Old client still wants glued-on covers after 5 years

I had a regular back in 2021 in Spokane who insisted on using cheap PVA glue for every single hardcover rebind. I told him it would crack within a year on books over 400 pages, but he didn't listen. Sure enough, 6 months later he brought back three of them with the covers hanging off. Did he switch to a proper adhesive? Nope, just asked me to re-glue them the same way. Has anyone else dealt with a customer who refuses to change their methods even when the results keep failing?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_nina2d ago

Oh man... I've had customers exactly like this. Some people just won't learn no matter how many times their books fall apart. I'd say just take his money and do it his way, but warn him in writing that you won't warranty it anymore after this time. That way when it fails again, he can't come back blaming you for his bad choices. It's honestly not worth losing sleep over someone who refuses to listen to reason, you know?

lindaowens2d ago

I'm sorry, wait - this is the THIRD time he's come back with the same book? I mean @the_nina you have way more patience than me, I would've lost it after the first redo. Like, how do you even keep a straight face telling him "yeah sure I'll fix it again" when you know he's just gonna use cheap glue or staple it wrong or whatever he's doing? I had a guy once argue with me for ten minutes about how his method was better, then his cover fell off in the parking lot before he even got to his car. Some people just can't be helped, seriously.