The first thing I do when I get a new tool or work bench or what have you, is to whack a dent in it. That way I can stop being careful with it and start using it properly without worrying about keeping it pristine.
To take a random example: I bought ear defenders in a hardware store. I used them fairly frequently for a couple of months, after which I put them on my head and the headband promptly snapped right down in half. I had to argue with the store that that's not a normal way for ear defenders to "wear down", but I got a new pair in the end which have been holding up for years now.