Posted on 10/14/2013 7:29:51 PM PDT by robowombat
Poorly Made in China: An Insider's Account of the China Production Game Paperback by Paul Midler (Author)
An insider reveals what can—and does—go wrong when companies shift production to China In this entertaining behind-the-scenes account, Paul Midler tells us all that is wrong with our effort to shift manufacturing to China. Now updated and expanded, Poorly Made in China reveals industry secrets, including the dangerous practice of quality fade—the deliberate and secret habit of Chinese manufacturers to widen profit margins through the reduction of quality inputs. U.S. importers don’t stand a chance, Midler explains, against savvy Chinese suppliers who feel they have little to lose by placing consumer safety at risk for the sake of greater profit. This is a lively and impassioned personal account, a collection of true stories, told by an American who has worked in the country for close to two decades. Poorly Made in China touches on a number of issues that affect us all.
Like he was with me on every buy By Man from New York on July 16, 2010 Format: Hardcover Amazon Verified Purchase I have done business in China since 1986. I know from experience how tricky and dangerous it is, especially for the newcomer. Curiously Mr. Midler refers to suppliers in Shantou (Canton Province) and I too have many suppliers there. Apparently this behavior amongst the Chinese is across the board no matter what product you work with. And they don't care no matter what threats or promises you make. I actually had one supplier who told me he would no longer sell to me because "you complain too much"! No loss to me, easily replaced you can be sure. Communists or not, the almighty greenback is king in China but as Mr. Midler makes very clear, it is not going to get you what you think you contracted for. Something close, maybe, but not right on target. The Chinese screwed up so many of my shipments that I got the distinct impression that the translaters were interpreting my directions, not translating them. So I spent years learning to speak Mandarin. I am totally fluent now, have often been mistaken for being Chinese on the telephone by those who had not yet met me. No matter, I told them straight out what I wanted in their own language and STILL they basically did it wrong to shave off a few bucks to their advantage. I could never understand that way of thinking, in America we keep the customers happy to perpetuate our business with them, we do not consistently antagonize them. This book will open your eyes if you want to do business in China and if you are already there you cannot help but agree with everything he says. Pay close attention, he knows what he is talking about. They will go behind your back and try to deal directly with your customer, they will yes you to death and then do whatever they please without any regard for you or your customer. I can offer dozens of examples but the one that most illustrates this is the supplier who sent the advance samples for approval, they were perfect. He then went and made the million piece order to his own liking. It was a Halloween item to be made in Orange and Black, the 1000 piece advance samples were right on the money. When the order came in, it was made in Red and Blue. They told us the factory boss thought Orange and Black was a terrible color combination so he made what he thought was pretty. Hence we had a million red and blue product with ghosts and goblins and all printed on them, in red and blue and the words "Happy Halloween". THAT is when we transferred half our entire production of all products to India. We still do some business in China but had I read this book twenty years ago I never would have gotten involved in China at all!
I highly recommend this book, it is all true and frightening so use it well
and be aware. Be very aware.
5.0 out of 5 stars So you wanna do business with China, eh?, April 17, 2012 By SueZ - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Poorly Made in China: An Insider's Account of the China Production Game (Paperback) This book was recommended to me by a fellow expat living and working in China. Having been in China for the last 8 years, I was skeptical that a Caucasian American would understand the inner workings of the Chinese culture and language well enough to write a comprehensive enough book about the manufacturing sector in China.
However, I found Midler to be extremely smart and knowledgeable about China and its people. I found the book to be somewhat dated, as Midler was talking about the exchange rate being 8RMB=1USD and the wages as being extremely low. However, the basic behavior of the Chinese factory owners and the typical "customer service ethic" have not changed much. Although with the worsening worldwide economic condition, Chinese factories are a little more service-oriented than before, as they're trying to get enough orders to stay afloat. (Read: will kiss the Western customer's ass a little bit more than what the book suggests.)
I like the way the chapters are laid out - one anecdote is followed by an analysis of the events through Midler's knowledge of the Chinese culture, language and history. Generally, Midler is accurate in his interpretations, and this is what I find most impressive, as Midler clearly shows his vast knowledge of the Chinese production game through his analyses.
Buyers who want to import from China will NOT have their fears assuaged by Midler's book. There ARE reputable factories out there, but mentioning them in this book will only detract from the entertainment value of "Poorly Made in China".
This is a good read and a nice primer for those who want to learn more about China. But, as the book clearly demonstrates, if a buyer REALLY wants to get into China, it's better to call on someone like Midler, instead of going about it blindly...unless he's thinking about writing his own book about the trials and tribulations about doing business with Chinese factories.
Like all things Communist, it’s built on Fabrication and thus, not built to last.
Having children for whom I buy toys I wonder how chinese couples like ‘Melissa and Doug’ can maintain vigilance over all their myriad products.
No way! This can’t be true! I thought China only used the BEST in slave labor.
I feel bad for the typical Chinese Citizen.
There’s a high-end speaker manufacturer in Eastern Canada that off-shored the production of their speaker cabinets to China. After 16 months, they cancelled the contract and resumed making the cabinets here. They also replaced the Chinese made cabinets.
I’m sure the book is interesting, but this has been known for longer than he’s been working in China, and anyone who believed differently is delusional.
American production is still generally of better quality, but that also has been eroding with the hiring of lower paid immigrant workers in many areas.
Personally, I prefer to pay a higher price for a product of superior quality, but I seem to be in the distinct minority in this country.
All Hail the Mighty Profit!
bfl
I’ve always liked the ability to walk in the front door of a factory and give them a broken part.
I worked at a factory up north that rebuilt things like alternators and solenoids. You could take one in the front office and they would call a foreman in from the floor, he’d take the junk part and bring you a rebuild free of charge. It was good PR and good for quality control because they always had a pool of local everyday use parts to keep track of.
As a consumer I deal with several Chinese companies and they are very libertarian in their business practices.
They are totally unrestrained by any moral values, it is purely about profit, if they have to stop a practice because it is destroying them, they will, if they can lie and continue it, they will, they have no internal honor or dignity that influences their business operating.
Luckily for me some American based forums have a huge influence on some of these businesses, but what they try to get away with is amazing, as is the learning process for the new ones as they have to adapt to customer back lash and threats of losing credibility.
We could have that again we say, Rid our Selves of the Income Tax (which was pitched 100 years ago as helping the working man, I don't know about you but when I look at my pay stub I don't feel "helped")
Or Get rid of the 253078 Regulations regarding Manufacturing in this country.
I think Riding Ourselves of the Income Tax is a great Bi-Partisan Issue, The Liberals Say Stimulus and Pumping Money into the Market is a good thing?
Fine
Imagine how much Cash and Capital would be free if we got rid of the Income Tax. The Lib's Win because it "Stimulates" the Economy (without disastrous inflation!) the Right wins because it allows us to keep more of our earnings.
EVERYONE WINS!!!
Except those who wish to control and want that tribute from the plebeians, gotta keep that cash out of the individuals hands otherwise they become more self reliant.
My attitude has always been that we get rid of the pointless job killing regulations and allow jobs to be created. That will pull millions off welfare and its easier to justify pushing people off when you have jobs for them to go to.
Then the problem would be fixed and then no one could run on "Fixing it"
This is my Greatest Fear of Deathcare, the Republicans will constantly run on "I will repeal it" then it never gets done, our best opportunity to rid ourselves of it is now.
However established massive laws like that have been replied in the past though (Slavery (The Civil War) and prohibition) but those two periods were the MOST Violent time in our History.
I pray for the future.
Pfff. This was old news 2 decades ago. Even Chinese businesses do not trust Chinese goods and manufacturing and construction.
As you think about that, recall that in ancient times, the Romans and others would catapult disease-riddled corpses over the walls of cities they besieged to sicken and kill the enemy. The Chinese know that history even if we obviously have forgotten it. Get my drift there?
On a recent visit to China, a friend spotted this ad in a Beijing newspaper. He sent me the photo with a translation of the ad copy.
Yes, you can now join the millions of happy and prosperous Chinese citizens taking advantage of the growing numbers of American and Western multinational corporations “outsourcing” their production to the hard-working and industrious people of China. This outsourcing has now spread to their food supplies and ingestible items. Since these firms pay us for gross weight – and this new weight will be pretty gross – and the stupid American government only spot-checks imported items in these categories (they just got lucky on the anti-freeze thing), it has opened an entirely new opportunity which our beloved Chairman is offering to any Chinese citizen willing to do a little of what the foolish Americans call “grunt work.”
Installing one of these state-of-the-art food additive production facilities behind YOUR hovel is as simple as clipping the coupon below and sending it to the address shown. Your production plant will be shipped to you in 4 to 6 weeks. Supplies are limited so don’t fart around. ACT NOW!!
These silly Americans have an expression we have “borrowed” and modified to describe this new and exciting venture: “Don’t give me any s**t.”
Our motto will be “We won’t GIVE you any s**t. But we’ll SELL it to you fools at a really great price.”
Better yet, we convince them to COME HERE to pick it up and save us the shipping costs.
AND LOOK FOR A NEW DROP-DEAD MONEY-MAKER COMING SOON. SOYLENT YELLOW PROMISES TO BE BIG!!
AND YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT THE “CHERY” PERSONAL VEHICLE TO BE IMPORTED BY CHRYSLER IS SIMPLY A HORIZONTALLY MODIFIED VARIATION OF THE VERTICAL UNIT SHOWN ABOVE. WE SIMPLY SLAP AN ENGINE AND SOME WHEELS ON THAT PUPPY AND OFF SHE GOES! AMERICA’S VAST ILLEGAL POPULATION OUGHT TO SNAP THEM UP LIKE TACOS.
I agree with your sentiment but it isn't always possible. Try to find a manual can opener made in the USA? I know it is a trivial item but so typical of how better products get squeezed off the shelves. The Chinese made models are designed to look pretty but inferior gear stampings and metals guarantee they fail quickly. I kept returning them and the store eventually dropped that line and put a new Chinese model in its place. Heck, I would take made in Mexico before made in China if I had that choice. Until government stops "protecting us" from American business, I have little choice but to buy Chinese and consider it disposable.
Straight to the Government Motors.
Your analysis could be a summary of this book. They know there is very little reason to focus on face-to-face consumer credibility or accountability when the consumers are so far away (U.S.)
I have read this book and can recommend it. Each chapter reveals the author’s experience with a different industry. There are no political or socio-economic overtones to the stories. He just tells you about his experiences and allows you to conclude the best course of action...as an individual consumer and as a country.
Can anyone recommend a more recent book on this subject?
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