Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have a PhD in biochemistry and a quarter century additional lab experience, so I'm not a complete idiot when it comes to pH meters. One of the reviewers of the Lusterleaf/Rapitest 1840, which has similar problems, put it best: "I paid attention to every review here and elsewhere and it's clear that this company sells two versions of this product: One that works (about 40%) One that doesn't work (about 60%)." Most pH meters have a stand-by mode and a read mode and a button that switches them back and forth. This one has read and stand-by modes, but no switch button. Best I can figure, it computes when it needs to do a reading from a change in the probe environment. And whatever circuit or algorithm controls that mode switch is defective. That's why so many people write that their meter says 7.0 no matter what medium it's in. I can shock mine away from 7.0 with vinegar, but then it STILL doesn't give readings in other media, just a static number of 5.9. If you have one of those locked at 7.0, it's game over. Cleaning, polishing, soaking, making soil slurries, whatever, won't have any effect. It really is that bad. Lusterleaf/Rapitest continues to sell their product, even though the number of reviews and their dates show this is a widespread problem of long standing. That's an abuse of the customer. And a deal-killer for me, enough of a reason not to buy ANY product from this company in the future.