Hello. First, I'd like to note I didn't purchase my copy of the book from Paizo directly, so I am not expecting recompense - more looking for advice.
I've had my copy for all of three days. Last night I noticed that the fold where the front cover meets the first page was pulling a bit resulting in some tearing of the cover page. This morning I noticed similar damage along the back cover. Just now, as I set the book down, the entire bound page section pulled free at one end and it seems completely loose from top to bottom. Just for the record, the most stress I have put this copy under is carrying it back and forth to work.
Obviously I should be able to return this copy for a replacement, but this is the one physical copy my group has. Considering the shortage of books out there, I'd hate to send it back and not have a replacement as I'm the GM and I'm sort of forcing the switch on my group :)
So, to the point of this rambling message.
1) have you heard of similar issues from other customers?
2) do you have any advice for repairing this copy rather than returning it. Not ideal, but maybe better than waiting for the reprints to show up.
This was the first thing that pop in my head when I recieved my copy. It's just so dang thick. I'm worry it might be like a two bit hoe- pretty but cheap ;) (It is by the way the most well layout gaming books I've ever owned.
I agree that it is very well laid out and quite pretty. I was just hoping it would last a bit longer than a couple of days before it began falling apart.
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Not that it helps but I have not had a problem with the two copies I have. Of course the one that is signed by all if not most the staff I got at Gencon was read at Gencon then put up when I got home and received my subscription copy.
Of course I have tried to be careful with my copy as well. Not saying you have not been.
At any rate hope you find a solution and good luck.
Out of curiosity did you get it at Amazon? If so I have received some lower quality stuff from there as well. Whether it was 4e stuff or other stuff. Not sure why this is the case just an observation.
Sean
No matter where you bought the book, as a consumer you have the right to expect a certain level of quality in a new product. Contact the seller first about how you should proceed, but remember, it is still a Paizo product and thus their reputation rests on it.
Out of curiosity did you get it at Amazon? If so I have received some lower quality stuff from there as well. Whether it was 4e stuff or other stuff. Not sure why this is the case just an observation.
Well, since the book weights a lot and amazon did not pack them that well, [my own copy had a good inch of bouncing room] perhaps they are taking heavy jostling. I can; imagine free shipping is not careful shipping. A heavy book, even if made with what passes for quality construction by modern standards, is a danger to itself.
here is one web page that might help.
http://www.wikihow.com/Repair-a-Book's-Binding
wikihow.com/Repair-a-Book's-Binding
Myself, I'd drill through the book and bind it with wire. Maybe put some white glue in the middle spine area.
[img]http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9840/bookenstein.jpg[/img]
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http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9840/bookenstein.jpg
I did get the book from Amazon. It was shipped in one of their fold-over, self adhesive corrugated cardboard envelope/box thingys.
Long story short, I bought some acid free craft glue and applied liberally between the cover and the back of the pages. After spreading the glue out with some disposable chopsticks, I placed it spine down on a shelf between some other heavy books to hold it up. I let the glue cure for 24 hours and it seems to have done the trick. We'll see how it lasts long term, but so far it seems to be fine.
I think one question is where do you live and how hot is it getting where you are? A lot of book spine glues can come loose in certain types of heat.
Note that this can also sometimes be used as a solution as well as a problem. If you ever have a paperback where the glue is coming loose and getting brittle, leave it in a very hot car until the glue liquifies, then press the spine back on and put it somewhere to cool, ideally tightly packed in a shelf with other paperbacks.
Though the glue on a brand new book shouldn't be coming loose that easily.
I did get the book from Amazon. It was shipped in one of their fold-over, self adhesive corrugated cardboard envelope/box thingys.
Just as a comparison, the copy I received from Paizo was probably one of the most carefully packaged books I've ever received. They had inch-thick styrofoam enclosing corners (front, back and 2 sides of each corner). Plus, all of the remaining space in the box was filled with foam peanuts. (Can't recall is the book was inside a plastic sleeve or not.)
I'd say there's a good chance that the sort of packaging used could have prematurely fatigued your copy. :(
Chief Technical Officer
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We've beaten up some books pretty good, and the only one that really suffered was one where the book was dropped directly on the edge of the spine. But there's variance in any manufacturing process, so I'm sure there are a few books out there with less-than-perfect bindings.
We did reserve a bunch of copies to replace defects, though, so people with problems don't need to wait for the second printing to arrive.