Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2004 19:31:36 -0700
Reply-To: The Shaws <mindthegap01@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: The Shaws <mindthegap01@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: jack, costs - At What Cost?
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While maybe best left alone, I will chime in....
As a kid growing up (early-mid 60's) Japanese goods were "cheap". Preceived
quality and true cost. My first side job was sitting in gas lines for people
during the early 70's gas "shortage". Gas prices went up and american car
manufacturers started making smaller cars. Toyota had been making a Corolla
deluxe which my grand mother bought over the new ford mustang II. Which was
the better car? Check any consumer guide about the best (quality) cars made
today....they are Japanese...
Did they figure out how to make good stuff... no.. they always knew how they
were just hitting a market that the american consumer wanted... inexpensive
goods.
So what has changed? Only the countries that we buy these same low price
goods from. Yes Thailand, Vietnam, and others. We are a Wal-Mart/ Harbor
Freight Tools throw it away when broken society. If you don't believe it
then why is it that 4 or 5 of the 10 richest people in america are wal-mart
family members?
The quality will go up when you are ready to pay for it. Toyota's are not
cheap (but they used to be), in fact you will pay more for one than an
american version in the same class and get a higher quality vehicle. We have
had a Toyota Previa van since 94. My friends are on their second and some on
their third Dodge caravans and Ford windstars.
You really think the Chinese can't make high quality goods? Why should they
when we want the cheap stuff and we don't know how to make it cheaply. In
the automotive field we can only make it crappy but at least it aint
expensive.
For what ever it's worth, I will not shop wal mart. But I will shop for
quality and price. High price does not necesarily mean quality.
peter
----- Original Message -----
From: "jimt" <wetwesty@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2004 5:29 PM
Subject: Re: jack, costs - At What Cost?
On 10/17/04 5:32 PM, "d spence" <dspence@OANET.COM> wrote:
> As a wise mentor once said (well in fact, a lot more than once) "buy
> cheap, buy twice."
Exactly what I will sometimes do. Buy two cheap ones at the same time.
BTW my cheap discount microwave I use for some things is a good japanese
brand name but I noted that it was made in Thailand.
The japanese make just as much stuff in other countries as everybody else.
Including car parts made in mexico.
........................................
jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
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