Oh now I know what you mean, the glow factor? lol :) Yeah, for glow sticks, I guess it depends on the manufacturer and I too have found that when you buy them, it can be a hit or miss. Some work well and some do not. :( The problem is you never know which ones are really good and are consistently reliable. lol It's not like Consumer Reports figured out the best glow sticks on the market. hahahahahahahaha :) You've made a good point~ and if i ever find really good ones, I sure will let others know. But for right now, to increase glow factor, I use multiple glow sticks so I can't go wrong. :)