5 Engineers: What was the last electronic device you regret buying?

In our most recent 5 Engineers post — part of this blog and our Fun Friday newsletter, where we toss out a question and invite our audience to respond with their wittiest answers — we asked: Are you a geek? Visit this page to share your own answer to that question.

The prelude to this week’s question is, are you a consumer? I imagine 99% of you are. This time of the year - between birthdays, father’s day, wedding, anniversaries, etc — has me at the store a lot, perhaps more than the holidays. And you know what everyone wants; a gadget, gizmo, or electronic thingie. I don’t mind giving electronics but I hate buying them and then regretting it because the design isn’t up to snuff or it sucks through battery life. That can range from the latest consumer electronics goodie that fits in a pocket to a food processor to a kid’s toy. So here’s the question for the week: What was the last electronic device you regret buying? Help me, and those I will gift to this summer, avoid buyer’s remorse. Steer us away from the gadgets you’ve already found to be disappointing. Post your short answers below. Be sure to stay tuned to this blog for more 5 Engineers questions in the weeks to come.