Barnes & Noble Will Give Customers $100 If Nook Doesn't Arrive for Christmas

By Nook or by crook, you will get that book! That is, almost, what Barnes & Noble is saying to those worried about not receiving their Nook e-readers in time for Christmas.

Desperate to get the Nook in time to make some fast Christmas cash, B&N decided an early launch with not enough units would be a good idea. Now, as customers start to worry that the gifts won’t arrive in time for Christmas Day, B&N has sent an email promising a $100 gift voucher to anyone whose Nook doesn’t make it. Here’s a follow up email send to the Consumerist, featuring the somewhat over-PC use of the word “holidays” to refer to Christmas Day itself:

The vast majority of customers who pre-ordered nooks and were given a pre-holiday estimated shipping date should receive their devices in time for the holidays […] Unfortunately, there may be a very small percentage of customers who may not receive their nooks before the holiday.

In its initial email to customers, Barnes & Noble has tried to weasel its way out of the real reason for the problem (not enough Nooks) by blaming shipping:

Although your shipment has been slightly delayed, we are aiming for your order to leave out warehouse in time for you to receive your nook by December 24th.

And how, given the sorry state of the B&N warehouse and its inability to get things out of the door, is the company addressing the problem?

We are sending a special nook Holiday Certificate to the shipping address provided when you placed your nook order. [emphasis in original]

That’s right. Despite not being able to ship the Nook itself, B&N can manage to print and post some gift cards. We guess the company is more experienced with dead tree products than this fancy new-fangled gadgetry after all.

We tease, but this is a nice piece of pre-emptive customer service. At least your unlucky giftee will have something to open on “Holiday” Day Morning, and the bonus of $100 to spend when the thing finally turns up.

Barnes & Noble Will Send You $100 If Nook Doesn’t Show Up By Christmas [Consumerist]