posted on October 2, 2007 07:16:42 PM new
A nightmare for toy sellers, but much needed. I hope they are as vigilant in patrolling this as they are in VERO listings. BTW, did you notice that Mattel issued an apology to China for the hubbub their recalls made? UNBELIEVABLE!
posted on October 3, 2007 05:08:58 AM new
Why in h@#& would Mattel feel the need to apologize to China? I guess my grandchildren will have to do without toys made by Mattel. They need to issue an apology to the parents here in the US for putting their children at risk just to make a buck. Until they issue that apology, I won't be buying the grandchildren or the numerous nieces and nephews any Mattel products. I know that won't hurt them a bit, but if more people did that it would. eBay most certainly should get those toys off of its servers. Shame on those sellers.
Here's that article about Mattel apologizing to China in case you missed it:
Mattel Inc. tried to save face Friday with Chinese officials, taking the blame for the recent recalls of millions of Chinese-made toys as it strives to mend a strained relationship with the nation that makes most of its toys and fattens its profit.
The world's largest toy maker sent a top executive to personally apologize to China's product safety chief, Li Changjang, as reporters and company lawyers looked on.
"Mattel takes full responsibility for these recalls and apologizes personally to you, the Chinese people, and all of our customers who received the toys," Thomas A. Debrowski, Mattel's executive vice president for worldwide operations, told Li.
Here's where you can find the rest if you are interested:
posted on October 3, 2007 05:30:05 AM new
Mattel wanted to cut corners and the lax regulations in China allowed it. I'm also banning Mattel from my purchasing list.
posted on October 3, 2007 06:09:16 AM new
I think all American companies should hold their manufactures to the same standards they would have to meet if they were made here.
All consumers should expect a safe product, when buying.
Soooooo they make it for $1 an hour, and we can buy it cheaper. The trade off is much much more profit for Mattel and China or whereever. The loss is jobs for Americans, inferior and unsafe products.
Personally I would think most would rather have safe cribs, toys, teething rings and jobs than the few bucks saved.
posted on October 3, 2007 07:18:13 AM new
deur1 - You are so right! I am more than willing to spend a few dollars more to:
1. Keep the money in the USA
2. Provide more jobs thus boosting the economy
3. Ensure that my grandchildren's toys are safe.
Let the Chinese worry about providing employment for their own people. American companies shouldn't be worrying providing jobs to anyone but Americans.
posted on October 3, 2007 12:36:47 PM new
I share your feelings, but then my brain kicks in. I'm afraid that globalization is inevitable, unless we're willing to cut our nose off to spite our face.
There are many root causes for this, but the bottom line is that US products are (by and large) not competitive except for some niches (e.g., software). It will always make sense to concentrate on areas where we have comparative advantage (like software) rather than toothpaste.
Edited to add:
I too first reacted angrily to the news about Mattel's apology. I read somewhere (and I just can't remember where) that Mattel had tried to blame some of its own mistakes on the Chinese manufacturers, in which case an apology was called for.
[ edited by Cashinyourcloset on Oct 3, 2007 12:38 PM ]
posted on October 3, 2007 12:42:45 PM new
Cheryl, I totally agree. I have purchased a bunch of Polly Pocket toys for my granddaughters for Christmas. I have to go through them all and see if they are on the recalled list. I am hoping Mattel will give some refunds. I hope people in Canada and the US wake up and buy domestic products, and keep our dollars at home, and hopefully have safer products.
My daughter bought a pacifier for our new grandson, put it in his mouth, and then looked on the packet, and sure enough, Made in China. It went straight in the garbage. My husband and I are low income, but we always look for Canadian or US made products, even if they are more expensive, and my husband would not buy a foreign made car, however much cheaper.
posted on October 3, 2007 01:48:46 PM new
I am so sick of China made crap that I won't hardly buy anything from Wal-Mart anymore. I am shopping at other places and paying more.
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posted on October 3, 2007 04:43:14 PM new
I remember when Japanese products were considered inferior to US made ones. Guess that makes me old (or maybe I just have a good memory). But back then you could FIND US made alternatives - not so any more. I'll bet a lot of the US made toys from way back when (my father's childhood lead soldiers come to mind) would be recalled now too. Think of the things we swallowed!! (no comments here Classic) Our dentist gave us dimes with little mercury balls to play with after our appointment!
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posted on October 3, 2007 04:59:14 PM new
I remember when "Made in Japan" meant cheap, poorly made crap. I also remember playing with mercury, I rolled it all over my hands - probably tried tasting it.
posted on October 3, 2007 09:40:11 PM new
Cash, I agree, it's not an easy issue. Many indicators point to globalization as being inevitable. However, I'm seeing jobs that are done best by the US being outsourced overseas. If you have ever had to deal with Microsoft customer support, India, you will know what I mean.
The further the brand is separated from the manufacturing process, the loss of quality control increases. As consumers, we need to sacrifice more "stuff" for a stronger economy.
Edited to add: I checked my toothpaste to see place of manufacture today - one was from Canada, one was from India.
[ edited by pixiamom on Oct 3, 2007 09:49 PM ]
posted on October 4, 2007 04:57:15 AM new
Pixiamom,
I have spent time with Microsoft's Indian support (and I use the term loosely). There are companies (Netflix, for example) that are either avoiding overseas support or in some cases pulling their support back.
I predict that will continue to happen, or the overseas support will improve. A vendor's support model is a large ship that
can't turn quickly.
The weakening dollar will assist in this, as foreign workers start making more (in dollar terms). This is a sucky way to "improve" things, but face it, it is also inevitable that the dollar will be worth less and less going forward, as the US has obligations that it simply can't afford to meet using valuable dollars, and in the time-honored way of profligate governments everywhere, it will pay those obligations with cheapened dollars.
As companies realize that it's a false economy to outsource critical customer care, they'll cease to do so. OTOH, our own homegrown customer support isn't such a marvel of quality either. Have you called your cable provider lately? They're usually polite (not always), but they are ill-informed.
Something has to give. You can't build competitive cars with workers making $50/hour plus medical benefits (from an over-priced broken system). You especially can't build competitive cars with management not listening to what customers want. The one American vehicle I own is a minivan, where American management listened (before the European and Asian managements did) to what people want. Still, at 27k miles, it is falling apart (granted, nannies are tough on vehicles), and I won't buy another unless I see a real turnaround in quality. I feel as bad about American unemployment as the next person, but how much am I supposed to subsidize it (beyond the extortionate taxes I already pay)? In the end, as a "rational" economic being, I'll buy the safest and best-built vehicle for the amount I'm willing to spend.
Guess that makes me old (or maybe I just have a good memory). But back then you could FIND US made alternatives - not so any more. I'll bet a lot of the US made toys from way back when (my father's childhood lead soldiers come to mind) would be recalled now too. Think of the things we swallowed!! (no comments here Classic) Our dentist gave us dimes with little mercury balls to play with after our appointment!