In the past, I’d waltz into a book store, explore for a while, then approach the cashier with an armful of books: hardcover, paperback and audio. Sometimes, it was all fiction; sometimes I’d mix in a little non-fiction or reference. Very often, I’d go wild in the “bargain books” section.

A few years back, book stores started selling their customers those little membership cards. Like grocery stores, they give additional discounts to customers who have the card. Unlike most grocery stores, you have to pay for their membership cards.

Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble are the main “major” book stores I visit, so in the past, theirs were the membership cards I kept up to date. Most other big book stores have their membership options, and I suspect that most others charge book lovers as well.

Books-A-Million’s membership card costs $10 per year. That, in my opinion, is still ten too much, but I’m sure that by saving from 10-30% per title, I can make back that ten dollars easily enough.

Barnes & Noble’s card costs $25, for what seems like the same discounts. The only real difference between the two chains seems to be that Barnes & Noble stores look a little nicer on the inside. But otherwise, they both have pretty much the same selection, the same kinds of books on the bargain tables, and both even have similar coffee shops. Is the decor in one worth an extra $15 per year? I guess it is, if you’re into paying admission fees to go shop in a book store.

I’m not.

If I’m at either store and I find a book I like, I take a moment to remember which store I’m in. If I want the book quickly, and I’m at Books-A-Million, I’ll buy it. If I’m in Barnes & Noble, I’ll go to Books-A-Million and buy it.

If I want the book but don’t have to have it that moment, I’ll jot down the title and author, go home, and order it from Amazon.com, where I can get a discount without having to pay to join a “club.”

I don’t mind it when grocery stores require you to join their membership club to get extra discounts, because even though they keep track of what you buy — who cares! — they sometimes give you additional coupons for the very items they already know you like.

These book stores generally don’t send many coupons, at least not for the kind of books they know you buy. Sometimes they’ll send you a postcard for additional discounts, but ironically, I notice this much more from Books-A-Million (the $10 membership) than from Barnes & Noble (the $25 membership).

My problem is that I really like Barnes & Noble. I just don’t like them enough to pay an extra fifteen bucks just to get the same prices I can get a little further down the street.

Maybe if book stores operated more like grocery stores, more people would read.