~9 month update: These buds are still kickin! I've read that some people's buds broke within a couple months. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe those people are a bit more rough with theirs than I am. Regardless, I'm very happy that these have lasted this long. I really wasn't expecting this type of build quality for a pair of $7 buds. My pair have scuffs here and there from being smacked on different surfaces at work throughout day, but they've yet to crack. As for sound, they sound far better than I thought they would for this price. These easily compete with some ~$30 buds, and for only a fraction of the price I'd say they're well worth if you find yourself in need of a decent pair to last until you can snag some higher quality buds. Recommended for sure.