Review on Enhanced Cork It Turntable Mat for Superior Performance by Jennifer Schreier

After reading the reviews I was convinced that $25.00 for a cork might not be such a bad idea. The mat arrived on time and I put it on my Pro Ject Esprit record player. I immediately noticed a visible seam at about 1/4 the diameter of the mat where 2 pieces of cork were spliced together. Where the two pieces fitted together, the smaller piece sloped up a bit, and flipping the mat over just created bumps at the junction. Maybe the weight of the record would "flatten" the mat, but shouldn't it be perfect for $25? I quickly reconfigure and ask if I should try again. Where has quality control gone?