This Makes Mama Happy #1: Borders Online Reservations

You know the phrase, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"? Here's something that will keep everybody happy.

I love to read, and sometimes I hear about a book and want to take a look at it or buy it. In a busy day, I might not have time to search book stores for the book.

Borders.com has a great tool on its site. It lets you check a particular store's inventory to see if the book is in stock. If it is, you can get it put on hold for you and buy it when you get to the store.

(Not that anybody does this, but one could even double park outside the store, keep the car running but lock the door, run in, buy the book and run out-- all without waking the baby sleeping in the back seat.)

A few weeks ago, I was looking for a book and went to Borders.com. I clicked on the book and on the right side, the screen gives you options to add the book to the cart, add it to the wish list, or check store inventory. Punch in your zip code and the system will tell you if the book is in stock. You can enter some simple information to reserve it.

When I requested the book, it was about 7 a.m., two hours before the store was due to open. When a book is requested and a store is closed, you get a computer generated message saying we'll get back to you when the store is open.

Surprisingly at 8 a.m., an hour before the store opened, I got a message saying the book was waiting for me. At 9 a.m., I picked it up. And I was happy.