I noticed a review, with a photo, complaining about their 3' long, ¼" thick, grade 2 steel rod, arrived bent. Apparently, they decided to eat the cost, due to shipping costs to return it. The photo shows a 3' long, ¼" thick, grade 2 steel rod, that's bowed at the center. "What a shame", I said to myself, looking at their photo of a 3' long, ¼" thick, grade 2 steel rod, utterly destroyed by a kinkless, bow, gradually protruding from the center. I mean, what other kind of choice could they have even had? None. That's what kind. That's a solid 1/4" of grade 2 steel, with a big bow in the center, gently arching from the opposite ends of a rod, 3 whole feet apart, there's literally nothing that can be done about a thing like that. That being said, in case anyone needs to hear this, at $2.89, don't hold your breath for silver, silver rods, they're just plain old silver. You know, in the way that steel is also silver. It's been 4 months, and I haven't had any trouble with rust, so the hot dip claim is probably legit. The exposed ends, from cutting it down to smaller pieces, are doing fine as well. Not a bad deal at this price. Not bad at all.