EmberShane

Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours at my local branch of a nationwide bookstore.  Today, I spent some time at my favorite, and rather large, gently used bookstore.  In both cases, I was annoyed because I couldn't use my Kindle to connect to the internet.  First of all, this is 2016.  Why isn't there complimentary wi-fi at national shopping chains?  I can MAYBE understand the used bookstore not having internet connection (even though it's in an uppity part of town and brings stacks of money in) because it's not a national chain.  Okay.  But what about the national bookstores?  What excuse is there?  Is this somehow linked to the animosity a lot of stores have with ebooks?  I can't really think of another reason.  I'm going to be honest.  I've actually not bought a book because I had no wi-fi connection and couldn't look at the reviews.  Not that reviews are the end-all for me on buying a book, but I do find sites like BL and GR valuable to see if any of my friends have read and reviewed a book and their particular opinions regarding it.  When you read in mass quantities, hardbacks and paperbacks can drain your wallet.  I try to buy only those I love or ones I'm pretty sure I will.  Am I the only one that feels this way?  Am I overlooking another reason for the wi-fi bans?  In my personal experience, I can guarantee free wi-fi would actually boost paper sales.