Do you care where your bike was manufactured?
08-12-14, 04:57 PM
#126
Mr. Dopolina
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Taiwan
Posts: 10,217
Bikes: KUUPAS, Simpson VR
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 149 Post(s)
Liked 117 Times
in
41 Posts
Let's not go crazy here. I was only talking about how the gov't doesn't own a stake in GM anymore not the criminal conduct of GM itself. Whole other conversation.
08-12-14, 05:02 PM
#128
Mr. Dopolina
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Taiwan
Posts: 10,217
Bikes: KUUPAS, Simpson VR
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 149 Post(s)
Liked 117 Times
in
41 Posts
That is too juicy not to chew on. Yes, I am quite aware that my government sold their stock in GM. I am also aware that they gave GM far more money than they received back. There is the small detail of $10 Billion that is the difference between what they sold the stock for and what they gave to GM. You could say that they should have held onto the stock until it received what it wanted. The problem with that is this little issue with the Recalls. They have recalled more cars this year than they sold all of last year. There are 13 reported deaths attributed to those issues that we now know they knew about before even producing the cars. Did the government know about this before the bailout? We do not know yet and may never know.
One thing for sure is that GM is not the gold standard of American manufacturing. They make garbage that does not hold up well and they are morally bankrupt as a company. I for one, do not want to buy any product from a company like that. I truly hope that none of the bikes we ride hold themselves to the same standards as GM.
I am a huge fan of my country. I do not blame the worker or think that the work force is lazy. This is far deeper than that. My Honda was made in the U.S. by Americans. It is a great car. It was sold in an American dealership and is serviced by American mechanics, just like my Italian Bike with Italian Components.
One thing for sure is that GM is not the gold standard of American manufacturing. They make garbage that does not hold up well and they are morally bankrupt as a company. I for one, do not want to buy any product from a company like that. I truly hope that none of the bikes we ride hold themselves to the same standards as GM.
I am a huge fan of my country. I do not blame the worker or think that the work force is lazy. This is far deeper than that. My Honda was made in the U.S. by Americans. It is a great car. It was sold in an American dealership and is serviced by American mechanics, just like my Italian Bike with Italian Components.
As to their cars...I grew up in a GM town. I am familiar with their work.
08-12-14, 06:20 PM
#131
Still can't climb
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
slave labour...don't go there.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
08-12-14, 06:25 PM
#132
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 729
Bikes: Crumpton SL Crumpton Type 5 Berk on order
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No not really, I had 2 Cervelos a R3 and SLC before the Crumptons. I believe they are made in China right. It's pretty cool to have bikes made in The United States of America I wont lie.
08-12-14, 07:32 PM
#133
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,431
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3132 Post(s)
Liked 1,700 Times
in
1,027 Posts
08-12-14, 08:18 PM
#134
well hello there
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Point Loma, CA
Posts: 15,430
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 503 Post(s)
Liked 336 Times
in
206 Posts
08-12-14, 08:18 PM
#135
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Northeast, USA
Posts: 173
Bikes: 2015 All-City Spacehorse, 2014 Specialized Allez Race, Mid 80s Takara Acknowledge Fixed Gear
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My Specialized is "Handmade in Taiwan", whatever that means. And my Boom-era Takara fixed conversion is also a Taiwanese bike. Both are outstanding bicycles and have yet to fail me. My GT, which was proudly made in the USofA was okay, but not outstanding.
A good bike is a good bike, screw the details.
A good bike is a good bike, screw the details.
08-12-14, 08:39 PM
#136
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Delaware shore
Posts: 13,558
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1106 Post(s)
Liked 2,173 Times
in
1,464 Posts
One thing I don't see answers to cheap labor is what's the alternative? Those people work for low wages for certain. But the other choice is no work. If wages go up the advantage of cheap labor goes away and so do jobs.
08-12-14, 09:08 PM
#138
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,700
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
I'd argue that if there are 5 applicants who'd take your job at your current wages were you to quit because you want more pay, de facto you ain't underpaid nor are you working at slave labor.
08-13-14, 09:29 AM
#139
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,296
Bikes: Colnago CLX,GT Karakoram,Giant Revel, Kona Honk_ Tonk
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 149 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Read the article I linked to. You may see the numbers in a different way once you factor in the gov't revenue drawn from the jobs saved and other revenues that remained in place because GM still exists.
As to their cars...I grew up in a GM town. I am familiar with their work.
As to their cars...I grew up in a GM town. I am familiar with their work.
We stray from the original post though. Quality manufacturing is quality manufacturing regardless of where it is done. I prefer quality and I will pay for that quality. I will not overpay for it though because of where it is made. If an American company can make the quality and be competitive price wise than I am all for it, but please do not ask me to buy a GM over a Honda or a Lincoln over a Lexus. Homerism counts but only to a certain point.
08-14-14, 12:29 AM
#140
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 164
Bikes: Jamis Icon Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If spending a lot (over $1K) I would prefer not Made in China. Currently mine I chose is Made in Taiwan which I equate to higher quality. Of course would rather have Made in US. Then again it could all be psychological. My experience is just mainly from other stuff regarding metals eg. tools, knife steels etc.
08-14-14, 12:48 AM
#141
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Incheon, South Korea
Posts: 2,835
Bikes: Nothing amazing... cheap old 21 speed mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Not at all. Everything pretty much leads back to China anyway. As long as the quality is good I couldn't care less. As for 'made in the USA' not being American its rather low on my priority list.
08-14-14, 01:22 AM
#142
Mr. Dopolina
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Taiwan
Posts: 10,217
Bikes: KUUPAS, Simpson VR
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 149 Post(s)
Liked 117 Times
in
41 Posts
Come on Bob, that is pure manipulation of numbers. I could counter with-If GM closed people would not stop buying cars. The other companies would simply pick up their own shares of those sales. The other companies would also have to hire more to pick up the difference.The reality is that we do not know. I read the article and is is nothing but fun with numbers.
The numbers are what they are and have been analyzed by those with a vested interest in understanding them. I agree that they should not just be accepted as fact but I'd need to hear a better argument against them before dismissing them outright.
We stray from the original post though. Quality manufacturing is quality manufacturing regardless of where it is done. I prefer quality and I will pay for that quality. I will not overpay for it though because of where it is made. If an American company can make the quality and be competitive price wise than I am all for it, but please do not ask me to buy a GM over a Honda or a Lincoln over a Lexus. Homerism counts but only to a certain point.
Where are the design jobs located? Sales? marketing? Distribution? What about the IBD where you can actually throw a leg over a bike? Those jobs and all the jobs those support in other companies like shipping, office supplies, building related jobs and small pieces of other jobs across the spectrum are all local. Take away the brand and those jobs fall like dominoes as well.
WHERE your bike was manufactured is far less important a question than WHO manufactured it.
Last edited by Bob Dopolina; 08-16-14 at 12:16 AM.
08-14-14, 01:25 AM
#143
C*pt*i* Obvious
We live in a planned obsolescence world.
The need for human labor is in sharp decline.
How many slaves will be needed on the global tax farm in the future?
The need for human labor is in sharp decline.
How many slaves will be needed on the global tax farm in the future?
08-14-14, 07:45 AM
#144
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Minneapols, Minnesota
Posts: 538
Bikes: 89 Raleigh Technium PRE, 92 SP 1000 ti, '09 Team Pro, 72 International, 63 Hercules 3-spd, '81 Vitus 979, 2 Kabuki Submariners, 2 C. Itoh Submariners, Gary Fisher Big Sur, Skyway 3-spd, Robin Hood w/ S-A IGH 5 speed.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My Raleigh Bicycle Company of America Technium was built in Washington State. It now has Japanese Derailleurs, shifters and tires, Italian wheels, crankset and brakes. I have no idea where any of those components were actually manufactured. It doesn't matter.
NASCAR is considered to be the true blue American motorsport. Of the 4 makes that compete only one is made in the USA - Toyota! The Chevy Ford and Chysler(owned by FIAT!) entries are manufactured in Canada and Mexico!! Of course I am speaking of the cars that the actual racecars remotely resemble. The actual racecars are made in the US.
NASCAR is considered to be the true blue American motorsport. Of the 4 makes that compete only one is made in the USA - Toyota! The Chevy Ford and Chysler(owned by FIAT!) entries are manufactured in Canada and Mexico!! Of course I am speaking of the cars that the actual racecars remotely resemble. The actual racecars are made in the US.
