"A Zinger? Wow, they got ripped off if there's any truth at all to what they're saying[/QUOTE]"
I am not 100% sure, but I -think- that maybe in parts of Central/Eastern Europe, they called Singer as Zinger, wo cause the pronunciation to more resemble how 'Singer" sounds in English. A simple 's' sounds as 'sh' in many languages in that part of the world, whereas a 'z' sounds often as a "ts", or closer to an 's' anyhow.
Again, I am not certain, but it is not the first time I have seen the word Zinger.
It is also possible that it is a knock off... As Shorpie pens made in China mimicking Sharpie pens, and drying out after one use...
-C.