I bought one earlier this year also.
I too am a little disapointed in it.
My picks on it
1 it doesn't sound anything like the "growls" they play that real deer are making in the DVD
2 no laynard? 20.00 and they can't include a piece of string? I had an extra one from an old grunt call I put on it.
3 Why would anyone make a call that is hard and not fully rubber coated? That thing clanks on anything it touches,especially the top portion of it.
4 That same top portion of it is shiney, who would make a deer call that shines?, I'm going to put camo duct tape on mine to quiet it and to make it dull.
5 I have yet to have any deer react to it
6 Can't blow it hard or loud without it turning into a duck call.

Just my opinions YMMV