Dear Rough Guides, I have purchased four of your guides in recent years -- New York City, Mexico, Japan, and Romania -- and of these, the two largest guides (Mexico and Japan) began falling apart almost as soon as the spine had been cracked, while Romania -- scheduled for summer 2004 travels -- is creaking ominously after a brief perusal. Only New York seems immune. What gives with this glued, and poorly-glued, spine? Say what you will about the Rough Guides -- and on regular occasions you do top Lonely Planet on that front -- LP's (stitched) binding cannot be faulted. You can put their books through hell, which sometimes they deserve, and they come out aged and supple like fine leather, ready for another decade's handling. I don't see any major difference in price between RG and LP, so again, why the terrible bindings on your volumes? I like your style, but I'm afraid I won't buy another guidebook -- at least anything over 400 pages -- from your company until you match the competition in this crucial respect. Has anyone else had this problem? Are longtime forum members smiling at the newbie?

adamj_jones,

Thanks for your input. I will forward your message on to our production department and let them know about the binding issues.

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