[Botanicals]

Any tips on SE Barnes and noble or hpb.com? Not trying to do a refund.

[Pixell]

I think that you could try to tell them that the book has some white pages, or maybe missing pages.
Never SE'd a book, so it was only a tip.

[mothered]

I assume you don't wish to pay for the book upfront.

Would this be correct?

[Botanicals]

I assume you don't wish to pay for the book upfront.

Would this be correct?

Correct.

[DragonicRek]

I assume you don't wish to pay for the book upfront.

Would this be correct?

Correct.

You can try to find ebooks.

[Noget]

Say that you bought a book in the physical store (if they have one) and you found a couple of places where you can't read the words because xxx. (Like the ink is smeared) or something like blank pages is destroying your reading experience.

[Noget]

Contacting the publisher is often easier than an actual store.

[skrtja]

Contact the publisher or manufacturer and a good method is saying the pages were blank or the ink really faint and you can't read it. Say you can't return it because you live far from the bookstore. This isn't uncommon for books to have really light ink or barely any printing. Calling by phone will make it more successful.

[Auftot]

I would say the ink was faded or not visible, as this would be easier to Photoshop if they ask for pictures.

[mothered]

Online chat also works well, and usually resolves the matter there and then.

Barnes & Noble do have that service.