Faber-Castell 0.5 mm 2B Lead Quality Has Declined

For years, I have trusted and regularly used Faber-Castell 0.5 mm 2B lead refills because of their smooth writing experience and rich, dark lines. Today, I purchased a new pack from Migros in its original packaging. The product is an authentic Adel Kalemcilik item, and the barcode and packaging details are clearly visible in the photos I have attached.

As soon as I opened the package and began using the new leads while studying, I immediately noticed a dramatic drop in quality. The comparison in my photos clearly shows the difference between the older and newer leads. The previous Faber-Castell 2B leads produced soft, deep black lines and wrote effortlessly. The new leads, however, are nothing like a true 2B grade. They produce a very light gray line and feel so hard that they scratch the paper while writing. In fact, they perform more like an HB lead—or even harder—than a genuine 2B lead.

As someone who spends long hours studying, using lead that scratches the paper, produces faint writing, and disrupts my concentration is extremely frustrating. This level of quality does not reflect the reputation of a well-established brand like Faber-Castell. If the product has been changed to reduce manufacturing costs, I believe the company has sacrificed too much in terms of graphite quality and pigment. I would much rather pay a higher price than continue using a product that no longer delivers the performance customers have come to expect. I respectfully ask Faber-Castell to investigate this issue and restore the original quality of its 2B lead refills.