I literally took a single stabbing cut on some white pine.
Since I’ve taken a “Wood is Good” mallet and pounded this type of chisel into white oak, I tend to think that this specific (and until now unused) chisel was defective!
I can speak for the independently owned Raleigh store that we absolutely will replace the tool.
(I'd be surprised and disappointed if Woodcraft corporate or any other Woodcraft store didn't do the same.)