> Potemkin pens, mere props. I got a wire cutter/stripper recently that gave me that exact feeling: "This isn't a real wire stripper, it's a non-functional rep

> Potemkin pens, mere props. I got a wire cutter/stripper recently that gave me that exact feeling: "This isn't a real wire stripper, it's a non-functional replica." (It's the kind that has a little adjustment screw/slider to set the diameter of the wire you're stripping. Only it's impossible to set the screw correctly because turning it to tighten it forces the slider to shift position. I wrestled with it for an hour and then ordered a different one. The handle plastic is weird too, it feels "icky" somehow. BTW, the new one, which works great, was the same price as the unusable one.) The unusable one is not worth returning. And what are they going to do with it if I did return it? Throw it away? Sell it to someone else? > And the world took the loss. A small one, but they add up. Again, that's exactly how I feel about it. What a waste, to dig up the materials, forge them into this device, send it who knows how far back and forth over the Earth, just so I can throw it back into the Earth because it's not worth fixing it. It's fucking depressing. I've got more anecdotes: a brand new soldering iron that doesn't solder; an aluminum folding beach chair that broke when unfolded for the first time; an air fryer with a custom grill that rusted in less than a year and can't be replaced; etc... As far as I can see, you have to go out of your way to find the manufacturers and retailers that care about quality (and repeat business) and patronize them exclusively. Don't give any more money to the folks who are ripping you off. Instead, reward the folks who are doing the right thing. You're going to pay the overhead anyway either by doing your homework or by throwing away time and money and garbage items.