A new book that's not so new

I just started skimming through a book I just bought from Barnes and Noble's Web site titled Search Engine Optimization for Dummies and noted a few copy errors. One is in the next paragraph, which is from page 163. Can you spot it?

Do not rely on a word processor's grammar checker. This tool is worse than useless for most writers. Grammar checkers are of benefit only to those what already has a good grasp of grammar.

Did you notice to whom grammar checkers are of value to: "those what already has a good grasp of grammar." Now that's lousy grammar.

I remembered that the Dummies books usually list before their Tables of Contents who edited the book. Search Engine's list included a technical editor, an editorial manager, three proofreaders (one of which was a firm), and an indexer. No copy editor was listed. A curious omission. If any Wiley Publishing insider knows why, I'd love to know.

In addition to being buggy despite the number of people who the publisher lists as being part of its development effort, the book I received from Barney's, as a little girl I know calls the company, wasn't new. In its lower right corner, every page and both covers contained three noticeable creases. This is a slightly damaged book that should never have been shipped. I'm pondering whether it's worth my time and effort to bring this fact to the company's attention. I'm hesitant to do so because I'll then be required to repackage it, bring it to the post office, and possibly pay for its return shipping, all after contacting Barney's and having to describe the problem — with no guarantee that the new copy I'll receive will be in any better condition.

All this could easily have been avoided if the Barney's employee who picked the book off the shelf checked its condition.