I seem to derive immense pleasure from putting it back on the shelf (not necessarily the same shelf) with a bit of editorial comment, trying to get a conversation started. Works pretty good, sometimes. Clerks act really apologetic, but are glad to see us go.

 

No, they are not directly forcing anyone to buy anything. Are you in the manufacturing field? If you ask anyone who is, they will probably tell you the same exact thing I did. We sell primarily to the electronics field for inspection/rework, which has been one of the hardest hit fields in this economic downturn. Many customers have the narrow mindset that 'hey, its alot cheaper. If it breaks, we can always replace it with another a few months from now'. The playing field is not level. I have many contacts in China now, and to give you an example... there is a microscope manufacturing firm there that pays their employees 12 cents an hour! Some products that we purchase from china can be made there, put in a fancy retail box, and flown over for less than our assembly costs!! Notice assembly only, not even materials. Also, the Chinese govt. is subsidising alot of these companies now to help crush american competitors. If you dont believe me, do some research on it. I am sure you will find out more than you wanted to know.


Rich

 

China makes one thing better than anyone,THEIR STICKERS that say"Made In China" they stick better than any other sticker around.

 

WE need to wake up about Chinese products, when they get their acts together no one will be able to touch them. I'm old enough to remember when "Made in Japan" was a joke!

 

They could be paid 2 cents an hour, and it still wouldn't make any difference. Somebody has to buy that stuff for a market to exist. If our buyers are settling for inferior pieces of turd fragments, and then passing them on to us, its the buyers' who lack ethics and pride in their country. Those poor little rice farmers are just trying to get along. (If they knew anything about metallurgy, they could probably get along a little better.)

What I'm trying to say is, just because they eat fish heads, doesn't mean the Chinese are trying to put us out of business. I hate their crap as much or more as anybody (and currently hold the record for the longest bearing toss in Jackson County), but it's the greedy corporate goons, tending their bottom lines, reputations be damned, moving their offices off shore, who are selling out America. Those cute little sandal cloggers are merely their instruments.

And yeah, I've been in manufacturing in one form or another for about 40 years, and I've witnessed the mentality (whew, what a bad word) of those who lay off salesmen because sales down, and who try to reduce the labor content of product, when labor is one of the smallest parameters. Guys who substitute cheaper parts, but purposely do not figure the cost of returns while computing their imaginary savings.

This is a supply and demand world, where what goes around, comes around. It hasn't all made the trip yet.

 

I'm a example of just that.I am(was) a tool & cutter grinder for 10 years and a Toolmaker for about 10 more at Garrett Turbo in Torrance Ca. Almost 20 years at Garrett.They moved 80% of the shop(about650 workers who got laid off) to MEXICO. Oh well, what you gonna do ???

 

Go to wal-mart!?!?!?! jk