If the fuel line is yellow, and looks like quality Tygon fuel line for handheld equipment, how are you supposed to know if it is good long term as opposed to crappy stuff? Inquiring minds want to know.
See this is where the knock offs takes advantage of the unsuspecting consumer. Most knock offs are lousy but when you buy from a good aftermarket company like Stens, Rotary, and Oregon you usually get good lines as their businesses depends on repeat business.
As for line lasting it all depends on storage, what the line is exposed to, and usage factors. I even had one time on a personal chainsaw that I installed Tygon lines but a week later line failed. I didn't even get to use the saw. I then redid the lines out the same box and had no further issues. I chalk it up to a defective section of line.
I won't not surprised that other shops like mine have found equipment right of the box with failed lines so the lines can fail never having fuel in them.
Buying a fuel line is no different from buying anything else. Find a reliable retailer then rely on them. Beyond that, don't buy a fuel hose selling for $.50/ft.
Yes it true prices are not like our fathers prices anymore; heck they not even like it was 15 yrs ago either. Even buy bulk line it cost nearly 0.75 per foot for a 50 ft roll of Tygon type line. Even that varies depending size and the vendor. I usually charge my customer the suggested retail (about 1.30 per ft) to help cover the waste line as even the best lines do go bad over time even properly stored. That price is still better the local retail stores which have even higher markups on small amounts.