Staples Mouse Pad, Black

Disappointed!

NOTE: Both pads were purchased at Staples.Ordered first pad, Item: 382955, in December of 2009 and was perfect and no smell. The material was very thick, comfortable and the mouse slid very ...Read complete review

NOTE: Both pads were purchased at Staples.Ordered first pad, Item: 382955, in December of 2009 and was perfect and no smell. The material was very thick, comfortable and the mouse slid very easily over the surface.Thinking I was re-ordering the same product in November of 2011, I re-ordered 3. When product arrived, I discovered that the manufacturer cheapened and changed the thickness by half. Because of it being more thin, it has a slight curl/waviness around the edges. Am truly disappointed as they've downgraded this pad from the original...and it does smell upon opening package, but goes away after a short time.What gets me is that the item number was the same in 2011 as it was in 2009, so you would expect it to be the very same product, but is now completely different. On top of that, the pad cost[$] in 2009 and in 2011 it has risen to [$] ea. and currently manufactered with 50% less materials! I guess that's the same as everything else now-a-days.If some of you had the '09 product, you know what I'm talking about. By the way, I still use the '09 pad. The 3 newer pads, except for one, were trashed several months after purchasing. So, I do have proof of the differences.In the meantime, I'll be searching elsewhere for a pad that was equal to the original I purchased in 2009. Until then, Staples will not receive my order for this product again.