Mike Holland wrote:
So according to you we cannot claim that German products, for example, are better quality than Indian/Chinese/etc because that condemns a whole nation!
To be clear, there are crap products made in every country in the world and high quality products made there as well. China produces products to specifications from a manufacturer. Things made in China are no more inherently crappy than products made in Australia. However, as it is one of the largest producers of products in the world, it's much more likely a low quality product will come from China.
There was a time when Japan, Mexico, Thailand, Korea and other countries (Vietnam and China presently) have been low cost producers. These countries allow manufacturers to bring production in at a lower cost because the labor rates are low and typically, the government is encouraging new business (reducing taxes, legal pitfalls, etc.). The product quality HAS NOTHING to do with these factors. Lower cost does not equal lower production value.
Where the low quality comes from is the purchaser seeking out a lower cost item to replace a higher quality item. Quality does cost more to produce in most cases and in an effort to save money, a manufacturer will cut corners by asking part manufacturers for a lower price. In turn, the part maker will cut corners while trying to keep as high quality as possible. These things happen REGARDLESS of the location of the manufacturing facility.
Some of lowest quality products ever have been produced in England, the USA, and other western countries. Think early Jaguars, Chevrolets, etc. There is no question that some nations have a good reputation for producing high quality but that's more likely related to brands you equate with those countries than actual reality. I am 100% confident that Germans have companies making crap products too.
Quality level is solely dictated by the purchaser, local regulations, and other factors. For example, I wouldn't think of eating crappy McDonald's food here in the US because it's microwaved garbage. However, France has very specific rules about food preparation, meat quality, etc. When I lived in France, I tried McDonald's and it actually produced a quality hamburger.
So...yes it is wrong to wholesale call out a single country for quality issues.