Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I previously purchased the #40 Vollrath disher that operates very smoothly. Last week I ordered the #16. The first #16 I received had terrible action: The gears crashed into the slots; there was a good deal of resistance in the thumb lever; and the spring back lever stuck in several spots every time. I returned the first #16. Its replacement was hardly better. Reading reviews, I now see an increase in complaints like mine over the last year, so I decided It wasn't going to get any better if I exchanged another time. I studied this poor quality more recently built downgrade from my previous excellent smoothly operating #40 and found several changes. First, the stamped lettering on the wedge shaped slotted plate is more deeply impressed with more crude typography. The NSF stamp on the #16 thumb press is an outline font, where the #40's NSF stamp is not. The edges of the gear and gear slots on the #16 were rougher compared to the #40. Unlike the #40, the #16 semi-circular bowl scraper pressed against the inside bowl next to the pivot holes, causing resistance and scraping against the bowl. Using a file, I smoothed the areas of contact between the gear and slots. I also disengaged the tightly sprung bowl scraper on one end and carefully bent its ends together to shorten the distance (reduce pressure) between the ends, then slipped the free end back into its hole. With very fine emery paper, I smoothed fine gouges and burrs in the bowl which developed from previously heavy scraper contact. Together, these repairs smoothed the action between badly built parts. This #16 now produces the same pleasing action as my #40 disher. How many other customers would take this much trouble to fix Vollrath's carelessly manufactured (formerly excellent) disher?! I am very disappointed in Vollrath. This is a betrayal in trust -- earned over time -- to those who want to buy USA made products. At a time when American manufacturing wants to make a comeback, selling downgraded poor quality products using old customer satisfaction reviews is unethical. Amazon should remove past reviews if a company downgrades their manufacture quality. But most of all, shame on Vollrath!