Sears is having a 1/2 off clearance on individual sockets, evidently they're changeing to 'laser marked' sockets. I picked up some 3/4in to fill out some of the larger stuff.
When I was buying my first set of Snap n sockets at the counter I noticed that the chrome was peeling on a few of them. I asked if that was normal and they said no, and replaced them. I went back shortly to replace to a broken ratchet. That was over 30 years ago, and I haven't had any problems since.