Indiespensable Volume 6

This past week I received Volume 6 of Indiespensable, Powell's newish subscription book club. This volume includes a copy of Iain Banks's The Crow Road along with a CD of "original songs by great local [Portland, Oregon] artists." I'm enjoying the CD, and I've heard very good things about The Crow Road. I must, however, express some disappointment about the author signature contained in the book. Rather than an actual signature in the book, there was a card with Banks's signature slipped inside the front cover of the book. I looked back at the description and now notice that it says "[h]ardcover first edition, with laid-in bookplate signed by the author." I guess the white card is the "laid-in bookplate." Justifiably or not, I've always expected my Indiespensable volumes to be signed books, particularly since the subscription price ($40) is significantly more than the retail price ($25) for the books. A signed card just isn't the same. The description also promises that the book will be "packaged in a custom, full-cloth slipcase." The actual slipcase is covered in glossy paper, not cloth. Small complaints, perhaps, but I'm hoping for better in the future.