Despite the cost, they are very cheaply made. I bought a set to use at work last year, so went ahead and paid their price, since I would get reimbursed. I think I plugged the damn thing in to the audio line output on the TV twice before the plastic grip/cover slipped off the body of the RCA plug, leaving bare wire and the body of the plug exposed, and of course subject to breaking the wire loose from the connector after plugging and unplugging it a couple more times.
Next time, try pulling the cables from the boots, instead of the wire themselves.
Didn't they tell you, on your 25 dollar a set ends, that the jackets on the connectors are for pullin, not the cables themselves.
But, I feel your pain. Honestly, I found that taking the cheap cables and taking care of them, I get just as good life out of them as I do the monster cables.
RCA = SUCKS.
There is a reason studio equipment uses BNC. Anything that uses RCA is consumer grade. RCA = professional.
Of course, YMMV
--Shane