Prices of knives from offshore?

[Akapennypincher]

A lot of companies who use to manufacture in the U.S.A., have gone to that big Asian country. We use to call RED China to out source their manufacturing.

Cheap labor who don't demand union wages, and benefits packages is part of the reason. But the price, or should I say suggest retail price doesn't reflect their savings building offshore.

Also as I have a good friend who lives in China, and has shared some of the Chinese secrets if you deal with them. Yes they will manufacture your product cheap, than seal it, and flood the market, with their copies.

I honestly wonder if the overall quality is, or was as good as when "x" company manufactured in the USA in their own facilities, with their own people (employees) doing the work.

One only need look at E-bay to see the Chinese are knocking off, or copying anything they can made a buck on. Selling Faux ________<full in the blanks.

Like the Faux Micro Tech Ultratechs, I saw at a recent gun show recently that we're exact copies down to the packaging, warranty cards, nylon cases. The tell was they all had the same Serial #. The seller did admit that his knives, were fakes. But three tables down another guy has the same fakes, saying they were the real deal.

Anyone else bugged by this?

 

[JR88FAN]

I am sure this thread will get moved. Most of the answers will be based on corporate politics.

But, in short, this is all about profit margin. It starts and ends there.

Corporations have one mandate, and that is to maximze profit.

This is not a knife industry problem, it encompasses the entire manufacturing sector.

Jeans that used to cost $100 and where made in the USA, still cost $100, but are now made in China, india, etc...The profit margin has increased immensely.

Quality is open for debate, but what is not is that losing good paying middle class jobs, will ultimately mean that less and less people will be able to afford anything more than the cheap junk.

I am not sure how this will work out for Corporations in the long term, but their focus has and will always be on today's bottom line.

We all need to be bothered by this. The effect it has already had on North America is nothing short of a disaster....

 

[RevDevil]

Good topic, but unfortunately very hard to discuss as the nature of the discussion is ground in political aspirations and financial growth of specific corporate arenas. What I do is simply vote with my wallet.

I am not sure how this will work out for Corporations in the long term, but their focus has and will always be on today's bottom line.

We all need to be bothered by this. The effect it has already had on North America is nothing short of a disaster....

Whatever the end result, one thing we can all be guaranteed is that it is not sustainable long term. Yet it is being performed with a blatant disregard for that glaring fact.

 

[Lee48]

"Anyone else bugged by this?"

Counterfeit knives? Yeah. Of course. Counterfeit anything bugs me.

As far as quality of Chinese knives that are designed and marketed by companies in America (or Germany or Japan or wherever), it's impressive. I was doubtful for a long time but I've been coming around. I know A.G. Russell used to refer to "Red China" on his website. Now he has a bunch of his knives made there and they're damn fine knives by all accounts.

I have a SanRenMu copy of the Sebenza. 'Course it's not even close to a Sebenza in materials or crafting but the fit is excellent, the blade takes a super edge and it functions smoothly. It's an excellent little knife. I would not call this a counterfeit knife, just a copy of a style. No one would mistake it for a real Sebenza. It's good enough for anything an old retired guy like me (who would never consider buying a real Sebenza) will ever use it for and it only cost $13.00 with shipping from the Warrior Woman online retailer.

 

[Lee48]

Oh, yeah. One more thing I have to say. I'm not concerned about the products coming from offshore nearly as much as I am about the loss of skills here at home.

Eventually, the only thing Americans will know how to make is money.

 

[JR88FAN]

Oh, yeah. One more thing I have to say. I'm not concerned about the products coming from offshore nearly as much as I am about the loss of skills here at home.

Eventually, the only thing Americans will know how to make is money.

If you are referring to economics, wages in America for the middle class have increase by $1/week since 1979.
(inflation factored in)

If you are implying the literal 'making of money' the Federal Reserve already does that, and it's not American.

 

[RedLynx]

If you are referring to economics, wages in America for the middle class have increase by $1/week since 1979.
(inflation factored in)

If you are implying the literal 'making of money' the Federal Reserve already does that, and it's not American.

He just means so much is sent offshore now, eventually it seems like no Americans will be hired for their skills at all... we'll make our money here based on offshore investments and products, but we won't need the American laborer anymore. I don't think he's saying it's likely any time soon but if I read it correctly that's what he's saying.

 

[Lee48]

That's exactly what I'm sayin', RedLynx.

 

[JR88FAN]

He just means so much is sent offshore now, eventually it seems like no Americans will be hired for their skills at all... we'll make our money here based on offshore investments and products, but we won't need the American laborer anymore. I don't think he's saying it's likely any time soon but if I read it correctly that's what he's saying.

A country of 400 million investement Bankers just ain't going to work....

We need American labor more than ever.
When your options become ultra rich or Walmart, which is where this is headed, you aren't going to think you're in America anymore....

 

[Esav Benyamin]

General Knife Discussion is not for discussions of the politics of international economics.
Closed.