Borders, not wrapping their books? In my experience they wrap about 50% of them. Fantasy and Sci-Fi books are usually wrapped, while general fiction is a free-for-all browsing section. Mangas are also wrapped, but Borders provides a 'Browsing Copy' that usually looks like 'kiam chai' (salted vegetable in Hokkien).

I don't really care if the book I buy is unwrapped and has been flipped through. As long as its not in tatters with pages falling out, its fine by me. Of course, if there is a wrapped copy and an unwrapped one, I'll pick the wrapped one!

I did see something that really irked me tho. I was at Kinokuniya, and there were these two guys just ripping up the wrapping to read the books, even though there were plenty of signs that read 'Please ask for assistance to unwrap.' Very uncivic-minded.

Acceptable or not, you walk into the bookstore, you follow its rules. Its not like you can't unwrap the books, you just have to ask, but obviously the people we saw are more important then your average Joe.

When you want something bad enough, you'll buy a book even if its full of creases and the cover looks like its been through a grinder. Case in point, the last copy of a particular book I wanted which I snapped up regardless of its condition.

Seconded. Popular may be good for work books, but is sorely lacking in novels and the likes. I like to call it the 'glorified stationary store'.