Cuisinart Dough Blender

My grandmother's dough blender lasted for over 60 years, and I wish I hadn't thrown it away because I started baking pies and needed one. A dough blender is not very expensive, and feeling upscale at the moment I decided to splurge on this nice-looking Cuisinart model for a few dollars more. Huge mistake! This piece of junk lasted through six pies before it fell apart. One might think that the handle of a dough blender could be molded in one piece, but no. While making my seventh pie with it, suddenly it felt painful in my hand, and to my surprise I saw that a whole piece had fallen out. It was the most important piece, too -- the piece with the Cuisinart name on it! Where it disappeared to I have no idea, probably in the trash, but it left a gaping hole with two spikes sticking up. The only way I could finish blending my dough was to wrap the handle in a wash cloth, not a practical solution for a product I had intended to use for the rest of my life. Thinking they might be embarrassed by their own shoddy product, I sent a polite note to Cuisinart asking them if they would like to replace it. They were gracious enough to reply and advised me it would cost me $7.00 in shipping to return the dough blender and get another. (Mr. Coffee sent me a brand new coffeemaker by overnight mail, no questions asked and at their own expense when I complained that the one I purchased leaked.) This certainly tarnishes the name of Cuisinart for me. I don't think I'll be purchasing any more Cuisinart products, because who knows what Cuisinart-emblazened parts might suddenly fall off? Please take a look at the customer image I uploaded.