We have had this umbrella for less than a year with VERY light use (used/opened less than 20 times total). We noticed that the fabric of the string that acts as a pulley to open the umbrella was starting to run several weeks ago. We used it again this weekend and have noticed it has continued to get worse. It is not due to animals/outdoor exposure. You can clearly see that the thinning portion is where the weight of the umbrella is held when it’s opened fully. For an umbrella that cost close to 1000$, this is incredibly disappointing. Wayfair has ignored our messages. I would hesitate to buy this product, or any product from Wayfair again. We are very disappointed.