Originally Posted by
Brian Ratliff
Look, you are having doubts about your generic, unmarked, Chinese frame you have in your possession. Obviously. Otherwise you wouldn't be this defensive about a topic you didn't actually start. Every time you buy something, there is a risk it doesn't work out. It might fail. You might not like it. It might be of lower quality than expected. There are systems in place which manufacturers use to reinforce customer confidence. The name branding is part of it (read: product history). The warrantee is part of it too. When you buy unlabeled, unbranded, unwarranteed stuff on the internet, you naturally get it cheaper, but you live with a little more uncertainty. Don't take it out on others who are just trying to have a conversation.
Ha - good try - too bad there isn't a red herring icon. Actually I don't have any more doubts about it than I do about any other purchase I make, which is not the same as saying I have no doubts. I read threads about CAADs because I have one. I read threads about unbranded frames because I have one. I am more likely to comment on either because I am much more likely to read those threads and am less likely to comment on other threads (since I didn't read them, which would generally be a condition precedent to commenting - at least for me anyway).
The last part of the quoted paragraph is the part I have the most trouble accepting which is the most common argument I see related to unbranded frames. I agree that name branding and history is a part of the verification of quality prepurchase that isn't available for unbranded items. The comment about "systems in place" is what I don't see much evidence of. There seems to be this idea that a branded item, because it is branded, necessarily has better quality control at a statistically significant level. How many more Pintos have to be made before we realize that companies are here primarily to make a profit, not to protect us, and they only protect us from their product to the minimum extent necessary to prevent an unacceptable impact on profits, whether due to fines, loss of customers, personal injury damages, or otherwise. This is true for Ford, Cervelo, Chevy, Huizhou Flybike Sports Equipment Co.,Ltd., or Enron. They also know that a lack of quality control will impact their profits. This is true for Ford, Cervelo, Chevy, Huizhou Flybike Sports Equipment Co.,Ltd., or Enron. Each company has to strike that balance which will always tilt toward company interests as much as possible. Cannondale is no more immune from the profit motive than is a factory in China selling direct - if either one has "too many" problems it will impact profits.