Nobody should expect a $30 whip to be *good*, but you'd expect it to be functional to where you can crack it more than three times before the leather tip holding the cracker disintegrates. Not just rip or tear, but actually falling apart into dust and chunks. A little bit of DIY magic to replace the cracker and maybe switch out the end holding it with nylon does the trick, but then I noticed how the handle is crafted unevenly and wobbles as it rotates. It serves no negative function when using it, but it does make the whole whip feel like someone botched the inside of the handle with their drill. If you're looking for spare parts and want it to arrive at the store a week later than the website tells you (thanks UPS,) you could do much worse. But also, within that week you could make a superior bullwhip by learning to make it yourself and spending just a little more than this listed item in materials.