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A while back I purchased Powers: The Definitive Hardcover Collection Volume 1. It collects the first three story arcs of Powers, the somewhat monthly comic written by Brain Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming. I never read the comic, but I thought the basic premise of a world where people with superpowers is common and because if this, the police department has a section devoted to superpower related homicides, sounded interesting.
I finally got around to reading it. That is, I finally got around to trying to read it. The problem is, the book is so poorly bound that some of the pages cannot be read. For example:
I cannot read page 9 because one of the panels is obstructed by the binding. Even though I shelled out money for a deluxe edition, I cannot read it. Wonderful.
It’s not even like I could have flipped through the book before purchasing it. When I found it at my local Borders, it was sealed in shrink wrapped plastic. As a consumer, I had to simply trust Icon, an imprint of Marvel Comics, that they knew how to properly bind a book so that it could be read.
Only a comic publisher would produce a book that cannot be read by the people who purchase it. No other publisher would treat readers this way.
tony
/ November 14, 2009COMPLAIN!!!
and START AT THE TOP.
Go to the Publisher. let them know about the binding and the shrink wrapping (probably Borders idea to stop you reading instore). Go as high up the corporate chain as you can and ask what they intend to do to rectify/remedy the situation.
Next go to Marvel, let them know how disappointed you are, how much you had been looking forward to the book etc. Also tell them about the shrink wrap. Again ask what they intend to do to rectify/remedy the situation.
Finally call Borders 1-800 number, explain the situation tell them what store it is and if they have a Barnes & Noble locally (or other bookstore) that you are SERIOUSLY considering patronising their competitor in future. Here explain to the call centre employee that you understand they only earn around $10hr and that you don’t want to spoil their day. so can you speak to their supervisor directly as they earn enough to merit the grief they are about to get. Never failed with me.
Optional is to call the store directly, speak to the manager (get a name) and express your disgust at their policy of shrink wrapping books and that you are considering going elsewhere in future.
Oh and if you paid by Credit Card you can cancel the payment stating that the product was not fit for purpose. Let them argue with Barnes and Noble.
The squeaky wheel gets oiled.
Rick
/ November 14, 2009@tony: I’m sure Marvel already knows that the book has a massive problem with the binding. They probably just figured that most people that bought it wouldn’t complain. For all I know, they are correct. I saw on Amazon one other person complain about the way you cannot read some of the pages. Because of this, he only gave the book 4 out of 5 stars.