Things that annoy me.... part 1 of x

OK, so it's time for a whinge... or one of many to come, I expect.

Today's whinge is about the dismal life span of the washer in the stop valve of an expensive, supposedly high quality toilet cistern made by Villeroy and Boch. The Omnia Pro. After only two years, the soft silicone washer is perished and broken. It costs AUS$20 to replace and one has to buy the blue plastic mounting arm as well as its washer. How many times will this be necessary? The man at Routley's Plumbing Supplies in Adelaide, South Australia says that 12mths is a good life span.... Is he joking? This is crap.