We just went to read a book and discovered that about 100 pages right in the center of the book had been printed twice, and the second time the pages that *should* have been there were missing.  Does that make sense?  The page numbers read fine up to 365, say (I don't remember the exact numbers), then after 365 instead of 366 it was 268 through 365 again, then picked up at 468...  This book was received a long time ago and marked OK--it looks brand new from the outside!!  But if I get another copy from the same publisher and it has the same problem, would you mark it RWP or ??  Obviously the sender didn't read this particular book or they'd have noticed, but I know I buy books at thrift shops or wherever just to post so I don't feel right about complaining... yet I really can't read this!!  Any thoughts?

I think you should, instead of re-ordering, bring it to a bookstore.  If you can find a different edition then I would expect that copy to be fine, but ordering the same ISBN, I would think, would run the risk of getting the same result.  For a problem of that size I wouldn't expect it to be necessarily isolated.  One or two pages, maybe, but that's quite a lot of pages you've got in error.  I don't think there's anything in the RWP option that includes publisher defects, but I could be wrong.  However, I do believe that if you could at the very least get in touch with the publisher they might have a solution for you.  The bookstore should have accurate contact information.  If it was a new enough book, as in still on the bookstore shelves, they might even help you themselves, but I wouldn't count on it considering the lack of a receipt.  My money's on contacting the publisher.  I'm sure someone else will come along who has actualy dealt with this sort of problem before, but that's my two cents.

Hi Patricia,

If you contact the publisher (they all have websites) they are likely to be willing to replace the book.  Just tell them you have a defective copy of XYZ, and describe what you described here.

I can certainly see how a sender could easily miss this if they hadn't read the book, but it is appropriate for you to mark it RWP if it happens again.

You may want to turn on a Requestor Condition if you decide to re-order this book and ask the sender to specifically check page numbering, as you are aware that there are some defective editions of this ISBN in circulation.

I hope you get a copy you can read!

I think most people have recommended in past situations such as this that you take it to a local bookstore and they will usually exchange the book for you and that this is a better solution that contacting the publisher.  No personal experience but, that is the counsel I have seen on here several times.

I would not mark it RWP as it's not the sender's fault.  If they haven't read the book, how would they know?

I got a book from a thrift store that was that way, and my DH didn't notice until he was to that point in the book, so I ordered one from PBS, but asked the sender to make sure that they pages were all there.  They were, but I had to throw the original book away.

I wouldn't think it would count as a RWP as most people don't check to see that all the pages are numbered correctly.  Pat

Ok, thanks.  My thought was NOT to RWP, but it's such an oddball thing I just wasn't sure what to do with it!  :)-  I can't take it to a bookstore to ask, because we live overseas.  AAFES will laugh in my face LOL, they are less than helpful as a rule.  I found another copy on the site, so I'm just going to take a chance and re-order for now.  If I get another one like it, then it's time to start hunting for a publisher's website or snail address!!

I just want to add that I work in a public library and this happens from time to time. We contact the jobber that we ordered the book from. We have had this happen quite a number of times but only once can I remember a case where the book that was sent to replace the defective book was also defective. And we always are getting a copy that is the same, in other words, replacing the defective book with one with the same isbn.

susan/vt