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Borders - CLOSED
Categories: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Food Coffee & Tea Books, Mags, Music and Video, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
39210 Fremont HubSte 211
Fremont, CA 94536
(510) 797-9799
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
56 reviews for Borders
Review Highlights
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"...cup of coffee and Seattle's Best is among my favourites." In 10 reviews -
"...am a Borders Rewards gal and DEF not a Barnes and Noble gal." In 5 reviews -
"...all of you book-lovers, this is a great store to shop from." In 3 reviews
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56 reviews in English
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Review from Jan P.
2/19/2011 39 Check-ins Here
I'm gonna miss this Fremont Borders.... been a frequently customer here ever since. & I work at this Fremont Hub Borders as well; I have passion for reading and books.
Everywhere here, my coworkers, were all like a family to me.
I wish you all the very best! -
Review from Sandy N.
Fremont, CA
4/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Not really a bookstore fan, but since theyre having a great sale - why not make a visit? Ive noticed that theyre only 60-80% at this location...but theres not too much left but a bunch of grumpy workers.
Yet the one at Santana Row is 90%! Yesterday I was there and they had a lot of books left and they happened to change their sale from 80 to 90% off ! Score! Service here was great and the people that worked there gave excellence customer svc. There was plenty of books to choose from as well. -
Review from Paul K.
Fremont, CA
1/20/2011
I come here quit often to study at the Cafe but I give this place 1 star because of an incredibly rude lady who works there.
I think she is like a manager or something, some really fat old lady with glasses on a power trip. We were studying at a table when she comes up and tells us rudely that THE CHAIRS ARE NOT FOR FEET. She could have politely told us but instead she crudely approaches us while shaking her head profusely and storms off back on her power trip.
Because of her the Fremont Hub Borders has lost a long time customer. Borders definitely needs to fire her.... -
Review from Anna D.
7/4/2008 7 Check-ins Here
I go to the check-out and the cashier recommends another suggestion.
Her: You can go over to the Customer Service and someone will show you where it is on the shelf.
*She talks on her little headset: 'I'm sending a lovely lady over to you'*
I go over to Customer Service
Me: Hellooo! I'm the lovely lady.
Strange looks. -
Review from Ann L.
5/7/2009
We went to Borders since I had a FREE coupon to try any Seattle's Best Coffee drink, last day 5/6/09. I got a Hazelnut Syrup latte that's $3.20, but FREE for me. It tasted sweet and not very strong.
I wanted to get Bonk (by Mary Roach) & the book: Gun, Germs & Steel (by Jared Diamond). They are in paperback and they have a Buy 1, get 1 Half Price on a special table. I think they are like $15 ea. We decided to wait & see if they are in the library.
We then spent time reading magazines before going home.
Separate bathrooms to the Left side of the magazines/Cafe. -
Review from Bill F.
Fremont, CA
8/5/2009
I came here after stopping at the Targets and Traders Joes store to look at what new books were available. It was a very interesting and good looking store, and the best part they had a coffee cafe attached to it serving Seattle's Coffee.
I looked at at some of the subjects they offered and found that they had great selections of materials, and the books were priced reasonably. Material was displayed well and brightly lite. Overall, a great store to browse for books and other materials, like magazines, CDs, etc.
However, what really makes this place rock is the attached "coffee cafe," which has great cup of coffee. Definitely will come again to browse for reading, and reference, materials. -
Review from Andrew L.
Berkeley, CA
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
As a few others have mentioned, this Borders definitely has room for a LOT of improvement. Some of it might be due to the slow sales of books in stores these days, but if they want to keep the customers, they need to make some changes.
First off, this place was hard to find...as the entrance was facing inwards towards a central path/corridor. (disclaimer: this was my first time here since I usually go to the one at Santana Row or Sunnyvale) I only came to this location b/c I was heading to the Fremont BART station.
Service was TERRIBLE. There were three or four people ahead of me waiting to be helped and only ONE person answering questions and helping to look for items. I waited for at least twenty minutes and still wasn't helped so I just moved on.
This store just feels empty since there is a lot of open space...but as for the selection, there is a fairly decent variety. They have most items that are needed. -
Review from Amy R.
San Francisco, CA
3/5/2007
So...I went in there just to use the restroom; I admit it...and I discovered that Target's inventory control tags set off the Borders alarm system, even if they are demagnetized to Target standards. You would think they would have tried to work that out since they are in such close physical proximity...
Anyway, after setting off the alarm upon walking into the store, and then again walking into the bathroom, and then again walking out of the bathroom...I was embarrassed enough to buy something. I was so pleased with the friendliness of Borders employees, even through my repeated disruption of the library atmosphere that I had to come here and post a review. -
Review from Lorrie M.
2/1/2009
I love Borders simply because I always find the to be ... how do I say this, more humane than Barnes and Noble. Yes they don't have quite the selection but they DO have Seattle's Best cafes embedded and that in itself is ++++ many stars for the book store.
In general I always feel almost unwanted at Barnes and Noble, even at times when I'm actually going in there to look for ONE specific book to check out and not to sit around and utilize their resources. However, Borders has the most friendly staff and are very accommodating and will let you do just about anything! -
Review from Belinda S.
Los Angeles, CA
6/5/2007
I can always manage to find a seat here.
I like the clientele as well, there aren't that many noisy kids for some reason- especially in the evenings. -
Review from Jennifer E.
Ann Arbor, MI
1/3/2010
This used to be my favorite store, but it's just gone so far downhill I can't stand going there any more.I'm not sure if you could call this a bookstore any more- after the cards, toys, boardgames, food, twilight shirts, coffee, candy, posters, gift wrap, movies, music, stationary, etc., there are a few books.
The customer service has become a nightmare. The manager is just completely disinterested, and the return policies are more stringent than anywhere else. (They refuse exchange even on unopened, borders-labeled products even after Christmas) The employees try harder, but the attitude is pervasive.
Also, the store is a disorganized mess. On my last visit, it took almost an hour to find a book in the children's department, because half the product was on the floor.
I'll be going to B&N until things improve. -
Review from Rinne R.
Union City, CA
3/15/2006
For all of you book-lovers, this is a great store to shop from! Sign up for emails, then you'll forever be getting cool coupons. From studying in their cafe to skimming the pages of the latest best sellers, Borders will always be my favorite!! It beats Barnes and Nobles any day. And if you're looking for awesome gifts, check out this venue...aside from books, they also sell lotsa cute accessories and beauty items!!
If only parking wasn't so hard---this is right across Elephant Bar! -
Review from Christina Y.
Union City, CA
4/13/2006
Not too different from other locations. I think Borders has a better bargain book selection compared to Barnes & Nobles.
Borders also tends to have the underground artists that I like.. which you can't find OR listen to in other stores (i.e. Circuit City, Best Buy). The only downside is that you can't get that bargain price unless you can find it cheap online or you wait a couple months until the big stores finally stock up on the artist.
Just a Note: This location isn't stocked too well in some areas & the parking can get a little bad around 12PM due to the lunch rush. Plan accordingly in this area. =) -
Review from Meesha R.
4/20/2011
No amount of nooks, or technological devices will EVER replace a good ol' paperback book.
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Review from AccioSoyMilk ..
Richland, MS
1/18/2007
Not all that different from the other Borders, other than they have a front and back entrance. It's gone through renovations to make their cafe area more welcoming and open.
Also like other Borders, they tend to be messier than say Barnes and Noble, but they are getting better about keeping on top with straightening their books. They also have a nice selection. I do enjoy their accessibility with various Book Search kiosks that allow the customer to search instead of relying on an employee. Granted, there are always those doofus customers who make you wonder how they survive life, but for most of us it's handy instead of waiting.
Their CDs and DVDs tend to be more expensive than say, Target, although they do have a wide and varied selection. You are also more likely to find imports that you can't find elsewhere.
Their Borders Rewards cards are free (take that Barnes and your stupid 25 dollar fee) and they can even look it up by phone number. They even have little keychain cards that you can allow family members to use the discount!
The staff is always friendly and helpful. -
Review from Starla L.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2009
This review is for Border's as a place to study. It's fairly easy to find seats at the cafe in the evening during the weekend, but very difficult in the afternoon. Most of the time it is nice and quiet, with others also studying or working on their laptops. However, there are always homeless people hanging out inside. One guy in particular will go up to strangers and start talking about random things. I've witnessed him scare away patrons. The manager finally told him to leave when there was only an hour left before closing.
The women's restroom is nasty. Only the handicapped stall has a wastebasket for sanitary napkins/tampons, and most times it is the one without toilet paper.Listed in: Places to Study
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Review from B R.
Fremont, CA
2/18/2011
Damn, what a bunch of gonads. I'm still trying to figure out how to give a negative rating.
I dropped by the store on 2/17 with my wife, who is the nicest person you'll find. She politely asked some older looking manager type for her attention, and I kid you not, this old bitch completely flipped out and went ballistic on us. She basically bitched on about how everybody has been coming in wondering how they could profit from the future closing of the Borders store. And the wench kept going on. I politely reminded her that some people don't even have jobs, and that she has had one for a while. Well, bitch-face said something rude and literally stormed off. I don't know if she went into the back to get her gun or something, but the wife and I weren't about to stick around and find out. We left. We won't shop at that hole again.
They deserve to go out of business. Good riddance. -
Review from Tina S.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2008
Do not expect you'll find a seat in there.
I am reviewing the Seattle's Best coffee shop, not Borders.
I've always love a great cup of coffee and Seattle's Best is among my favourites. HOWEVER, this particular location is always full of non coffee drinkers: people with laptops and homework spreading over table and occupying seats. We 3 of us, were tired, we needed to sit down, I wanted my coffee.... how come I have a feeling I were interrupting them studying... is that a library? I got my 3 coffee and had to sit outside on a concrete bench with concrete table by Target!!! -
Review from Anne N.
7/22/2008
Love to come and visit this place. I generally like all bookstores, but that's not the case. I think they've changed the place around a bit a while ago, but the place is still easy to locate the books you need. The service is average, you kind of have to hunt people down if you need help. If you need to reserve any books to buy and pick up, they'll do that right away.
I adore the stationary section as well as most of the other books in this store. It's fun to come to the store when they have events. You can also volunteer for gift wrapping for school if you need to. Minor set back, hard to get a job here. -
Review from Trish S.
12/10/2009
I am a Borders Rewards gal and DEF not a Barnes and Noble gal.
Why?
A.) I live by this place
B.) I get e-mails weekly with coupons always with at LEAST 20% off ANYTHING at the store.
borders rewards + me (A COMPLETE BIBLIOPHILE) = love. -
Review from Cheryl D.
4/14/2010
I love Borders all over the place, but the staff at this Borders seem exceptional.
I recently moved to the east bay, and didn't know where the Borders' were. Until I mentioned to the cashier, who let me look up my Borders email coupon on my phone because as I said, I didn't know there was a Borders here...Where was I going - oh yeah - he gave me a list of all the Borders, and there's one closer, in Union City!
Rockstar service. -
Review from Ralph N.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2010
I had to wait for my uncle to drop me off at SFO, so I decided to wait here.
It seemed like a very nice Borders - very spacious and mostly quiet.
Seattle's Best Coffee was quite crowded - and this was on a Friday night? Surprising. Passed right by it to go straight to the photography section.
The photography section there was great and had a lot of titles that I couldn't find at other bookstores. I spent most of my time there, enjoying a few of the books. No one seemed to care, and no one asked me to move from where I was sitting.
Excellent. -
Review from becky s.
Fremont, CA
4/29/2007
My favorite Borders! Come here when I'm bored. The employees know that most people come here to read the magazines. Theres chairs set up for us cheapasses to read magazines but oh no not buy them. And yes I was an anime geek who would also read the manga comics since they have a large selection.I have fond memories of meeting up with classmates to study for an exam at the cafe.
The workers here are very nice and helpful too. I think that Borders is definately cheaper than Barnes and Noble and feels more comfortable. Theres beauty items here? -
Review from Ryan S.
Fremont, CA
7/2/2010
Like many of the reviewers here I have mixed views on this location. I'm giving it 4 stars because they have a wide selection of everything and I've found some of my favorite books and useful TRPG manuals here.
The place is usually clean, but the kid's section can be a huge mess. Though overall the shelves are usually clean and the store is usually very well kept. They seem to change their layout every 5 minutes so expect to have to hunt for your usual section every time. They've moved the manga section at least 4 times in the past 1-2 years already.
The other issue I have is the service sometimes. The check out people are generally nice and friendly, but some of the floor staff seem to act a bit too snotty. Once we were shushed because we couldn't help but laugh at the idiotic titles of the romance novels they had... on display... prominently. It's not a library, people. You're not supposed to read the whole book in the store (I'm looking at you manga readers who give the rest of us manga lovers a bad name by sitting in the aisles to read the novels).
Oh, and don't expect to be hired here. The people working here are always the same and filing out their hour long application online will get you nowhere.
However the store is big, it has a ton of merchandise and they offer coupons constantly. You can come here for new releases, manga, DVDs, and games and then pop over to Half Priced for the rest of what you want! -
Review from Jimbo S.
San Jose, CA
6/17/2009
I love coming here and reading their books and magazines and not purchasing them.
I had to deduct one star because of their coffee shop wi-fi - it is only available to T-mobile people, (1% of the population). -
Review from Diana R.
Newark, CA
2/24/2007
Great place to hang out, read books, look over magazines, and have coffee.
My only concern is that the employees don't ask weird people to leave. I have had the unfortunate opportunity of sitting next to a man who smelled of alcohol and was snoring very loudly.
Other than that....employee are actually very friendly!
Oh yeah...sometimes the pastries aren't always fresh too, but the employee will warm it up for ya! -
Review from Angela Y.
Fremont, CA
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Review from Mike F.
Fremont, CA
7/18/2010
I tried returning a book I bought from them because I'd found it elsewhere for cheaper. To my surprise, I was shot down by their manager on grounds that it has "ripped" and is "unfit for resale". There's approximately a 1mm or 1/25th inch rip on the bottom cover of a 8.5x11'' book. The minimal level of damage is to be expected of any book that might have been accidentally dropped when it was being shelved. I wouldn't even have noticed if I didn't look carefully. What takes the cake is the fact that the book was already in that condition when I had bought it! I didn't want to wait for a book to be shipped and it was the last available copy at the store. Everything else was pristine about it, which is why I bought it despite that minimal, insignificant scratch. Not giving me a return is... insulting.
This will be the last time I let this establishment profit from stealing from their customer.
EDIT: Please note I added Seattle's Best at Borders to the listings since no one else bothered to. It was skewing the rating distribution for the bookstore, which does not deserve all those stars.... -
Review from Michelle O.
Fremont, CA
Updated - 2/23/2011
Looks like this Store and UC will be closing soon!!!!... Clearance books????
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/6/2011
Store needs to be organized: We usually go to the Union City Borders but it seems like it never… Read more »
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Review from Amy C.
Newark, CA
1/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Like any other Borders everywhere, I love them all. My fave thing about Borders is that they have Paperchase stuff that are sooo freakin CUTEE. :D
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Review from Albert d.
Union City, CA
2/12/2008
This is a much better Borders than the others. They're organized and pretty clean. The staff is always on alert and actually willing to help you right away. This location is also a great shortcut through the other side of the Hub.
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Review from Shawna N.
Pleasanton, CA
10/10/2009
Those of you reviewing this place giving it 4 and 5 stars, you clearly didn't go to the coffee shop. I went here to get some studying done for a midterm I have coming up. I had cabin fever from being couped up inside and wanted to go somewhere quiet to study. This place was nice and calm and peaceful, with people on their lap tops, reading and families sitting while they relax and drink yummy coffee inspired drinks. At least, it WAS peaceful until the stupid manager and baristas started yapping. ABOUT NOTHING. The one barista needed tuesday off, from what I gathered during this incessant gabfest was that the manager had accomodated her for sunday AND monday, and she couldn't also do so for tuesday. What kind of barista are you that you think you get three days off in a row when you are asking three days before the third day? Silly barista, this is retail. If you couldnt work tuesday then you should have requested that off 2 weeks ago, not waited until the last minute only to interrupt my studying with your loud ass noisy talking.
I don't think baristas realize what they are doing when they talk loudly interrupting those reading, studying, sitting quietly. Starbucks started this trend in like, what? Early 2000-2001? Where they encouraged people to sit and enjoy their coffee while carousing around on the internet, studying or reading the newspaper, etc. The intention was that people could relax and stay a while. The idea that they would stay and eventually order more coffee. And that they would return. A brilliant marketing strategy and wonderful concept. By YAPPING LOUDLY they are making it impossible for me to study. They are ruining this experience. They are basically telling me that I should have stayed at home. Which I will probably do next time. I don't neeed coffee, I do however, need to study.
All in all I was there about an hour and a half, and I kid you not, they were talking non stop super loud the whole entire time.
AND the phone would go off every like 5 or 10 minutes with a super annoying ring and they would let it ring and ring before they answered it. -
Review from Lulu S.
Union City, CA
12/18/2010 3 Check-ins Here
A pretty nice Borders, clean and quiet, a great place to browse around for books and read a little.
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Review from Malcolm K.
Lexington, KY
2/11/2011
Borders looks like it will close at least 200 stores. Fremont's never seems too busy, certainly you don't see a lot of people actually AT the check stands. Wonder if it will be one of the closures?
It is a typical giant bookstore, has what you need but feels cold. -
Review from Rob M.
San Mateo, CA
2/19/2007
When my wife and I lived in Fremont we often walked here and spent hours browsing the aisles, lingering in the coffee shops, perusing the DVD's, and just generally enjoying ourselves. The staff was friendly and helpful, no one cared if we left without buying, no one worried if we had a beverage, no one worried about anything. Great store.
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Review from Sarah S.
Union City, CA
1/28/2011
I have been buying books at borders from past 5 years... their rewards program saves you alot of bucks. it's free and easyily accessible via email. their coupons do save you about 5-6 bucks ... i love visiting this place... it's quiet and the seattle's coffee is located inside..which gives you free access to wi fi. Being a nursing student, i love going there and study while enjoying my coffee.. and i can concentrate more...
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Review from Andrew Y.
6/25/2006
What Borders is not of good quality. You can read any number of books for free. You can sit in any space and just read. If you get hungry, you can go to the cafe. If you want to leaf through some magazines you can sit around and read all of them. If you want some free samples, you can wait and maybe someone from the cafe will bring some around. Also, the washrooms...are clean.
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Review from Jose G.
San Jose, CA
12/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Perfect stop on the way out of town, had what i needed and they are already doing gift wrapping as well!
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Review from justine k.
Union City, CA
1/31/2009
I wish I could give two different reviews. On one hand, this is why I'd like to give 1 star...
I was with a friend sitting near the magazines. We were reading an article in the latest issue of Rolling Stone, about a high school teacher who slept with her students. It sounds serious, but trust me, that shit was HILARIOUS. It wasn't supposed to be, but man.. you just have to read it to believe me. My friend and I would just burst into fits of laughter from time to time. It was that funny. Trust me. And we weren't being obnoxious and slapping our knees and yelling... we were just giggling to ourselves. I'm just trying to paint a mental picture for you here. So while reading and laughing (moderately quietly!), this big scary dirty looking dude who has been sitting next to us the entire time, comes up to us, stands right in front of the chair I am sitting in, and says to the both of us....
BIG HOMELESS-LOOKING MAN: "You better stop laughing right now. Stop. If you want to laugh, go in there (points to the cafe...which is 10 feet away! WTF). If you don't stop laughing, I'm gonna bring you two outside and scare the shit out of you".
HAHAHAHA OH SHIT. I looked at my friend like, is this dude forreal?! First of all- we weren't even being that loud, second of all- this isn't a library so i really DON'T have to whisper, third of all- you and your other dirty friend sitting next to you just spent the last 20 minutes talking about football and crack so who are you to tell me to shut up!, and fourth of all- you might want to rethink your request for us to move to the cafe to laugh because I'm pretty sure there isn't an invisible forcefield around the cafe. You'd still be able to hear us from there idiot!
I looked up and said, "um. okay". and we kept on reading. Too bad there were no more funny parts in the article. After that we decided to leave because it was way awkward in there, and guess what. The dude followed us outside!!!!! Oh snap.. we're gonna die...
So he yelled for us to turn around and asked.. (I'm serious, this is what he said)... "DO YOU GUYS HAVE PARENTS?!" And then he got really close to us and made this "shoo-ing" gesture in our faces. As if to say, "shoo! get outta here!".
WTF! No sir, I don't have parents. I'm a robot who was sent to earth to annoy dirty old men like you at book stores with my laughter. HAHA. Are you trying to imply that our laughter was so absolutely rude that they couldn't have possibly taught us any manners? Look at yourself! You're here threatening people who are 10 times cleaner/younger/nicer than you. Whaaat. If it were anyone else who was tryna come at me like that, I definitely would've said something back. But this guy looked like he might pull out a knife and stab me in the face. So I made my friend just keep walking and ignore him. Haahahahahah. What a night.
I really wanted to review this place negative 5 stars just for allowing folks like that to enter their establishment. But then I thought.. man that's so not fair. It isn't their fault that this scary man is hanging out here. So instead, this is why I'm giving it 4 stars.
I went home and called this Border's to complain about the guy and give the workers a warning so that the man wouldn't harrass anyone else. I told the lady who answered the phone what happened, that the man was really rude, that we weren't even being loud, and that he followed us outside and basically threatened us. Instead of just brushing me off, the lady apologized, and told me that she would definitely pass on the message to both security, and to the bigger Border's corporate office or something. I'm not sure what that would do, but I guess that's where complaints go? Anyway. She said she would never want a customer to feel unsafe or threatened at the store and that she's really sorry it happened. She even said she knew that I was the girl sitting in the corner because she remembered seeing me there. And I remember looking up and smiling and saying hello to her also, so it was nice to see that she recalled who I was even though we barely interacted. AND she said that the two men sitting there were definitely homeless men who do come in from time to time and just sit and hang out. She said she'll keep an eye out for them and apologized again.
So for that alone, just because that lady was nice and listened to my concerns, this place gets 4 stars. I wish I knew her name but oh well. I may not come back to this store since I'm not trying to die by homeless man murder, but I must say, thank you for the excellent customer phone service! -
Review from joanne m.
Fremont, CA
6/26/2007
couldn't be a nicer staff. everyone is so helpful and pleasant when I have gone in there. I would choose this Boarders over Barnes and Noble across the street ANYDAY!
