BUT... I have given Indigo too many second chances on their non-book merchandise so their new defocussed focus makes me cringe. I've had to do many returns, embarrassing gift returns, because of poor quality crap. Two "literary" mugs, on separate occasions, whose messages started to wash off after several uses. A "literary" quote pillow whose stitching came undone within months. A smart-seeming not-cheap boardgame with wooden pieces that could have lasted a lifetime time if it wasn't for crappy quality control that left the pieces painted with grossly offcenter markings that you can't unsee while playing. Sure, they sell some highish-end consumer electronics, which seem really out of place, but then that's an area where their staff are out of their depth when I've asked questions.

Too many merchandise strikes for me. So you're out, Indigo. I'll only shop there for books now. Which means I cringe and put on tunnel vision as I'm forced to walk through all their non-book plastic futuretrash.

Their model is obviously working for them and for most people. So I recognize I'm probably just a retro bookstore grouch with unrealistic expectations. And I recognize book margins may not be great. But maybe instead of selling barely-relevant disposable garbage, they could help their bottom line by moving just outside of the highest rent locations? (Multi-story retail on Robson Street in Vancouver, really??)

Books endure. Most of their new crap doesn't. Still feels awkward.