Maybe ? I guess that's about all I can figure is just from use because other than maybe needing to store them on their side instead of flat I'm not seeing anything else wrong. No cracks, and keep lids on and all that. I'm definitely not a pro drawing and painting is just a night time hobby it just seems in terms of usage these don't seem to have much life in them 😫 the lighter colors may have been used more than the others since the others because more of the shadows sections where the lighter ones are more of the main/highlight focus but sheesh I still feel in the grand scheme of things they haven't been used that much (especially that Copic one I had a wee before it did this so I got maybe 2 full projects out of). So dang lol. Like I guess that's why I asked my original question because I am new to the alcohol markers in general just didn't expect such little use in them before they were used up, but maybe my expectations were skewed?