Not sure what your standards are, but a notably bad cover also shows the author has invested essentially $0 in their book. You can get passable quality work from sites like GetCovers for ~$10-$30 (I think I paid $25). Though it’s possible these are the kinds of covers you’re reacting negatively to.
“Real” covers from US-based artists start at more like $300, which is a more substantial outlay for a project that’s unlikely to pay it back.
“Real” covers from US-based artists start at more like $300, which is a more substantial outlay for a project that’s unlikely to pay it back.