You know, we are a 'throw-away' society - and it's getting worse - maybe this is Olfa's contribution to the frantic - buy it-use it-replace it mantra that has gripped the country in the last few decades.
My generation was raised by people who survived the Great Depression - use it up, wear it out, or do without - my parents didn't waste anything, and if something "still had some good in it", it wasn't replaced or thrown away.
OTOH, people HAVE to have top dollar wages, they "want" - they want a nice big house, they want that fancy car and boat and camper and vacation and stylish clothes and this that and the other thing... and somehow they've been convinced that they 'deserve it'.
To keep those big paychecks coming the companies make more - and then what? If the 'stuff' isn't bought the company loses out, the worker is forced to take a pay cut or laid off.
So, "stuff" is made to NEED REPLACING - built in obsolescence - cheap fabrics, cheap stitching, cheap upholstery, cheap woods, the list is endless. Americans weren't willing to give up the big paychecks to make all this replacement manufacturing/selling possible - so the companies moved to where people were willing to accept the tiny wages in order for the companies to still make huge profits - only they forgot to plan for that "one thing" - if people don't have the wages they can't BUY THE REPLACEMENTS - and this huge crash resulted.
Olfa is trading on it's reputation - how many people over the last years have recommended that folks "buy an Olfa mat - it's the best"... now they have boo-coodles of mats to sell and a great way to make you replace them - blame you if it gets ugly....
I'm all for a company making a profit - it's what keeps them in business after all. And I'm for a person making an honest wage - but running an electric screwdriver is NOT worth $40 an hour plus benefits I don't care how you try to justify it. And then there's the wallyworld mentality - lets buy the cheapest stuff at the cheapest price and people will buy it - I don't know about your local walmarts but ours is getting rid of ALL CHOICES - there are two brands of stuff in the grocery section - the "great value" stuff and one (1) major brand - wow wonderful choice - so we try to "shop local"...
geez.... got carried away - anyhow, I have a great suggestion - don't buy another Olfa - and for heaven's sake, learn how to cut - buwwahahahahaaaaa