Incompetent book design

I was reading a recent book that had laughable book design.  The index was actually one column per page I've never seen that before anywhere.  There was also strange shading on the chapter titles.  I was already to blast them as an incompetent self-publisher when I searched on the publisher name.  Shockingly they aren't in fact they've been in business for nearly 30 years.  Disgraceful simply disgraceful.  Looking at their other titles I'd consider purchasing them but I'm terrified what the final product will look like.