• August 31, 2010

Book retailer Borders is revamping its Rewards loyalty program to give customers more choices, benefits and savings.

In the revamped program, consumers can choose between two tiers of Rewards program: a free one or a new "Rewards Plus" program, which costs $20/year, but comes with further benefits including free shipping on virtually all online orders.

Members of the free Rewards program will receive 30% off hardcover bestsellers and free shipping on online orders of $25 or more. Members of the fee-based program will receive 40% off bestsellers, 20% off select other hardcovers, 10% off most other items and free shipping on virtually all online orders. The company will also award teachers who are Rewards program members a special day in which they can receive a 10% discount on top of the 25% discount they already receive on eligible items.

In October, Borders will allow parents, friends and families to donate Borders Bucks to their favorite teacher, which can then be used to buy school supplies. Separately, Borders is cutting the prices of several popular e-readers, including the Kobo (now $129) and the Aluratek ($99), and will be offering pre-orders of Velocity Micro's Android-based Cruz Reader and Tablet for $199 and $299, respectively.