Chinese manufacturing and you: a cautionary tale.

[Viverr]

Here's a cautionary tale of merit:

I bought a UV sterilizer online, mostly for the benefit of my loaches. It looked good, the price was right, and it looked like a sturdy piece of kit because it was build out of stainless steel. Rather, that's what I was told it was. Win? No.

Got it today and opened the package? No, it's not stainless, it's nicely chromed cold rolled steel (but only on the outside), and it's already rusted like crazy, especially where the fittings were welded in. The ballast has electrical tape on the inside of the case as well, covering several "cold" solder joints.

Perhaps aware of this irony, the manufacturer ("WTS", by the way) has kindly placed several stickers on the case advising their membership in the "water quality association".

Moral of our hero's story?

Online, caveat emptor means DON'T BUY CHEAP CRAP FROM CHINA unless you've a death wish and money (and maybe your house) to burn.

The end.

 

[robmcd]

Kinda like JEBO lights and their ballasts that like to self destruct.

 

[Viverr]

Funny enough, I didn't buy a JEBO because they're prone to cracking and generally not worth the time. There's just something about Chinese companies who's head offices _and_ mfg. are in China...

 

[robmcd]

Sorta like chinese coal mines......

 

[Dr_Shakalu]

Sorta like chinese coal mines......

I am Chinese American and I was really offended by your statement. Even though I was born in San Francisco, I still feel bad to the hundreds killed in China or anywhere else. I would like to know how you would feel if someone made a joke out of the coal mine collapse in Utah?

 

[Viverr]

Not sure I get the Chinese coal mine gag... Keep it internationally P.C., guys.

The point here's to drive home the message that Caveat Emptor often can and will bite you in the rear with stuff coming out of China, and good design practices and truth in advertising doesn't exist in most design and mfg. shops out there. Which is a pity, because the welds are good looking and the idea has merit, but the workmanship and mislabeled/ materials choice is crap and downright hazardous. I'm not saying the Chinese can't build a decent piece of kit on their own, but 4/5 times I've bought something from a Chinese Mfg. that didn't use outside design or quality control to save money, it's cost me more in the long run. You'd think I would have learned.

 

[Wolf3101]

With the problems with pet food....
Toy manufacturing....
Aquarium equipment manufacturers....
and even some human food....
I'd have to say that this reputation is well deserved. True the companies making extra profits by farming out this manufacruring to China are just as much at fault here those IN china cutting corners but they have NO vested intrests in producing anything of quality except profits...

I belive that any item destined to be sold in the US should be forced to conform to US standards and be held accountable when problems develope...

What happens if theres a huge class action suit against these companies?
They disapere and then re-serface a week later under another name...

 

[Scorponok]

That's why I am willing to spend hundreds of dollar more for the same product made in Europe. The lesson is don't be a poor bastard, especially the ones who whine. If you are not poor, then buy made in Israel.

 

[Euge]

A lot of your house hold products are made in china. It just depends on the company that is making the product that is responsible for making sure the QC is up to standard. Don't blame China,

 

[Mr Pleco]

China is just producing goods to meet the demand by American consumers clamoring for lower priced goods and thats just what were getting... lower priced , lower quality goods.. our landfills are overflowing with this cr##*... quality has a price...