McMimmcs
Well-known member
You and I would rather pay more but that is not the common consensus! Most people go for the cheapies ! Many times money not spent is not money saved.
Made in USA?
- Thread starter kawagumby
- Start date
You and I would rather pay more but that is not the common consensus! Most people go for the cheapies ! Many times money not spent is not money saved.
I once tried to make aftermarket parts for the Harley world. I found that a lot of people talk about buying parts made in the USA but very few will put their money where their mouths are. It is a shame but the reality is; it is very difficult to make parts in the USA and/or quality parts because the bottom line is the bottom line.
WHAT! BMW made by the Chinese? Just doesn't sound right, something rotten in Denmark. What happen to pride in German engineering and manufacturing?
alexiskai
Well-known member
Fair number of people on here who don't seem to know much about China's position as the current world leader in precision manufacturing and tooling. In fact the current strategy of many global manufacturers is to center their high-end manufacturing in China and relocate low-end manufacturing (and be honest, Model A parts is definitely low-end manufacturing) to other, cheaper countries. Fortune magazine just yesterday noted that "BMW took its Munich-based Startup Garage program to China in order to gain exposure to new innovative technologies from a more advanced local ecosystem."
Synchro909
Well-known member
BMW obviously have work done in China to reduce costs. The fact that they have kept up the quality is a perfect reflection of what I said about making sure that what we get is what we ordered. We must also have people who know what they are talking about do the ordering so that they are correct. Too often, goods are ordered by ignorant people who wouldn't know what makes a good one and don't know about quality control and inspection.
I have a question of those who ask "why don't they make parts in the USA and get quality?" How does making something in USA make it good quality? There have been a lot of laughably poor cars produced in the US over the years.
Just a couple of examples that trigger my question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOZP3HeIg7A
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/auto/2018/12/07/jeep-australian-struggles/
I have a question of those who ask "why don't they make parts in the USA and get quality?" How does making something in USA make it good quality? There have been a lot of laughably poor cars produced in the US over the years.
Just a couple of examples that trigger my question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOZP3HeIg7A
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/auto/2018/12/07/jeep-australian-struggles/
kawagumby
Senior Member
I used to prep new cars when I was a youngster, and some of the stuff that came off the assembly lines in the late 60's was just pathetic. Gobs of unfinished Bondo painted over on a brand new Plymouth Roadrunner? But corporate stuff doesn't reflect what the US can do, IMO.
...as an avid dirt biker, I can say that US made aftermarket parts and upgrades are generally very high quality. Most are smaller businesses that are run by riders, for riders.
I had my own computer business in the 90's and I would not buy Chinese parts as the failure rate was about 50-50. That's all changed now as have many of their products.
But...China is a bully, much like the US has too often been in the past, IMO, and should not be supported if unnecessary. I would prefer US made as we still have a lot of competent people who don't prioritize getting rich, and having decent employment helps everyone.
...as an avid dirt biker, I can say that US made aftermarket parts and upgrades are generally very high quality. Most are smaller businesses that are run by riders, for riders.
I had my own computer business in the 90's and I would not buy Chinese parts as the failure rate was about 50-50. That's all changed now as have many of their products.
But...China is a bully, much like the US has too often been in the past, IMO, and should not be supported if unnecessary. I would prefer US made as we still have a lot of competent people who don't prioritize getting rich, and having decent employment helps everyone.
CarlG
Well-known member
WHAT! BMW made by the Chinese? Just doesn't sound right, something rotten in Denmark. What happen to pride in German engineering and manufacturing?
My wife has sewing machines like some here collect Model As. Her preferred brand is Pfaff. Engineered and manufactured in Germany. That is up till a couple of years ago. Today everything with the Pfaff mark is now made in China.
nkaminar
Well-known member
In my experience, the general quality of reproduction parts now is better than in the 60's when I started out with Model A's. There is still some crap out there. Remember the hub caps that said Fool instead of Ford? The original Ford parts are generally better fit and quality. An example is an original radiator I just bought from a friend to replace a repro. The original allows the hand crank guide to fit while the repro did not. But the repro guide I bought broke so I had to buy another one and will have to grind on it to get it to fit so that it will not break when I tighten the U bolts. But there are some very good counterbalanced crankshafts that were not available in the 60's, for example. So pick and choose. Caveat emptor.
Regarding Chinese manufacturing. There is some good stuff coming out of China and some really bad stuff. The iPhone is made in China. It all has to do with what the customer is willing to pay and the oversight by the company who contracts to have the parts made. I wish a lot more stuff was made here in the USA because of the jobs it would provide. Automation may be the key to making that happen, lowering cost while providing high paying jobs like automation engineers and technicians.
Regarding Chinese manufacturing. There is some good stuff coming out of China and some really bad stuff. The iPhone is made in China. It all has to do with what the customer is willing to pay and the oversight by the company who contracts to have the parts made. I wish a lot more stuff was made here in the USA because of the jobs it would provide. Automation may be the key to making that happen, lowering cost while providing high paying jobs like automation engineers and technicians.
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updraught
Well-known member
A cup of coffee in a city in China regularly costs A$10.
The most expensive place for a coffee here would be Sydney airport and it is A$6.50.
There's a lot of people in the sticks tho on not much.