Barnes & Noble tries to win over Borders customers

[October 03, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bookseller Barnes & Noble is trying to win over customers of its defunct rival, Borders Group Inc., after buying a list of their names in bankruptcy court.

Barnes & Noble CEO William Lynch says in a letter posted on the company's website that it bought a list of Borders' customers, including a list of their DVD purchases. It has also bought Borders brand trademarks.

Customers can prevent Barnes & Noble from receiving their data by visiting www.bn.com/borders before Oct. 29 and opting out.

The New York company says the sale was approved in federal bankruptcy court on Sept. 26.

Borders, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., faltered as customers embraced electronic readers such as Barnes & Noble's Nook and Amazon's Kindle. Borders closed its final store in September.

[Associated Press]

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