Shhh… Borders bookstore has a secret inventory search tool

So you desperately want that book everyone’s been talking about, Getting Things Done. You could order it from Amazon, but you hate waiting. Luckily, there’s a Borders bookstore around corner. You like saving time, so you go online to Borders.com. to make sure the store has it in stock before you head out. But wait, you can’t find the inventory search anywhere on the site. What gives?

That’s right, instead of putting the store inventory search in the most logical and obvious place, the company’s stashed it away on their lesser known corporate site, BordersStores.com. I suspect it’s to do with their partnership with Amazon.com. You won’t find any explicit link to it anywhere on Borders.com.

To check if your local Borders bookstore has the book you want:

1. Go to the “My Stores” section on BordersStores.com, and add your local store using the form on the left.
2. Next, go to “Search Inventory” in the main navigation and use the form on that page to search for your book.
3. In the search results, click on your book and you’ll see the book’s availability on the right.
4. If the book’s in stock, you can save more time by using the “Reserve for in-store pickup” link. A staffperson will look for your book and put it on hold for you at the register.

Given the convenience of this search tool, it amazes me why Borders doesn’t promote it on their main site and why other stores like Barnes & Nobles or the Virgin Megastore don’t offer similar tools.