I also bought the beautiful "Ki" book when I was travelling in Japan in 1992. My expectations are very high and I never thought it would end like this....

Sylvian Sun

Had an email today from Genesis asking me when i could take receipt of my SOL as it had been delivered once and returned not signed for.
I had to remind them that i HAD received AND signed for it and had it returned as it was damaged. Oh Dear, i have a bad feeling about this one.

My book was sent yesterday....

oohhhh Should I be happy or worried.

Must admit can't wait!

Bettina

So i had a good look at the book!
I love the book!
It looks fab.
Love the photo's
Love thr signatures
Love the single.
Love yhe text by Sukita.
Bowies writing des not add to much, most of the time he is being silly.
My only two complains

Not enough pictures from the Heroes shoot and 1983 also only very few pics.

Love the 1978 part.

Bettina

Glad you like it Bettina, quite a bit of negative stuff has been posted but there are some nice touches and i really do want my deluxe copy back in one piece.
Expectations were probably too high all round but in the fulleness of time it will be appreciated more i would imagine.

Nice one Bettina,It is a enjoyable book all round.Having your name in the back is also a nice touch.Tomjoe I also hope you get your back in one piece.....
Stump

i love my £700 doorstop, yay!

Shooky......you know you will get your dough back any time you wish to sell it!Deep down i think you love it. Anyway if they lose mine, i'll buy yours (discounted of course due to the faults).LOL!

i could sell it, yes, but i'd much prefer to have something i wanted to keep. assuming the cheaper edition is not subject to the same quality control issues, then the deluxe becomes redundant and essentially a very expensive doorstop sat in a box, unread and definitely unloved.

I have to agree with Shooky, and I don't understand how spending such a large amount of money on a book (far more than previous Genesis books, which had better quality control standards) should not allow one to expect something of extreme quality. There are 350 of these Deluxe copies - for that price they really couldn't have checked 350 books? I have a droplet of pink ink on Bowie's face on the cover, plus smudgy "patent leather". I don't think my expectations were too high to expect that not to happen. And then coupled with the shoddy scans. The money has been spent, and there are many photos in the book I enjoy looking at, but I certainly agree there are many things to complain and be unhappy about.

I was alluding to the content rather than the quality.
I agree that the QC should have been a lot more stringent. I could have let my issues with my copy go but felt the cost justified even One damaged page to be sorted. I would also suggest that anyone with these issues, however minor should at least inform Genesis for future products if nothing else.

How did they respond to you? It seems so futile writing to them, but I guess I should.

Hi, Sorry about late reply, i was sunning myself in Marbella.
I emailed Genesis and they arranged collection and did not question the issue i have. I have been told it will go back to the bindery and will be replaced.(i assume they mean the faulty pages). I am waiting for it to be returned and plan to chase it up next week. I have no problem with the fact they are sorting it but i think there are a lot of cheifs at Genesis as some of the staff were not aware of my situation.
They actually sent me 2 Moonage daydream copies some years back, even though i only bought and p[aid for one.(I did return it).
So in conclusion for £700.00 i feel i am justified in sending it back. I am concerned that it may get lost in the system and i do want to have the book back.
If you decide to return it make sure you tell them of the faults.
Once mine is back i will report on the condition etc.
Tom

As I've some private issues relating to SOL, I wrote to Genesis yesterday.
I told them how I feel 'bout the design layout of the book (i.e. disappearing David Bowie's photos) and there are some slightly silver edging problems on pages of my book. Further, I note from a forum that some buyers have the same problems. Not sure if I should post this, anyway, here's their reply:-


......I'm sorry that you are not happy with the design and layout of the book. We certainly haven't had any similar feedback from other collectors. I would point out that the design of all of our books is carefully considered at each stage of the production process and is always undertaken in discussions with the authors/photographers. Mr Sukita had full control in the production of Speed of Life and is extremely happy with the resulting publication. We obviously accept your comments though and I will ensure that they are passed on to our editorial/production team.


Finally, with regards to the problems with your book. I'm not totally clear if you are advising us that the silver page edging is actually damaged or if you are referring to residual paper/gilding ' dust '. If there is damage to your book that you are unhappy with then I am happy for you to return it, at our expense, and will arrange for a perfect replacement to be bound. If however you are advising that there were specks of ' dust' on the edging and pages then I would confirm that this is not unusual. As the books settle down after packing then this may occur. These specks should be easily removable with light dusting......

Sylvian Sun

Sounds to me like they require feedback to show them that people are not impressed with some of the formatting of photos, as they think they are fine.