I've had this mic for almost two years.  In that time it has only left my home occasionally.  It always sits attached to my camera mount because I use it to make how-to videos at home.  It's never been abused in any way.  Today I went to use it and it was simply dead.  I tried a fresh battery and nothing.  It isn't a bad connection or a loose wire, it's just that some component on this thing's circuit card pooped out.  I have never in all my years of music and video production had a mic die this way.  Shame on Audio Technica for putting this piece of junk on the market.  BTW, I have another AT mic that I've had since 1981 and it still works.  My how times have changed.  It gets two stars simply because it sounded good when it did work.