I bought a photocell the other day that wouldn't thread into the hub that I took the defective one out of. Had to take it back and get another one. It threaded In perfectly.
I seem to remember a recent thread where someone complained about the same issue.
I've had bent tab issues just from some sort of mishandling before. Usually with just a random individual item, if a whole case is that way something probably went wrong at manufacturing facility.
If it looked like it could be fixed with pliers, I'd have done it. I was at the HD today and their stock of drawn boxes is all this way. I bought welded ones. How does no one notice a huge run of product is all unusable?
drawn boxes or welded boxes?
You're not going crazy - they exist. Every once in a while I get a few that are made this way. The irritating part is when you've already mounted the box to a masonry wall, knocked out the KO's, installed the conduits and then try to get the cover on. I'm also seeing some where not all the mounting holes are completely punched out. They come with "tabs" in two of the mounting holes and you have to snap them out with your pliers. It's a real PITA
With all the pandemic shortages that "little issue" not likely to be a concern to the mfg that is trying to fill huge supply gap. So they'll just ship whatever they have. Also early on with the PVC box shortage was getting some boxes that someone must have found waaaaay back buried under other junk based on the dust/dirt accumulation on them.
Not sure if this is universal, but I've noticed Lowes has more Steel City than the Depot. I particularly like one of their old work device boxes with the flip out clamp tabs. Works great with lath and plaster walls too thick for the standard plastic or steel mounting method.
What brand is carried for otherwise same product can be determined by contracts/agreements. Those can expire and they may switch brands when they do expire if they think they will be getting better deal.
I believe you are correct Hal - they knew and they dumped them on the market anyway. I found this out years ago when I worked for a company that imported products from China (not picking on China here). They were wicker and rattan furniture products. If you received a container shipment that was poorly made you had 2 choices a) sell them at a lower price or file a complaint with the Chinese consulate. That could take several months or even years to settle. Often times they would just sell them at a close-out price to make some $$.They knew. That's why they dumped them on Home Depot.
-Hal
To be fair to consumers they should be separately identified somehow and not thrown in with "the good stuff". They may not necessarily need to tell you what is wrong with it or why it is discounted since it is more less an "as is" clearance item.
