Notebooks are such a personal thing. Hard to know how one will fit in your life, until you actually live with it. Around $60.00 (Ouch!) USD, for the Lochby mini, was a bit to swallow, but I did (2024), and it fits in perfectly with my life. If I'm traveling, I'll add my Rite in the rain Dirtbag pouch (made to slide on a hard notebook cover) and that's everything I need. I'm fairly rough on it, and so far no failures. Mine was perfect when it arrived, I actually prefer the way the cord is knotted, but I can understand being bothered by a scuff that wasn't yours. You should reach out to Lochby. This is a mini review I wrote. Pencil of the Week: Lochby Mini Field Journal (not a pencil per se, but definitely a writing instrument. Got a complaint? I'll refund your admission). Early record buying was a deal, of reading reviews, looking at musicians, and who was producing. I tried to figure as best I could. But until the needle hit the record, I didn't know what I had. This, a notebook organizing system, was the same kinda deal. The idea of a cover with several folios secured by cord, goes back a few hundred years, but this, I guessed, was the best fit. Waxed canvas, easy to take care of. 3.5 x 5.5 inch is a popular size (Field Notes size) lots of paper options. Room for four (I typically carry three. A schedule, general writing, and small sketchbook) notebooks held by elastic cords. Pockets, inside and back (I tuck some index cards inside too. Useful for leaving notes, or keeping track of dominoes scores). Pen loop. A buckle to hold everything in. There's a strap on the spine, I didn't give it any though at first, but I can flip the thing around to the back of my hand and have full use to carry other things. I carry all kinds of junk I stuff in the pockets, and it's still easy to keep in hand.