These preferences are politically motivated, and they don't make a lot of sense to me. Portraying the Chinese as evil is misguided. Sure, the government is not something I admire, but so what. Some Chinese made stuff is crappy, but not all. Some of it is top notch. The generalizations are generally not very accurate. And remember, things change. In the 70s, we laughed at Japanese made stuff, and then it became, whoa, this is amazing. Then Taiwan. Now Korea. Trust that people who used to be bad at stuff later can become good at it. And if we're not careful, they'll eat our lunch. It's not a conspiracy to take us over. They compete just as we do. Or rather, they compete just as we used to. If I were to attribute evil intentions, it wouldn't be to the Chinese government or companies, it would be to the execs at American companies who outsourced our work to Asia in pursuit of profits.

Fenders, IIRC.

Is that sarcasm? They were acquired by the Dutch company that now goes by "Ryde", decades ago.

NOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo......

Yeah, I find that their ping pong balls, and paddles are top notch. Fireworks pretty good too.
Tim

"Blanket Statements" apply to the Chinese Companies due to their modus operandi of business. First They copy the designs ,Ideas, and Products of Western companies,(all Without adherance to Copyrights and Patents), make them very cheaply in China and sell them back to Western consumers at a very low cost putting the Original manufacturer at a severe sales disadvantage.

Years later the Original Manufacturing Company cannot compete with the extrely low cost Chinese goods thus putting them out of business.

A Chinese Investment Corporation then comes in and buys the failing Western Company , buying them and all their Brand recognition and Product patents and loyal customer base... The Irony.

Mavic will still be around for another 100 years, maybe only in Name but not as a once presitgious High end Bicycle Parts manufacturer/Innovator.

Now where did I leave that odd little Mavic 851 rear deraileur "washer" ??

I'm confused. You're saying that all Chinese companies steal intellectual property? I agree it's a major problem with the law and law enforcement in China, but to say that you can apply a blanket statement to all Chinese companies is ridiculous. It's a somewhat childish way of seeing the world. But it's always easy for grumpy old men to make blanket statements about people from other countries than acknowledge that there are honest, hardworking people everywhere. It's a shame a thread about a historic cycle part company will probably be locked because some people turn red in the face at the mention of "China."

This Thread will remain Open as long as You cease lobbing personal attacks and keep it Civil

You can lob accusations of "childishness" and "Grumpy Old Men" all you want, or you can do a simple GOOGLE search and read all about it. Chinese theft of Western companies technology has been occuring for decades now, its nothing new or surprising if you bother'd to keep up with current Events. Its not xenophobia buddy, its easily verifiable Facts.

MAVIC going belly up just might be an internal mis-Management Issue , or it might be due to Unfair Market competition from Asian goods. One thing is certain, Well established Western Companies have continued to lose Market share to Asian Companies for many years now and have been put out of Business,,and its not going to stop any time soon.