Not for the first time, nor for the second, do I find that my (from a very
limited sample) recent purchase is either CFU or fails within a few months
of buying it.

Why do people swear by this means of shopping

Things may be cheap(er) but if they are useless and you have limited
(practical) means to get redress, what's the point?

Gimme the pound shop any day, at least I can take things back :-)

tim