Just for the record, I have found Zippo's to be unreliable (when it'll be empty, who knows?). I have found Bics to be extraordinarily reliable. That's consistent with most other people's experiences. I have some Bic minis that have been sitting on the shelf for years, and they still are to the top with fuel. I personally have not had a Bic randomly fail. I think I'd have to be abusing it, but I wouldn't know. I think the low price of a Bic throws people off.