Another example of chinese junk. The new chinese version will never work, wont stay in dash. Poorly made. (see pic)

 

The one I got from NAPA was like that. I took it back right away. Ended up taking my original apart and cleaning it up. Still working.

 

The one I got from DC was made in China. No problem. Looks just like the one on the right. Pretty

 

I think I would be more upset at the company that gave the mfg. co. the blueprints.
The original part could have been copied.

 

Everyone complains about overseas junk, and asks why can't we get American made stuff . Maybe it's because , company's here can't get help . Every place I look there are help wanted signs , from burger joints to manufacturing . When I asked managers they all tell me nobody wants to work . I fear what will become of this country .

 

Then the part would cost $50 and no one would buy it. $8 is attractive. The downfall to the USA will be the new movement to increase min. wage to $12-15 hour like alot of cities, ie LA, are passing. It will really be the death for businesses.
Mixerman, guess your chinese version is better. The ones I have seen will fall out of the dash

 

If I had a choice between $8 China, $20 USA, USA all day long, you get what you pay for.

 

[QUOTE=Hammermike;15779969]Then the part would cost $50 and no one would buy it. $8 is attractive. The downfall to the USA will be the new movement to increase min. wage to $12-15 hour like alot of cities, ie LA, are passing. It will really be the death for businesses.
Mixerman, guess your chinese version is better. The ones I have seen will fall out of the dash[/QUOTE

The Bakken created a demand for workers, and in my estimation, has damaged work ethic. It seems more and more people think their employer owes them something regardless of how much initiative they show. And more and more if they dont get what they want, they vote for scoundrels that will make businesses give in.

 

Looking at these two parts I see an issue with the retainer clips. Each uses a design that has the retainer clip extending up into the lip of the bezel...makes sense since this holds the retainer clip within the diameter of the mounting hole. If this were not the case the retainer clip would spread once the part was installed and there would be no positive hold to the clip. That said, the OEM part has a notch on the clip that will engage the dash panel and prevent the button from falling out...the aftermarket part does not. The aftermarket part has only friction to hold the button in place, and this is not enough force to do the job.


The US has seen a transformation in it's workforce due to many factors. One example I use comes from the VERY liberal corner of the US, San Francisco. They just built a new Bay Bridge there with Chinese labor and materials...China had the best price. The Chinese said that they needed steel of a certain type that they did not produce and that could not be bought in the US. The options were to pay the Chinese to build a steel mill in China and pay the Chinese to make the steel and then pay the Chinese to ship the steel to California...OR...the US could build the steel mill here and save the cost of the mill and the shipping. California opted to pay China rather than have a nasty steel mill here in this State.
For any of you science fiction fans who loved the book/movie by H.G. Wells, "The Time Machine", consider the Eloi who lived above ground without a care and the Morlocks who lived below. Coincidence?

 

Funny you should say that. I just finished reading this book to my daughter last night. And what did he conjecture the Eloi were used for......meat.....

 

Sure looks like two minutes with needle-nose pliers would make the Chinese piece work. Should you have to do that? No. Shame on whoever ordered them for not understanding the part enough to recognize it is made wrong. I doubt that duty falls on the Chinese.

 

I see this thread on EVERY hobbyist forum I frequent several times per year. The horse is out of the barn LONG ago and the 1950's are gone forever. We buy a lot of offshore products for 1/3 of what they would cost US manufactured. It's just reality and everyone can determine their own reason it happened. In many cases we have no other option than offshore products. When the option is there, the majority go cheap or we likely wouldn't be having this discussion. Sometimes the cost savings works out and sometimes not. I do my research as appropriate for the purchase price, and potential consequences of purchasing a bad offshore auto part where the QC may be suspect (or whatever type product it might be). Meaning every now and then I know I will throw a cheap part in the trash if I can't modify it

I do hate when patents are infringed. I hope over time that can be reigned in as some level of business ethics and a fair playing field needs to exist IMO. Innovation will eventually be killed when R&D can be easily stolen without consequences.

 

Ross, how many times can you bend spring steel back and forth? Answer = 0

There are slots in the dash where the tabs slide in. If they were not there the chinese version might work
but... still hands down, the original one wins out and its back in the truck. Chinese one is in the trash.

and...I would not travel over that bridge in California the Chinese built.

 

I suspect Ross speaks with the voice of experience .

 

Flash 11, November 2015
Live with what you have or live with what you get - That's all, ain't more