll closing 11/22.

Anybody local know anything about this ?
UpSan Bobcat
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Posted: 9/13/2019 10:41 AM
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yamaha45701
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Posted: 9/13/2019 1:50 PM
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Word on the facebook page, You know you went to OU if, is that everything is drastically reduced and being sold. Further word on the street is that when the University started using ebooks more and more, the sales fell to the point where Follets is pulling the plug. I used to own Athens Book Center, which is now closed and more and more people came in to tell me that they were buying all their books on ebook format and did not need to shop at my bookstore anymore. It is progress I guess. I am getting ready to publish a book and the vast majority of sales will be ebook format. If you can't beat em, join em.
OU_Country
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Posted: 9/13/2019 2:33 PM
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yamaha45701 wrote:expand_more
Word on the facebook page, You know you went to OU if, is that everything is drastically reduced and being sold. Further word on the street is that when the University started using ebooks more and more, the sales fell to the point where Follets is pulling the plug. I used to own Athens Book Center, which is now closed and more and more people came in to tell me that they were buying all their books on ebook format and did not need to shop at my bookstore anymore. It is progress I guess. I am getting ready to publish a book and the vast majority of sales will be ebook format. If you can't beat em, join em.
Good for you on the publishing of the book! I'm gonna sound all old man here, but I still like having a physical book for pleasure reading. The older I get, the more I want to disconnect from screens on the weekends.
rpbobcat
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Posted: 9/13/2019 2:50 PM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
Good for you on the publishing of the book! I'm gonna sound all old man here, but I still like having a physical book for pleasure reading. The older I get, the more I want to disconnect from screens on the weekends.
I agree 100% on physical books for pleasure reading.

I would also have real hard time with e-books for technical classes especially
engineering.
You're constantly going back and forth between chapters and tables.
Could not imagine being able to do that efficiently with an e-book.

Recently I tried to design a pedestrian bridge using the digital Steel Construction Manual.

Much more cumbersome to use then the printed version.

I've posted that I do some lecturing at F.D.U.
So far the students in the Civil Engineering and Land Surveying classes I've lectured all use hard copies of the texts.

My life loves her Kindle,but all of her cook books are hard copies.
OUs LONG Driver
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Posted: 9/13/2019 3:41 PM
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That's sad to hear. Follet's is where I first saw the news of the events of 9/11. Stood and watched the TV forever after leaving history class in Bentley that morning.
Kevin Finnegan
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Posted: 9/13/2019 5:20 PM
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rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
Good for you on the publishing of the book! I'm gonna sound all old man here, but I still like having a physical book for pleasure reading. The older I get, the more I want to disconnect from screens on the weekends.
I agree 100% on physical books for pleasure reading.

I would also have real hard time with e-books for technical classes especially
engineering.
You're constantly going back and forth between chapters and tables.
Could not imagine being able to do that efficiently with an e-book.

Recently I tried to design a pedestrian bridge using the digital Steel Construction Manual.

Much more cumbersome to use then the printed version.

I've posted that I do some lecturing at F.D.U.
So far the students in the Civil Engineering and Land Surveying classes I've lectured all use hard copies of the texts.

My life loves her Kindle,but all of her cook books are hard copies.
Listened to a podcast that made some really good points. It was talking about the difference in reading a paper book vs an e-book. Said that research shows that the retention of information is much greater with a paper book compared to an electronic book. For text books and books you're referencing back, you can often recall around where you found a passage in terms of location in the book. It's a part of your memory to recall an approximate location. When scrolling or using an ebook, it is much less likely that you can recall in terms of placement. Of course, there's the search capability, which a book does not have, but that does not set as well within the memory. Somewhat similarly, they were saying that taking notes by hand allows the mind to retain information much better than typing. When typing, you're often transcribing if you're fast, whereas in handwriting, you have to synthesize the data and reframe it quickly in short segments to keep up with the information. This ignites a different portion of the brain than just re-typing.
Jeff McKinney
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Posted: 9/13/2019 6:11 PM
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It will be interesting to see what kind of business ends up in Follett's space. I'm guessing it will be more than one business considering their floor space. I hope it doesn't sit vacant like some other spaces uptown.
Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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Posted: 9/13/2019 8:01 PM
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I honestly had no idea that physical books were still sold for college courses. I assumed that ended a few years ago.
TWT
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Posted: 9/13/2019 8:02 PM
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One would think a space on the corner of Court and Union would be highly desirable but an obvious drawback is the lack of immediate parking. This lends to a high foot traffic business working best. How would something like a Vitamin Shoppe do in that space? They non-GMO products that can sit on a shelf for a long time. Its hard to get a truck in there for produce but a business that needed a resupply once a week or month it might be doable.
The Optimist
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Posted: 9/13/2019 9:01 PM
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Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
It will be interesting to see what kind of business ends up in Follett's space. I'm guessing it will be more than one business considering their floor space. I hope it doesn't sit vacant like some other spaces uptown.
I’m interested to see what ends up there as well. Prime space. I’d imagine rent would be prohibitive for a lot of ventures.

Not shocked the “bookstore” isn’t a profitable venture but I figured they made their money selling OU stuff/apparel.
MonroeClassmate
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Posted: 9/13/2019 9:47 PM
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They should do a tear down from Logans all the way west down Union including getting rid of Baskin and Robbins, Frisches and Boarden Burger. That could be a really nice development, closest uptown to the West Green. They could even bridge to the old post office and put it to use.
Pataskala
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Posted: 9/13/2019 10:51 PM
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Yeah, we were at both CBS and Follett's checking out textbooks for our son last month and both places were practically bare. My wife and I (both from the pre-e-book generation) were awestruck at the amount of bare shelf space in both places. CBS will survive because they are THE place for apparel and trinkets. Even though Follett's was pricey, I'll miss it. Logan's was one of my favorite places when I was at Ohio. They were pretty ravaged during post-Kent riot in 1970 but enough of a sense of humor to use the phrase "Just a stone's throw from campus" when we came back in the fall.

I can see that space being an eatery or a bar. Lots of seating room with both the upstairs and downstairs. And maybe they can knock down part of the building to make a patio.
yamaha45701
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Posted: 9/14/2019 12:39 AM
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There was a rumor a few years back, that the University wanted to buy the whole block. Not sure how true it was, but a business friend of mine was the source about the University putting out feelers about buying the land. Would not surprise me if it happens.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 9/14/2019 10:47 AM
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Uncle Wes wrote:expand_more
One would think a space on the corner of Court and Union would be highly desirable but an obvious drawback is the lack of immediate parking. This lends to a high foot traffic business working best. How would something like a Vitamin Shoppe do in that space? They non-GMO products that can sit on a shelf for a long time. Its hard to get a truck in there for produce but a business that needed a resupply once a week or month it might be doable.
You’d better sell ALOT of vitamins to pay that rent!
TWT
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Posted: 9/14/2019 11:19 AM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
One would think a space on the corner of Court and Union would be highly desirable but an obvious drawback is the lack of immediate parking. This lends to a high foot traffic business working best. How would something like a Vitamin Shoppe do in that space? They non-GMO products that can sit on a shelf for a long time. Its hard to get a truck in there for produce but a business that needed a resupply once a week or month it might be doable.
You’d better sell ALOT of vitamins to pay that rent!
How many unique visitors walk across Court and Union over the course of a year? Would people walk past it and consider an online order when they get home? Vitamins themselves is only maybe a quarter of the business. Its mostly about the supplements with all different focuses; muscle building, weight loss, plant based dietary, non-GMO energy drinks. Where else in SEO can you find all of that in one store? They sell higher grade vitamin D3 at 10000 IU that you can't find at a CVS. The nearest store is on the north side of Columbus and they don't have any in WV. Mansfield has one. Jackson has a GNC. As someone who buys from both Vitamin Shoppe will give new suppliers more of a chance.
L.C.
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Posted: 9/14/2019 11:19 AM
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BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
One would think a space on the corner of Court and Union would be highly desirable but an obvious drawback is the lack of immediate parking. This lends to a high foot traffic business working best. How would something like a Vitamin Shoppe do in that space? They non-GMO products that can sit on a shelf for a long time. Its hard to get a truck in there for produce but a business that needed a resupply once a week or month it might be doable.
You’d better sell ALOT of vitamins to pay that rent!

Nos so long ago they didn't have to sell that many to pay the rent. The markup was huge, but these days, competition from online is cutting into both profits and sales. As an example, I bought something from a store for $32 a couple years ago, and later found the same thing on Amazon for $6. That store was great, and had an excellent selection, and exceptionally knowledgeable employees. I say "was" because they are closed now.
TWT
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Posted: 9/14/2019 11:34 AM
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L.C. wrote:expand_more
One would think a space on the corner of Court and Union would be highly desirable but an obvious drawback is the lack of immediate parking. This lends to a high foot traffic business working best. How would something like a Vitamin Shoppe do in that space? They non-GMO products that can sit on a shelf for a long time. Its hard to get a truck in there for produce but a business that needed a resupply once a week or month it might be doable.
You’d better sell ALOT of vitamins to pay that rent!

Nos so long ago they didn't have to sell that many to pay the rent. The markup was huge, but these days, competition from online is cutting into both profits and sales. As an example, I bought something from a store for $32 a couple years ago, and later found the same thing on Amazon for $6. That store was great, and had an excellent selection, and exceptionally knowledgeable employees. I say "was" because they are closed now.
They mark stuff down online plus offer coupons. Online shopping portals give as high as 12 to 15 bonus points per dollar. If you know what products you want go online, find the sales, apply the coupons then score the bonus points. Depends on what you're buying. If its an everyday D3 supplement then Amazon might be better. Some products its only a 10 percent discount on Amazon if that. Amazon does not offer the shopping portal bonuses that you can find with niche retailers. I use a tracker to find when those bonuses are at their maximum. Amazon its hard to find even an eGift card at face value whereas with Vitamin Shoppe its fairly easy to find a discounted one.

https://www.cashbackmonitor.com/cashback-store/vitamin-sh... /
Buck.Cat
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Posted: 9/14/2019 12:06 PM
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A barcade like 16 Bit/Pins Mechanical would be awesome.
TWT
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Posted: 9/14/2019 12:16 PM
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Overstock is better than Amazon with the bonuses and easy to find a discounted eGift cards. They are showing the Samsung A50 64GB for $285 when Amazon has it for $260. Its about about a 10% price difference but with a 4% discounted eGift Card and picking up a shopping portal bonus you can come out ahead with Overstock. Direct to the Samsung store I like because they have a nice mix of appliances, laptops and cell phones. You can finance your phone with them and then take it to the cell carrier of choice. They offered a $450 dollar trade in value to upgrade an S7 to a Note 10 as a pre order special. You can buy a S7 from Walmart for $105 dollars then flip it for $450 against a Note 10.

https://www.raise.com/buy-overstock-gift-cards
https://www.cashbackmonitor.com/cashback-store/overstock.com /
https://www.cashbackmonitor.com/cashback-store/amazon /
rpbobcat
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Posted: 9/16/2019 10:38 AM
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Kind of hard to believe that,unless I missed it,The Post even mention this.
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 9/16/2019 1:54 PM
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Agree on the barcade idea. Or maybe Jackie O's would be interested to somehow expand their empire and get the marquee location? I don't see any way another retail operation goes in there. Retail is fading...but REALLY fading in areas full of 18-22 year olds.
OUcats82
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Posted: 9/16/2019 2:06 PM
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Has anyone bought anything online from Bobcat Depot?

I usually always go to College Bookstore (which is great for online buying if you've never done it) but wanted to give them a try to support the university.

Thought' I'd check here before ending up in some headache that would take 3 weeks to get a shirt.

The alumni association's online store has been a good experience for me, too.

Agree on the brick and mortar retail spot being a hard niche for the average college-aged student. You'd have to have something pretty popular to do well.

Sorry/not sorry about Follet's closing. Usually only ever bought from there when they had things on sale/really wanted something they did that no one else did. Too pricey. Out of curiosity I checked their website and not a peep/mention about closing.
Last Edited: 9/16/2019 2:09:09 PM by OUcats82
rpbobcat
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Posted: 9/17/2019 6:38 AM
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OUcats82 wrote:expand_more
Has anyone bought anything online from Bobcat Depot?
My wife and I have bought a couple of things over the years,but
always in person,never on line.

We always check out the store when we're in Athens.

Their hours can be "Quirky".

We were in Athens once when Veterans' Day was a Friday.

Just like a lot of the University,the store and the food court in Baker were closed all weekend.
Last Edited: 9/17/2019 8:02:04 AM by rpbobcat
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 9/17/2019 11:29 AM
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Follett's never got my business again after putting a goddamn buckeye book in their window.

I hate seeing any Athens business close, but sorrynotsorry.
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