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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
themadmilkman
182 posts
 
Funny... I drive a '98 Malibu and other than the AC button turning itself off on occasion (just reach down and hit it again) the thing hasn't had a single problem.

Just goes to show that within any segment/brand, people will have good and bad experiences.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
When Japan first began selling sports cars they were knock-offs of classic British cars like the MG...just cheaper.
The next generation were their own designs, and ran circles around the competition. They sold on the basis of quality, not cost. China is just beginning to get into the audio business, manufacturing designs by US and European companies, and making designs based on existing technology. But soon China will put forth their own innovative technology, and our audio companies better get their act together or they will face the same kind of crisis that overcame our auto industry. Chinese engineers are the equal or better than ours, and there are ten times as many of them.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
CW,
You're actually talking of the different sides of the Chinese business:

One side is a commercial manufacturing and Quality Control and
Another side is private home-based limited manufacturing wich could I think be a lot different if ones are realy upto earning bucks in our hobbyist' media.
winoguy17
1,231 posts
 
Stevecham... Why was your Dad so mad at the Ford dealer for a Chevy Malibu...?
cruz123
586 posts
 
I recently read a NY Times article regarding the freight train that is the Chinese economy. Although China's current accounting principles make tracking their growth somewhat fuzzy, it is commonly believed that China's economy is now the fourth largest in the World. Further, at their current growth rate, China's economy is expected to overtake the US as the World's largest economy by 2035. However, due to their huge population, China remains a relatively poor country with a per capita income of about $1700 yr. It will be interesting to see how China deals with its increasing role in the global economy and its populations inevitable demands for a greater share of the pie.
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