Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: Not what they used to be.

The quality of this product has gone down dramatically over the years. I bought this item 24 years ago the first time and it was great. When I got it this time it was only one step above being pure crap!!! The stones were so cheap that they were bumpy on top, and the side edges actually crumbled away somewhat when used. the stones seem fake and manmade like corse porous cement. I guess it's a little better than scraping your knife across a brick. P.S. I also purchsed the 4 sided Dan's whet stone, it was excellent, like night and day. Highly recomend that one!!!