Hi Kylie,
Im looking at the pictures you uploaded and can clearly see that this precision clip show has been bent and if course it will not work effectively if it has been bent
I am very sorry if this is how you received it, however it highly unlikely that you would have received more that one clip like this, unless the package was significantly damaged during shipping
the reason for the ridges on the bottom is to provide a "v" in the bottom if the clip for the wood wick to be located, to ensure the wick is held upright ie: to fit the wick to the clip, you push the wick carefully through the gap and right down to the bottom with the wick located in the "v"
hope this helps
Regard
CS