Re-finishing without stripping

  I find it amusing that I keep hearing the phrase "refinish with out stripping".  Some places sell products that can hide scratches, that is wiped on to an existing finish, and they say re-finish with-out stripping.  Technically this is not possible.  These products are just a band-aid on a wound and most of the time it just makes a mess.  To re-finish, means to take off the old finish and put a new one on.  It is not possible to re-finish anything unless you take off the old finish.  Hence the word "Re".  Any other process is either a re-furbish, touch-up, re-work, or topcoat, not re-finish.  So if you want a piece re-finished, then the old finish has to be removed in order to do just that.  A finish on wood protects the wood and when ever someone puts something on top of an existing finish,they are messing with the finish and not replacing it.  Same thing with oils and polish.  People think that they are protecting the wood by polishing, but that is what the finish is for.  Polishes just mess with the finishes that are protecting the wood, and not the wood itself.  Hope this clears up some of the confusion caused by people trying to sell their furniture care products.