iPhones are made by the Chinese. Seems fine to me. Lots of crappy electronics also made by the Chinese.
Key difference is that iPhones sell for a premium. Crappy stuff does not. So it all depends on how much you want to pay.
The idea that Chinese only makes low tech cheap junk is 20 years out of date.
So what is tariff on chips and electronics stuff? 145% or 125% or 20% or 10%?
Who should we listen to?
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Share of manufacturing in US employment has been going down long before NAFTA or Chinaâs rise. Pretty much a straight line downward since the 50s.
Thatâs the sign of our economy maturing. Every advanced economy goes through the same process. Germany also saw its manufacturing share goes down, and itâs one of the most manufacturing-heavy Tier 1 countries in the world.
I think we need to have more front-tier manufacturing reshored, things like semiconductors, batteries, EV, robotics and pharma. But stupid blanket tariffs wonât do that. We actually have a manufacturing investment boom under Biden. Thatâs what smart policy looks like, but Trump is throwing everything away for nothing.
Brutal!
This is the fundamental problem. People keep lecturing how we need factory jobs to come back. But they donât want to work in those factories themselves.
Just hypocrites telling others to do things they themselves would never do.
Loaded language. Everyone in the biomedical industry in SV can be said to âwork in a factoryâ but few would describe their job that way. Most peopleâs image of a factory bears little resemblance to modern manufacturing. Same with extractive industry. People think copper miners go around with pick axes and shovels. Those jobs are actually so technical the workers are far better off than if theyâd gotten a B.A.
Most of QC went out 20 years ago. Now everything is process validation and SPC to make sure things stay in a state of control. In medical device where I worked it was actually illegal per FDA to run quality by sorting good from bad at the end of the line. If it doesnât matter who manufactured the goods why do German machine tools or even basic home tools sell for a premium over Chinese tools? The Chinese have even been caught contaminating dog food with melamine.
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I presume my explanation is not clear. Allow me to try one more time.
Business gives the spec for manufacturers.
Is the responsibility of the business to ensure manufacturers meet the spec i.e. should reject any products that donât meet the spec. Any products for sale should have met the spec.
Whether is manufactured by John, David, Steve⌠so long the products met the spec, business would accept the products and sell them in the market.
A corollary from above.
A business set a certain spec can sell a product for, say, $x.
A business can set a higher spec may be able to sell a product for 20% more.
Business could let the same manufacturer produce the differentiated products, one certain spec, one higher spec. Ofc, if the first manufacturer couldnât make a higher spec product, it would be given to another manufacturer who can.
Another corollary.
Products sold at premium price is obviously of higher spec.
Reemphasize, for the same spec,
because the goods should have met the spec.
They why do products that donât meet spec - i.e. Maytag washers made in 2024 - seem to disproportionately come from China?
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Maytag, not the manufacturer, is responsible for ensuring product meet spec.
IMHO, Maytag and Whirlpool sell low end (i.e. low spec) products. GE sells mainstream to premium spec products. I donât care who are the manufacturers. Manufacturers just manufacture to spec.
My GE fridge at my desert getaway failed after 4 years and yes the place is temperature controlled when Iâm not there. I replaced a 30 year old Amana fridge (not made in China) at my primary house with a $5000 Thermadore. Weâll see if it was worth it.
Product quality is more complicated than just spec setting. If your subcontractor takes any opportunity to get ahead by lying, cheating or stealing you have a problem.
Is the responsibility of the ordering business to ensure quality.
Fridge? Thot LG or Samsung is the mainstream brand. Mine is LG.
Any modern smart electronics (including cars and computers) fail more easily than old non-smart ones because modern electronics use too many sensors. Sensors tend to fail easily e.g. fridge or washer that donât use many sensors last longer. For fridge, avoid those that have external water dispenser and ice maker, tend to fail easily.
Brand of my household appliances:
Fridge - LG
Washer and dryer - LG
Oven/microwave oven/stove/stove fan - GE
Dish washer - Bosch
TV - Samsung
Air Fryer - Ninja
Toaster-oven - Breville
Light bulbs - FEIT
Robot vacuum - iRobot
Smaller appliances - Black decker
Lawn maintenance eqpt - Ryobi
Main contractors blaming subcontractors are shirking responsibilities.
Consumers accepting main contractorsâ reasons are brainwashed by propaganda.
For the same spec and quality,
because the goods should have met the spec and quality.
Trump needs to know he has no cards. The sooner he folds the better.
Real damage to Main Street will come soon. Walmart shoppers will soon find out prices have risen 20, 30% and firms have started laying off people. Only a trickle right now but the pace of layoff will pick up soon.
18 months to midterms and GOP is looking at a wipeout.
This is the future Trump wants. Colleges are bad. Instead send your kids to do mining. Guaranteed a painful death by age 50.
Karma.
