Quote Originally Posted by Ajani View Post
Here's my thoughts on the issue of quality control in China:

I don't doubt that many Chinese manufacturers specialize in cutting corners and using knock off parts... HOWEVER, the idea that ALL or even MOST do is just over the top...

If all these HiFi brands being built in China are subject to cost cutting and inferior parts then one or both of the following would occur:

1) The brands would lose market share because their products would sound inferior to non-Chinese produced gear. Clearly that is not the case as more and more products are moving production to China and getting rave reviews from magazines and end users...

2) The brands would suffer from massive increases in warranty claims as counterfeit "Chinese Crap" would cause their products to fall apart quickly. This would lead to more erosion of market share + lots more expense involved in servicing sub-quality product. Those service costs would likely be more than the cost of building the gear in the US in the first place...

Clearly since the load of HiFi brands that have moved production to China are not are not shutting down in droves, then the claims of substandard Chinese parts and labour are vastly exaggerated.
Possibly Audio or Video gear may be the exception of products in this discussion but on a whole, almost every other item you purchase that is Made in China is out and out junk that falls apart quickly or does not perform as advertised. Most people, myself excluded would rather be quick in a purchase and keep buying the same junk because it is inexpensive, than do a little research and maybe spend a little extra up front so they don't have to replace it in a short time.

Unfortunately, there are still times when all you can buy when looking at some items are those made in China.

Refer to my earlier statement about Unions. If the high cost of manufacturing in America did not exist the way it does now, Americans would actually be able to afford to purchase American Made Goods.

Case in point:
I used to build Metal Stamping Dies for the Auto Industry. As a Journeyman Toolmaker, I was being paid around $15/hour with mediocre benefits. The dies would then be shipped to one of the Auto MFG plants where a Union Employee, making $25plus/hr with lots of benefits, could sit around with his feet up watching the press stamp out part after part with minimal user involvement but for oiling the tool or changing the roll of steel on the feeder and once in a while sharpen it. These bums would then go on strike because they did not get paid enough or get enough bennies. And you wonder why you can't afford American Made Goods as an American.

But, America is now a Consumer Nation and not a Manufacturing Nation. Blame Unions. Blame the government for starting NAFTA and all the other friggin Loopholes that Capitalists use to get more money in their greedy little pockets instead of just making a decent living while employing their fellow Americans.

I have a new definition for Capitalism - Legal but Immoral.