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May 3 – 9, 2010 Edition Barnes & Noble Offers Free Shipping to Members

NY/AUTHORLINK NEWS/May 3,2010–In a move to combat similar offers at Amazon, Barnes & Noble on Friday announced that it is now offering Unlimited Free Express Shipping to Barnes & Noble Members on all orders placed online at Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com) and on all ship-to-home orders placed in store. With this new benefit, all Member orders are automatically upgraded to Free Express Shipping and Members will receive their orders in three business days or less, with no minimum purchase required and no limits.

Competitor Amazon offers a $79 Prime membership program offering free shipping for orders of any amount. BNoth companies offer free shipping on orders of $25 or more for eligible items.

In store, Barnes & Noble Members will continue to receive in-store discounts of 40% off list price on hardcover bestsellers, 20% off list price on all adult hardcovers (including textbooks), and an extra 10% off the Barnes & Noble price on already discounted items such as bargain, books, music, DVDs, all café items and more. Additionally, Members who join now receive $50 in bonus coupons, which is more than the cost of the $25 per year Membership.

Online, BN.com will continue to offer all customers everyday low pricing on books, toys and games, gifts, digital products and more. Members will now have the added benefit of Unlimited Free Express Shipping in 1-3 days. (Non-Members receive free standard shipping on all orders of $25 or more.)

“Extending Free Express Shipping with no minimum on BN.com is yet another way to provide our millions of Members with more benefits and reasons to shop, both at BN.com or in our more than 700 stores across the country,” said Marc Parrish, vice president of Retention and Loyalty Marketing for Barnes & Noble. “We have a fantastic, ever growing assortment on BN.com of over two million books, home and gift selections, and toys and games from leading brands such as Lego, LeapFrog, Webkinz and Scientific Explorer. Now Members will enjoy all the in-store benefits of Membership, plus Unlimited Free Express Shipping on millions of great items on BN.com, still for the low cost of $25 per year.”