A publication received by a buyer in a damaged, defective, or incomplete state, rendering it unsalable or unusable, is fundamentally flawed from the outset. For example, a newly purchased novel with missing pages or a ripped cover would fall under this category. This condition represents a significant problem in the publishing and distribution chain.
Such occurrences can lead to financial losses for retailers who cannot sell the item and require refunds or replacements. Furthermore, they negatively impact customer satisfaction and erode trust in the supplier or publisher. Historically, factors like poor packaging, rough handling during transit, or manufacturing defects contributed to the prevalence of this issue. Improved quality control and more robust packaging methods aim to minimize such incidents.
