APPLE CABLES - Pricey without the Quality

Apple cables are ridiculously priced I'm sure everyone agrees yet we pay the price, Why? because we expect a certain and higher level of quality that should accompany that "price tag" - This is now my second cable purchase both having the same problem of the small piece of plastic on the side falling out which results in the cable not charging. not even a year later and I had taken extreme care this time round as the same thing happen to the first cable purchased. Now Apple says its wear and tear - NO WEAR AND TEAR - these cables are clearly FAULTY! or is this the standard of "quality" we paying for? R1000.00 for two cables that don't work - that's just thieving.