Yet another reason not to buy anything from China!

[Darrel Chaney01]

From an article from the AP. Australia pulled a popular toy made in China. The toy has beads and if they are ingested there is a chemical reaction that converts to the "Date Rape Drug". There are several kids in hospitals because of this. As of so far none have died, but that is one of the side affects. First lead now this, what is next? I know for me, I am reading labels from now on. If it says "made in China" I not going to buy it.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

After coming back from the SEMA and the APPEX Show you would be surprised what American companies outsource to China. Including many of the small parts on cars that we drive.

 

[Canadian SportTrac]

Sorry to say.......they have cheap labor.

It keeps the end cost down so you and I will buy it.

Ever buy ANYTHING from a dollar store? They might as well call them "Made In China Stores".

 

[EddieS'04]

IMO, some unscruplious chinese companies are using the rest of the world to pass off, their chemical waste.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

Let alone the deal they have with Iran in exchange for nuclear technology. China consumes more fuel than we do and they are financing the pipeline from Canada to China. Anyone see "Out-of Gas" on CNN?

 

[Dave S 2]

I agree about China being unscrupulious, deliberate and uncaring of the consequences in their manufacturing processes and materials, BUT...I also believe that corporate Americas' offshoring for cheap labor and stock runup $'s is coming home to roost.



The corporate bigwigs that have pocketed billions of $'s over the last couple decades as fruit of the offshoring are the ones to blame IMHO. What did they expect??? Quick return for the stockholders, that's what they expected. And guess what? That's EXACTLY what they got!!!



I am in no way a business savy "bigwig" but I do believe that America has been conned / whipped by cheap prices of Foreign goods, in trade for homegorwn industrial loses disguised as a necessary globalization effort.



I better stop now cause I definately have my opinions about "offshoring" and I will probably not make sense in any further ramblings.



BUT!!! Now I'm just waiting on the day that China says "Hey US...we are dumping the USD and guess what...we aren't going to make anymore Aircraft parts for Boeing either"!!!



Yes, in my paranioa / reality, corporate America has given us a royal screwing that will have us on our knees in short time. But they don't care `cause they have already gotten theirs.



Sorry for the non-sensical ramble...

 

[Dave S 2]

If anyone wants to be pissed off, IMHO, you'd be misdirected by being PO'd at China. Be pissed at the American companies who have sent those particular products overseas. HASBRO, Matell, Boeing, and countless "others" that have done so.



And on your side is the fact that the Christmas / holiday season is fast approaching. This is their biggest sale season. Vote with your $'s. Boycott anything bearing a "made in other than the USA" label. BUT...be prepared to be VERY limited on your choices and spending more $ for it. Not that anyone here has been eyeing a new 787 for the little woman though...



Would this return the manufacturing base to the US? Most likely not!!! But a decrease in sales would definately hurt "their" stock price and piss off the stockholders, that's all.



But like I said earlier, the "bigwigs" wouldn't really give a rats ass about that. They already got theirs ($'s)!!! Biggest negative would be an early termination "so they can spend more time with their families" to save face.



Now...bring on those Mexican trucks free to travel our US highways UNCHECKED!!!

 

[KentheREALone Z]

Guess what? I recently resigned my successful position from a private American owned and American resident manufacturing company to take a position with a major US Consumer Corp that has/had a policy of outsourcing everything, much of that in China. Why did I do this? Because I now have the opportunity to locate new manufacturing capability/capacity in America to offset some of the outsourced China production!

My hope is this is a very forward thinking, progressively managed company that is on the leading edge of understanding outsourcing and domestic manufacturing and the potential risks and effects on American business.

Maybe the Harvard MBA mentality is changing.

 

[Johnny O]

The main problems are that the American consumer often values low price above all else, also American tax and regulation policies often make producing things here unprofitable or at least unaffordable. Hey, I'd love to buy some American-made Bill's Khakis but I can't afford a $99 pair of slacks.

 

[Tom Schindler]

All the money we save in the stores is being spent at the pump. What do we do about it? Buy more cheap goods to make up for it. The pump prices go up higher.



Our gas prices are a direct cause of China.



Lets all go out and buy more Chinese goods to nsave money.



Ready....Set....GO!!!





Tom



p.s. don't forget to fill up.

 

[Gypsy me]

Wonder why the U.S. customs, NEVER thought to check out products closely when coming from other countries? DUH.... Western thinking ...we are very naieve and stupid, never thinking until "after" something happens. Oh wait...that's right, the companies in the U. S. that out source to have things made cheaper payoff well, to let the business flow...



just my op.

 

[Johnny O]

OTOH, China has already executed the manager of one of the factories that made defective stuff. He'll probably show up in the next "Bodies" exhibit.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Caymen said:

All the money we save in the stores is being spent at the pump. What do we do about it? Buy more cheap goods to make up for it. The pump prices go up higher.



Our gas prices are a direct cause of China.

You might be right, as China grows and builds they need energy. As we consume Chinese products we fuel their growth and increase their demand.



What's wrong with that?



What is the alternative?



If you have something against consumerism and capitalism then where does that line of reasoning stop? Should we also stop buying homes, and goods and services in this country, which has had a growth economy since it's existance? After all we still use the most fuel in the world, right, all for our growth?



Or is this really a problem of the US having to work a little harder and be a little more competitive in the global market, because the poor folks are now competing with us? We can't keep those poor folks down forever, whether they be across the street, or around the world.



The plantation model is going away folks, in this country and throughout the world. As the lower incomes rise, it can't help but stall the mid and lower-upper income folks for a temporary period. FUD would have those in the middle and lower-upper not wanting things to change, but in the long-term, the rising tides raise all boats.



TJR

 

[Tom Schindler]

What's wrong with that?



What is the alternative?

Never said anything was wrong with that. Just don't bitch about gas prices when we are responsible for the rising costs. We think we save money buying cheap chinese goods. The money we save is going to be spent in other ways. One is the cost of fuel. It is going up. Another is the cost of wood and steel.



In the end, we never truly save anything. Though we sure thenk we do.



Nickel has rose in value 15% in a few short months. Steel, gold, and silver is at all-time highs.



If we do not like the rising costs on those goods, do our part to bring them down. If you think by buying Chinese goods, it helps you deal with the rising prices of energy, you are wrong. You are bringing the prices up.





Tom

 

[Thomas Rogers]

Caymen,



Okay, so what is the person bitching to do?



There ARE no alternatives to cheap Chinese imports...sure, there are niche products like Bills Khaki's, etc, but even the brand name products that one buys are typically imported...not just the no-name, knock-off stuff that is sold at WalMart.



We are a country that no longer makes things, and we did that purposefully.



Flipping that switch back cannot happen overnight, and probably never will happen because it is simply too costly to bring that manufacturing back.



People won't pay the higher costs for the goods if we brought back manufacturing; and no one would work at the plants for low wages in order to keep the prices low.



We are in that temporary period I talked about during which things shift, wages stall, COL and QOL (cost of living, quality of living) tends to equalize, and we have to retool our economy and what fuels it.



TJR

 

[Johnny O]

We are a country that no longer makes things, and we did that purposefully.



Flipping that switch back cannot happen overnight, and probably never will happen because it is simply too costly to bring that manufacturing back.

Yup. The advantage China has in labor cost is too great to overcome.

In America capital is relatively cheap and labor is expensive. Therefore we move to a capital-intensive and less labor-intensive economy.

In China (and the Third World) capital is expensive and labor is cheap. Therefore labor-intensive things get done there. And in America, labor-intensive things that cannot be avoided often get done by illegals.

I'm on vacation in Florida right now. I don't see any Caucasians working construction or cutting grass.

 

[Bill V]

Boycott anything bearing a "made in other than the USA" label.

Hmmm...I don't remember seeing a label saying that, ever. But I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for it!