Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I am at fault for not reading more of the reviews for this item before I purchased them. I loved the photos of these cat toys; the colors were bright and cheerful and the springs 'looked springy and fun'. I admit I stopped reading after reading just a few reviews about how much other people's cats loved these toys. The springs sounded exactly like something my two cats would be in love with. Now I now don't know if they would like them or not because I would never let them play with them. The are way too stiff for even me to 'spring' them. The colors are very unattractive. The paint looks ugly and smells horrid. They are very hard metal with extremely sharp and painful pointed ends on each end that could stab a paw or tongue or spring into an eye or other body part and could really injure you if you accidentally stepped on one. The photo is entirely misleading. Now, finally reading reviews after the fact, I read that this toy indeed 'used' to actually be like it looks in the photos; bright, cheery, soft plastic, springy. etc. If you love your cats and your cats love to have fun with interactive, but safe, toys, I would not recommend buying these. I am not at all interested in reporting whether my pets like them or not; I love my two cats way too much to let them get their little paws on even one of these dangerous springs. Wouldn't pay to send them back, but definitely won't use them or, heaven forbid, ever order anymore. EDIT: Additional information on these springs - added 01/09/2012: I contacted Amazon directly about these dangerous springs. They have processed a refund for the cost of the springs (I didn't pay original s/h; the springs were part of a Super Saver Order). They also provided me with information about Ethical (phone #, fax #, e-mail, etc) so that I could contact them directly about whether the springs were still being made with plastic or have been changed to metal. Frankly, I think it is obvious that the metak springs many of us received were not related to Ethical; the Ethical name was not mentioned on the product I received. It appears to me the seller is simply misrepresenting what the item he is offering for sale. I would urge every customer who ordered these dangerous springs offered for sale as 'Ethical Springs' to contact Amazon directly and ask to receive a refund for the misrepresented product. Based on this episode, plus another episode with misrepresentation of the condition of a book ordered from a marketplace seller, it has become clear to me that Amazon is placing themselves squarely is the middle by not holding their third-party and marketplace sellers to a higher standard. Amazon is providing their (at this point) positive name recognition to other sellers (of both types) and is bearing the weight of having their customer-service representatives spend an enormous amount of time dealing with unhappy customers, and in many cases is provided promo credits or refunds for products - but they are not following-thru with the third-party sellers and marketplace sellers to hold them responsible for honesty in selling. At least that is how it looks to me as a customer. I have been an avid and dedicated customer of Amazon at all levels for many years, but after multiple problems this November and December; I am currently re-evaluating my future as a loyal Amazon Customer. Including this misrepresentation with the cat springs, I have spent way too much time dealing with Amazon customer-service through phone calls and e-mails to try to get correct products, owed credits, adequate service, and final resolutions. I am now evaluating whether the savings is worth my time in the long run. I will however state that in the end all my problems have been resolved and credits given, but one has to wonder; how long can Amazon continue to bear the brunt of the fall out of misconduct and misrepresentation by 'outside' sellers? Amazon of course is in control of the answer to that question and ultimately, hopefully, will make the correct decision for them as a business. From the outside looking in; right now Amazon is seriously beginning to look a lot like Netflix when it comes to presenting themselves as a major booming successful business venture demonstrating just how to go about shooting themselves in the foot. Perhaps customers requesting Amazon to make refunds on misrepresented items, such as this dangerous cat toy, will help Amazon make a decision on their future dealings with outside sellers that will ultimately be advantageous to both Amazon and their customers.