I went into Borders two nights ago to grab Little Brother and also found myself looking in the wrong spot -- I was convinced after all the great pre-reviews that it would be out on the "new books" table in front, which I'm sure are not all best sellers. (In fact, they've got a separate shelf for those.)

A quick check of the computer at the un-manned reference desk lead me over to YA, where I found about four copies, face out, but fourth shelf down. I bought one, full cover price.

I read the first page in the parking lot before I even started the car.

The movie you're thinking of in relation to the jumping box is Creepshow, written by King, directed by Romero, and the story was called The Crate. Very scary stuff in '82. The graphic novel adaptation illustrated by Bernie Wrightson might have been even scarier.