Rant: Customer wanted me to bind 800 pages of printed PDF newsletters into a single book

Got an email from a guy last week who wanted me to turn his company's monthly PDF newsletters (going back 8 years) into one big hardcover. I tried to explain that 800 pages on standard paper would be like 3 inches thick and probably wouldn't even open flat. He said "just glue it really tight." Had to turn down $150 job because I knew it would look terrible and he'd blame me. Has anyone else had to explain basic physics to a client who thinks bookbinding is magic?

2 comments

2 Comments

simon3786d ago

Yeah the "just glue it really tight" part got me. That guy has no idea how paper works. 800 pages of standard bond paper glued tight would be a brick that cracks the spine the first time someone tries to open it. You did the right thing turning it down. Some clients think we can bend the laws of physics if they pay enough. I've had people ask me to bind a phone book into a pocket-sized notebook before. It's exhausting having to explain that paper has thickness and glue has limits.

richardh445d ago

Eight hundred pages of standard 20lb bond would be almost two inches thick before you even add the covers. Glue that block tight and you'd need a crowbar to get it open, not a bookmark. I've seen people bring in those thick paperback novels from the grocery store, the ones that crack after two reads. That's maybe 400 pages. Double that with no give in the spine and you're asking for a disaster. Physics wins every time, no matter how much they want to pay.