Date:         Mon, 17 Sep 2001 12:02:02 EDT
Reply-To:     KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         KENWILFY@AOL.COM
Subject:      Re: ??Labeling of Imports??
Comments: To: JKrevnov@aol.com
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

Lots of funny business going on as far as this is concerned.  I get parts
that say "Germany" on the outside of the box that I know are actually made
somewhere else because I have bought it from other suppliers and that box
said "South Africa", "Italy" etc.  Many times the part itself has no "Made
In" engraving or sticker on it.  I think how they get away with this is they
will have the company name on the outside of the box and it is a German
company (example Kohelbenschmidt heads).  It will have the company name and
right below this "Germany" and this leads you to believe that the part is
made there.  But it is actually only stating the origin of the company
itself.  The KS heads are actually AMC heads with the AMC ground over and KS
inscribed on the head.  Comes in a blue KS box if that makes you feel better.

The final conclusion to make from this is that we are actually trusting that
these German companies, are taking their "Quality Control" with them to these
other countries when they making the parts over there.  If the German QC is
in place then I have no problems buying a Bosch part that is made in Brazil,
etc. because you should get the same quality as a German made part.  All of
these companies are going global in order to compete.  As long as the quality
is there then instead of insisting on German stuff (which is becoming harder
and harder to find authentic) we should follow a good brand.  A good German
company will be sure to maintain it no matter where the factory is actually
located (ex. VW Jetta/Golf made in Mexico, etc).

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Phone: (856)-765-1583
Fax: (856)-327-2242

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