ESV Reformation Study Bible Rant

[Knight]

Ok, I finally broke down and bought a copy of the ESV Reformation Study Bible. (from Amazon)

I had been debating about this for some time and finally decided to do it. Unfortunately, I recieved a defective product. A few pages in Genesis had been partially glued together in the binding process and one of them ripped when I opened it. Well, I contacted the retailer and they agreed to replace it. They even expedited the shipping.

All should have been well and good. Was it? Nope!

The "new" Bible arrives with a small hole through several of the pages in the first part of the book. Likely, another binding defect. I returned this item for a refund.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't mean to be a perfectionist when it comes to this but when I spend money on something like this I expect quality not out-of-the-box defects. It's one thing to have a Bible wear from use but quite another for these problems to surface immediately.

If I sound frustrated it's because this is not the first time I've had to deal with this sort of thing in Bible publishing. My ESV reference Bible that was a birthday present from my wife had to be exchanged twice. Once for a torn page and again for a binding defect. The one I currently own is starting to come apart at one of the corners and it's not even a year old!

We've also had problems with other publishers. I have a NASB Life Application Bible that was exchanged once due to loose binding and is now starting to lose some of its pages. This Bible has been gently used. I also had a NIV Study Bible that had to be exchanged due to losing pages within a year of it's life. Thankfully the replacement seems to be doing well. (For now.....)

These Bibles are not cheap. Why are we not getting what we pay for? I work in a manufacturing business and I can tell you that poor quality is the silent killer of many businesses. Speaking as an American consumer, I will no longer pay "top dollar" for the same old junk we've been getting handed for years.


Ok, rant over.... Thank you for listening.

 

[reformedfan]

as a nation turns it's collective back on God, God's judgment shows up in weird ways. The lack of a collective work ethic, an injustice system to replace the justice system, etc.

Yeah, i hear ya, *sighs*

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

I wish I had grown up in a time when goods were hand-crafted and more highly valued. Mine is a generation of consumers, who buy one expensive, mass-produced toy and are bored with it in a week or so. Then they buy another. It's usually for entertainment purposes, or simply because they "have" to buy the latest fashions, ad infinitum. Unfortunately, the same carelessness that goes into producing our cell phones and other vanities, goes into the production of Bibles. It's sad how we view the word of God.

 

[JJB]

I bought a new ESV Bible as well. I went to my local bible bookstore, so I could see it hands-on. Appears to be ok so far.

I would write to the publishers to complain. They need to know their product is shoddy. Especially, I would encourage you to complain to ligonier ministries. After all, it's their name on the Book!

 

[Knight]

I bought a new ESV Bible as well. I went to my local bible bookstore, so I could see it hands-on. Appears to be ok so far.

I would write to the publishers to complain. They need to know their product is shoddy. Especially, I would encourage you to complain to ligonier ministries. After all, it's their name on the Book!

I intend to send a message to the ESV publisher. (Crossway and P&R)

I was going to email Ligonier but they categorize everything and I could not find an appropriate category for this.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Rolf Ernst]

Ok, I finally broke down and bought a copy of the ESV Reformation Study Bible. (from Amazon)

I had been debating about this for some time and finally decided to do it. Unfortunately, I recieved a defective product. A few pages in Genesis had been partially glued together in the binding process and one of them ripped when I opened it. Well, I contacted the retailer and they agreed to replace it. They even expedited the shipping.

All should have been well and good. Was it? Nope!

The "new" Bible arrives with a small hole through several of the pages in the first part of the book. Likely, another binding defect. I returned this item for a refund.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't mean to be a perfectionist when it comes to this but when I spend money on something like this I expect quality not out-of-the-box defects. It's one thing to have a Bible wear from use but quite another for these problems to surface immediately.

If I sound frustrated it's because this is not the first time I've had to deal with this sort of thing in Bible publishing. My ESV reference Bible that was a birthday present from my wife had to be exchanged twice. Once for a torn page and again for a binding defect. The one I currently own is starting to come apart at one of the corners and it's not even a year old!

We've also had problems with other publishers. I have a NASB Life Application Bible that was exchanged once due to loose binding and is now starting to lose some of its pages. This Bible has been gently used. I also had a NIV Study Bible that had to be exchanged due to losing pages within a year of it's life. Thankfully the replacement seems to be doing well. (For now.....)

These Bibles are not cheap. Why are we not getting what we pay for? I work in a manufacturing business and I can tell you that poor quality is the silent killer of many businesses. Speaking as an American consumer, I will no longer pay "top dollar" for the same old junk we've been getting handed for years.


Ok, rant over.... Thank you for listening.

Knight, do a google search for CAMBRIDGE BIBLES. Or if you want a high quality KJV, do a search for Trinitarian Bible Society. Both offer a wide selection, and their quality is what a man of discriminating taste properly demands.

 

[Knight]

Knight, do a google search for CAMBRIDGE BIBLES. Or if you want a high quality KJV, do a search for Trinitarian Bible Society. Both offer a wide selection, and their quality is what a man of discriminating taste properly demands.

Thanks.

I'm aware of Cambridge Bibles. They appear to be very good.

Also, Broadman Holman is also a good quality producer. I hace a HCSB Bible they published that is one of the nicest in it's class and it cost me less that $20.

The Oxford Bibles I've seen look quite good as well.

The only problem with these companies is that none of them publish the ESV.

I did recieve a prompt response to my complaint with Crossway Bibles. Though I'm not really looking for any kind of replacement I would like them to give the Quality Control department a good swift kick.
We'll see what happens with this.

 

[JM]

I bought E. W. Bullinger's Bible a few years back, I love the Hebrew and Greek but the leather stinks to high heaven and I rubbed my eyes one night after studying it and the residue from the leather burned my eyes!

I complained a few times and nothing was done by the publisher. It still stinks. lol

 

[cygnusx1]

my fav study Bible is my KJV Thompson Chain ref Bible , published by Eyre and Spottiswoode forth improved ed , with nice zip all around it.

 

[NewCovenant]

My New Geneva Study Bible had binding problems, the binding cracked within a few weeks of my buying it. I was heartbroken, but I couldn't return it at that point, I had already started making notes all over it. So I've been carrying it around, holding the pages together for years. I'm very hard on my Bibles anyway (I carry them everywhere, I fall asleep with them in bed with me, you name it), but this was ridiculous.

 

[johnnymapson]

My Reformation bible is of sub quality also, mostly the quality of the leather on the cover. Want a REALLY GOOD bible go to www.leatherbibles.com. I have the ESV thinline from them with their calfskin, it is VERY well crafted. My main Bible is an NASB Open Study Bible and the cover is bonded leather but I love the Open Bible. Even if all the pages fall apart in all my bibles I will treasure God's word and read whatever I can get my hands on! I feel bad complaining when there are countries where you can't even have a Bible!