Let's say you buy the following items at Home Depot... a floor lamp, a string-trimmer for the yard, a couple of replacement light-fixture globes, and some other odds and ends such as a garden hose, etc. Of these first three, how many would you expect to have to return? None? Maybe one if you had bad luck? (Caveat: None of these items are made by Sony, in which case you'd expect to have to return all three. But that too is a subject for another post.)
So, you get your purchases home, and you try to replace the fixture globes. First one is no problem at all, fits right into the fixture, no problem. Second one? Not happening. Even though they're supposed to be IDENTICAL. Turns out that the Made in China globe is too wide at the top. Manufacturing defect? Check! *back to Home Depot* Replacement globe fits fine. Score! Right? Right?
Then you try to assemble the floor lamp. Open the box... WTF is THIS? The glass dome of the fixture - not in the box. In fact, it looks like someone returned some OTHER random-ass lamp in the box that your lamp is supposed to be in. This one is spattered in paint too, just for added fun. *back to Home Depot* After waiting (again) at the returns desk... "Oh, this happens ALL THE TIME. In fact, I don't think I'd purchase anything in this store without opening it first..." Fanfreakingtastic! At least the exchange went smoothly, and they did give a discount for the inconvenience of it all, so there's that.
Fast forward two weeks - mowing the lawn, then get out the trusty string-trimmer for the second time I've owned it to do the edging - fire it up, midway through the job - it just DIES. The motor just stopped working, as if the safety-release is stuck in the "maximum safety!" position. Of course, there's a label on the handle... Manufactured in China. So, you guessed it... *back to Home Depot* Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
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