New Eyelash Curler: shu uemura

I have already written about the famed shu uemura eyelash curler, but just wanted to give you an update on the new one I just purchased at Sephora for a bit over $20. What I really wanted was a couple of replacement pads to go on the apparatus that I already own. However, I was told that they don't sell them separately because once you are done using the two pads that come with it, the metal contraption is ready to be replaced as well. The woman didn't seem to agree with me when I told her that was an impressive marketing ploy to get people to spend $20+ on this thing a couple of times a year. Except for me of course, since I milked the last one for probably more than 3 years. This kind of thing annoys me.