Interesting - but I do believe it is like most things these days. Cut back on quality and hope the consumer doesn't notice. Or, sometimes there just happens to be a batch that makes it through quality control . . . maddening, isn't it? I ran across a box of Singer needles the other day - one of those huge 100 needle packs - that I had forgotten all about. Who knows where I got them or how old they are - but I am going to be trying those instead of investing a bunch of moola on new needles for a while.

I share your frustrations.