...and the bricks throw mortar at their customers:

Barnes & Noble is handing out flyers about their new return policy, effective 08 March 2008:

All returns must be made within 14 days of purchase and accompanied
with an original sales receipt. After 14 days or without an
original sales receipt, returns will not be permitted (nor permitted
to exchange).

I'd posit that this has a lot to do with people ordering from online sources, and also buying from a bricks-and-mortar to hedge their bets, knowing they can return the more expensive one locally.

Thanks to Debbie for alerting me, as Barnes and Noble has no mention of it on their website.