Comments on: Changes Afoot to Wal-Mart’s Shelving of Books?

By: Dirk

Dirk — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:25:09 +0000

Why is there an African American section to begin with in Wal-Mart. Where is the white American section, or the Jewish section. All they are doing is making things worse by segregating like that. Not only that, but they have put the Obama book in the other section. He is black is he not?

By: Cobus van der Merwe

Cobus van der Merwe — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:52:01 +0000

I will be honored if you would look at my books on the web.

Sincerely

Cobus.

By: AnnieK

AnnieK — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 02:20:40 +0000

I would like to know if Wal*Mart stocks the Christian Book section according to what part of the country you are in. I live in North Florida, a conservative area and there are tons of Christian books. Not only shelved with the other fiction but a lot of stand alone displays too.

Is this standard for WalMart? I usually buy my books online or in other towns, near the beach which offer a more “secular” selection.

By: Marie-Nicole Ryan

Marie-Nicole Ryan — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 13:42:13 +0000

I buy the majority of my books from Amazon.com or directly from the publisher if it’s an ebook. My WalMart book buys are occasional impulse buys only.

By: XandraG

XandraG — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:18:38 +0000

What I find telling is that the sf/f section has been expanded and moved to the forefront where the romance genre had been for so long. Could it be that the romance genre may be slipping from its premiere position within the industry?

Probably not. SF/F includes movie, TV, and video game tie-ins–our Wally fills up with those, rather than “original” SF/F. They have the benefit of the branding of the other media to help sell them and catch casual browsers.

There’s category and bestsellers in the romance, and some “helpful” soul makes sure to paper every romance niche with several dozen Chick-Tracts about once a month. There’s a huge Christian section, but given our area, it’s not surprising.

Wal-Mart is not the first place I’d send somebody to buy a book…but unfortunately, the economics of the juggernaut often leave it as the only choice. So much for that “free market.”

By: dionne galace

dionne galace — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 01:06:04 +0000

I didn’t know Wal-mart had a ’special crap’ section.

heh!

By: sybil

sybil — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:56:44 +0000

I think it has more to do with the area… cuz my sci fi really isn’t bigger. Honestly it is prolly smaller. But the YA area is twice the size it was not sure if that is just a summer thing or not.

And romance faces out in my wally world… so…

By: Jackie L.

Jackie L. — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:06:09 +0000

Sam’s Club is stocked internally, but they have gone to magazines and less space for books in both of the Sam’s I shop. They seldom carry the books that I want to buy anyway, so I ignore them. I will try a newbie when Sam’s has the books on sale for $5, but that’s about it.
Angela–I think that Wal-Mart is trying to improve their image. But it’ll take more than showcasing SF!!!

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:35:53 +0000

What I find telling is that the sf/f section has been expanded and moved to the forefront where the romance genre had been for so long. Could it be that the romance genre may be slipping from its premiere position within the industry?

By: Ann Bruce

Ann Bruce — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:21:13 +0000

In Canada, Wally World’s been pretty much like that already. But is the announced change for Wal-Mart US or Wal-Mart global? Does anyone know?