Why China Isnt Happening Yet


I have found it interesting to read about Chinese tube amps for a fraction of the price of US, how China is taking over the world etc.

A colleague of mine in the trading and investment business is actually thinking that the prosperity of the US is over forever, Medicaid/Medicare and our pension system are bankrupt, interest rates are going up, the housing market is going to collapse and one day Americans will figure out that there is more than one currency in the world.

At that point, the US will experience flight capital for the first time, and then we are really in big trouble.

Now some of this worries me, but I thought is was interesting that of the 6 or so, bargain priced, obviously knocked off in China, toys that were given to my baby boy for Christmas....

NONE of them worked properly?!?!

The robot? He wouldnt wind up, didnt walk, and sparks failed to fly from his mask.

The magic sliding coin tray? Also didnt work, and was so cheesily made that the mechanism was obvious.

Radio controlled car? Had a range of about 10 feet -- no fun at all.

Now none of this excuses the problems we may have here in America, but FYI I am less likely to buy a tube amp from China in the New Year.

Cheers.

cwlondon
cwlondon

Showing 5 responses by howie

Don't forget that just because it's made in China doesn't mean those factories are Chinese owned. If a nasty, mean, penny-pinching American owner goes to China and opens up a factory to make those cheap toys that doesn't work and brings it over to sell to your kids, then who should you blame? Now if the factory was Chinese owned and imported by Chinese then you have more right to be mad at them. :D But you're still in many ways blamming the whole for what a few people did.

But really, if you go to China and shop, there's a lot of good quality cheap stuff. Of course if these goods are exported, it will probably no longer be a good deal so you get the cheaper and lower quality stuff.
Jea48, you really should get your facts straight. It's so easy to put a large umbrella over everything. Do you know why virtually every country wants to do business with China right now? Do you know why many are saying China is going to be the world's biggest market for consumer goods very soon? Do you know why they are already the largest cell phone market? Besides indicating the sheer size of their population, it also suggests that Chinese consumers have money to spend. In Hong Kong, Chinese tourists are touted as the reason for their recent economic revival.

Of course there are poor people. Maybe where you live, you don't see any when you look outside. But it exists everywhere. And the poorest people and the worst conditions tend to be found in the most developed and "rich" cities. And you do know that one of the reasons China became Communist in the first place is due to the US government.
Jea48, do you only buy consumer goods that are manufactured in the USA? You should, otherwise, don't hate on others for someone else's decision. Building factories in China doesn't help the US worker, but it helps the US consumer. But again, it's not the Chinese who negotiated with American owners to move their factories, it's usually the other way around. And Chinese manufacturing will continue to improve.

I am aware that China just regained control of Hong Kong. What's your point? Why is my example a bad one? In the early years after 1997, mainland Chinese could not travel to Hong Kong that easily. Hong Kong businesses also never catered to the mainland Chinese. When the Chinese government made it easier for citizens in China to travel to Hong Kong, combined with businesses starting to cater to Chinese tourists, their tourist economy revived.

If you study economics, you might understand (not saying you have to agree), the benefits of globalization. Like many things such as communism, the theory in itself is good IMO, what gets in the way is selfish human nature.

To relate this back to audio, many of us here started with very humble systems. If those knockouts or whatever you want to call them, get many people started on this hobby, I say all the power to them. (my first instrument was probably a no-name plastic jingle). You have to make do with what you have. And when they find that they enjoy this hobby, they'll probably look for something better. And if American manufacturers offer products that offer better value than what Chinese manufacturers can come up with, they'll purchase American gear, unless they, similar to you, refuse to buy American gear for fear that Americans would suck away all their money.
Good post Danlib1, although it doesn't have too much to do with audio.

Personally, I think political opinions and agendas should not be a part of music. So when it comes to audio gear, it is not important whether it's manufactured in China or anywhere else. What is important is that for the price, it is a good deal/good performer. The fact that it's made locally should mean that a middleman was cut out. When you play music with someone, you do not care about their race. If you do, then that's racism. What is important is that he/she can play. Same with audio gear IMO. One shouldn't care where it's made. What's important is whether it's any good. Now that's not saying, I don't support people buying local to support their local community. Note that that's different from bashing others. One is positive while one is negative.
Yes! The Chinese workers are being exploited by foreign companies/corporations. Basically slavery imo. They could never get by with treating human beings in such a manner at home in their country of origin.

Yes and many of these foreign companies and corporations are American. So are you suggesting the Chinese government arrest these American owners and managers and punish them for their crimes? Of course the American public will be furious and claim that the Chinese government is entirely unreasonable blah blah blah.

The Shanling factory looks pretty good to me:

http://www.shanling.com/electronic_e.html

When a company treats its employees well and they're all happy, we often hear about it because they're "rare". Go to various audio manufacturers site. Some really seem to have a "team" spirit, while others are really a one man show.