1LesMiserables
Given the dust up over quality control with the recent LOTR and Hobbit LEs, I thought it might be time to share our unboxing protocols. What's your method?
I've been a little slack myself in this regard in the past, only giving books a cursory glance over, later finding some production flaw which I should have picked up upon.
I've been a little slack myself in this regard in the past, only giving books a cursory glance over, later finding some production flaw which I should have picked up upon.
2affle
>1 LesMiserables:
I've had so little trouble in forty years or so of buying FS books that I have nothing that I would call a protocol, except for one thing: I flick through the pages to check that each signature is present and in the right order. It's seriously annoying to pick a book off the shelf where it has been maturing for a year or two after purchase, read three-quarters of it, and then find a duplicate gathering instead of the right one. It hasn't happened with a FS book for me, but I check.
I've had so little trouble in forty years or so of buying FS books that I have nothing that I would call a protocol, except for one thing: I flick through the pages to check that each signature is present and in the right order. It's seriously annoying to pick a book off the shelf where it has been maturing for a year or two after purchase, read three-quarters of it, and then find a duplicate gathering instead of the right one. It hasn't happened with a FS book for me, but I check.
3LesMiserables
>2 affle: Yes, often the anticipation of buying a sought after Folio, exceeds the satisfaction in receiving it, and many times have seen me house purchases without interrogation.
I think I recall correctly that after buying the Chelmscott Chaucer I came across someone commenting on the blocking practically snowing gold dust onto their hands and clothing, which prompted close inspection resulting in myself finding the same issue.
In fact up until now I have paid more unboxing attention to 2nd hand purchases, probably assuming brand new FS buys will be flawless.
I think I recall correctly that after buying the Chelmscott Chaucer I came across someone commenting on the blocking practically snowing gold dust onto their hands and clothing, which prompted close inspection resulting in myself finding the same issue.
In fact up until now I have paid more unboxing attention to 2nd hand purchases, probably assuming brand new FS buys will be flawless.
4N11284
> 1 "I've been a little slack myself in this regard in the past"
Me too. A couple of years ago I bought The Locked room Mysteries and placed it on the shelf to read later. When I did get to it a year or so later I discovered a large thumbprint in ink on one of the pages. Much too late to do anything about but it thought me a lesson to carefully check every purchase immediately on receipt.
Me too. A couple of years ago I bought The Locked room Mysteries and placed it on the shelf to read later. When I did get to it a year or so later I discovered a large thumbprint in ink on one of the pages. Much too late to do anything about but it thought me a lesson to carefully check every purchase immediately on receipt.
5housefulofpaper
I used to check my books in the Members’ Room.
6boldface
The last time FS had serious issues with quality control, at least in my experience, was in the late 1990s. Working in London in those days I collected all my purchases in person, rather than have them shipped. I would sit in the Members' Room (which at that time was in the basement of the Sackville Street premises of antiquarian bookseller Henry Sotheran, founded 1761) and go through each book, page by page. It was embarrassing for all concerned how often I had to ask for a different copy before I could safely take it home, but I reckoned if I'm paying extra for a luxury product it should be in at least as good condition as a mass-produced trade edition, and I very rarely found flaws in the latter.
I have come across a few defects in more recent years (a squashed fly between the pages, misplaced and/or missing gatherings, smudged printing, the case attached upside down on the recent Moonstone), but nothing like as often as previously. However, I still check every page to avoid delayed disappointment and the possibility that replacements might no longer be available.
On the plus side, FS have always (or nearly always) provided a friendly and quibble-free customer service, but it's obviously better not to have to contact them at all.
I have come across a few defects in more recent years (a squashed fly between the pages, misplaced and/or missing gatherings, smudged printing, the case attached upside down on the recent Moonstone), but nothing like as often as previously. However, I still check every page to avoid delayed disappointment and the possibility that replacements might no longer be available.
On the plus side, FS have always (or nearly always) provided a friendly and quibble-free customer service, but it's obviously better not to have to contact them at all.
7Macumbeira
Someone bit a part out of a page of "In the name of the rose" in my copy.
8LesMiserables
>6 boldface: Excellent. This is what I call quality control. I don't think it's too much to ask for the bar to be set at flawless.
Rather the gadfly, if it assists Folio in living up to their marketing.
Rather the gadfly, if it assists Folio in living up to their marketing.
10LesMiserables
And what is the consensus on slipcases which traditionally are, by their nature, there to soak up the scuffs and skuds in order to protect the book within?
So in terms of unboxing, would the battle hardened slipcase which has undergone the duress of combat, and has the scars to show it, be welcomed as the triumphant war hero, or as a broken ornament?
So in terms of unboxing, would the battle hardened slipcase which has undergone the duress of combat, and has the scars to show it, be welcomed as the triumphant war hero, or as a broken ornament?
11Macumbeira
>9 stubedoo: I'll see you read the book
12HonorWulf
The big problem for me has been shipping damage, so I anxiously inspect the corners when I unbox the books and breath a sigh of relief when they're unscathed. But I buy mostly SE's from Folio and haven't had many quality issues outside of some foil flaking (especially on the paper bound books).
