Shop Talk

Check out another nook delay.

Some of Barnes & Noble’s top stores were supposed to have nook e-readers available for sale today.  Instead, shoppers can just look at the nook, not take it home.

In-store demo models have been delivered and Barnes & Noble is accepting pre-orders, spokeswoman Mary Ellen Keating said.

That’s a slight change from what she said last week:  “We expect to have them in our highest-volume stores on December 7th and in a very limited number.”

Barnes & Noble had earlier hoped to have a limited number of its e-readers in some of its stores around Nov. 30.

While shoppers may struggle to get nooks — and who knows, maybe buy Kindles instead? – at least one select group of consumers got their hands on the gadget last week.  The studio audience at The Ellen DeGeneres Show got nooks, among other tech goodies, during the first day of “Ellen’s 12 Days of Giveaways,” which aired last Thursday. 

Also in the basket:

Cadbury to respond to Kraft offer on Dec. 14

Home Depot to sell Martha Stewart paint line

Saks faced dilemma as luxury shoppers stay AWOL

An interview with Supervalu’s CEO (Wall Street Journal, subscription required)

(Reuters photo)