Given BOSS's legendary reputation, I am sure that it is a wonderful product that would have served me many years — perhaps, even decades — but it was ruined by poor craftsmanship. Even though it seemed robust, just like all the other BOSS pedals I have owned over the years, and even though the action of the switch felt great, I decided to return it due to a multitude of cosmetic defects present all over the product. However, since I liked the functionality of the item, I chose to try my luck again. Unfortunately, the second pedal had some defects too. Not wanting to give up, the third time I ordered two, hoping that at least one of them would be free from similar defects. Sadly, both were not. In total, four pedals in a row had very poor craftsmanship. The defects included minor scratches all over the surfaces, stains and molding marks on the rubber bottom, chipped corners on the aluminum parts, the switch screwed to the top at an angle, some kind of glue residue at one of the screws, crooked serial number stickers, and so on. I could have tolerated one or maybe even two such defects on a pedal, but not three or more, especially considering the exorbitant price of this very basic pedal with such simple circuitry inside it. The only explanation for such disappointing craftsmanship I was able to come up with was that these might be made in a different factory where quality control is not as strict as in the factory that makes the other pedals. BOSS have ruined their reputation in my eyes...
Update: After a few months, I decided to try my luck again, and I ordered the fifth FS-5U in total. I simply did not want to give up on BOSS, the brand from which my affair with guitar pedals had started! To my great surprise (not to mention relief!), this fifth pedal had no defects whatsoever! I am really glad to have finally found a good one! However, I have not changed the 3-star rating I had given it previously because I cannot recommend a pedal with such a lax quality control. If I did not care about the pedal being scratched and dinged, I would have bought a used one instead and saved some money. I really like BOSS pedals, so I hope they improve their quality.
