They say "tossed it" but you really donated it, which means some other poor soul is about to deal with that jamming nightmare. That's the real hidden cost of cheap gadgets, they just pass the frustration along instead of actually solving the problem.

Check the strata bylaws first, they still charge for balcony upkeep even if you don't have one.

So how many Sundays in a row did you stick with it before it became a habit? I'm asking because most people hear one good tip and forget it by the next week. That gas station guy basically saved you from a blowout, and I'm curious if that kind of scare is what makes the new routine actually last.