Author Topic: Parts and the State of Quality  (Read 1067 times)

Offline Carlwalski

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Parts and the State of Quality
« on: August 02, 2006 - 06:20:28 PM »


I've had a really bad run of American made products since my resto began and from anywhere in General, household items, tools etc. In the hobby down here, Australia, England etc anywhere but the US, American made parts are getting thumbs down and bad remarks towards quality and a bad wrap. Generally people laugh at how poor some of the parts are and will usually remark "that's what you get when you buy US". Though, when you look into it further the parts are made else where, not always the case though. What ever these companies can do to further stretch their dollar they'll do in favor of pride, their company name & quality.

Now, this is not a bash at American parts in general, look at the clothes you wear, watch, shoes, socks, and items around the house, a quick look at the label will show most parts are made in Japan, Korea or China etc no matter where you live. Unless you got out and purposely buy from your favorite or proven well made merchandise of products made in your own country you generally end up with cheap eastern products.

Does this worry you guys? Just look at the repro market, 80%+ of the items are udder crap. Made or sold in American built cheap in Asia/Mexico. They don't fit, cheap, bad quality and the goods used to make them are rubbish.

If you can look past the "glitzy advertising" and corny promotions you'll see cheap tacky parts.
The standard of the products is absolutely poor.

When people say to me, "eh, American products are rubbish" I get annoyed too and I'm not from America.
Though, I own an American car.....so I reply with, yeah, it's not too good, once perhaps."

Where did they go wrong? Thoughts, opinions?
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
White, License Plate, 0A-5599
540ci Aluminium Hemi, F.A.S.T EFI
TF-727 Gear Vendor OD, Dana 60




Oldschool

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2006 - 06:24:22 PM »
There are too many individual factors to list here:--NAFTA, Global economy, minimun wage, immigration, ad nauseum.   :puke:   The overriding factor is ALWAYS the same:----The Bottom Line.  Money pure and simple....   Just my 0.02.........     :cooldancing:   

Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2006 - 06:32:19 PM »
Unfortunately,

   Alot of "our" parts are being made in China now. Talk about total crap.  :stomp:  :stomp:  :stomp:



  Mike

Mike

1970 Challenger - SOLD
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Offline Carlwalski

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2006 - 06:42:20 PM »


Yip, just money.  :walkaway:


It's just like call center workers. You call Visa, American Express etc and you get diverted to Deli or somewhere like that, cheap labour and more money for "The Man"............

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
White, License Plate, 0A-5599
540ci Aluminium Hemi, F.A.S.T EFI
TF-727 Gear Vendor OD, Dana 60

Offline Bullitt-

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2006 - 06:46:49 PM »
We sell appliances made all over the world and quality/origin has little to do with it. The BRANDED products from companies like GE/Kitchenaid/Maytag that come from Mexico, China, Korea,Sweden,Germany, Italy, not to mention our brothers in Canada are often better than the US made counterparts, conversely you buy some offbrand that imports from the same countries & you get cheep krap. We even sell some stuff from New Zealand, Ever heard of Fisher & Paykel? Great design but made from some seriously inferior components imorted from the orient. Today they are also being marketed as Whirlpool.                                                                               BTW they build the Mercedes M class here in Alabama!
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Offline Carlwalski

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2006 - 06:56:45 PM »


Yip, Fisher & Paykel, haven't heard anything about them being bad though, used in top designer kitchens. Though, they are now being made out of New Zealand so I am not up to scratch with that.

Being from a small country you getting better quality parts as there is no huge demand so no need to build products at high rates in short, no need for getting other countries to make it. Which means the quailty is higher and they have time to do things right and make one product properly rather than several poorly.

Just sad to see and makes finding quality products for the car harder...... :-\
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
White, License Plate, 0A-5599
540ci Aluminium Hemi, F.A.S.T EFI
TF-727 Gear Vendor OD, Dana 60

Offline 422STROKER

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2006 - 06:59:37 PM »
They might build the M-class there but the parts prob dont get produced there They just put it together.  For the most part I agree w/bad import product but in reality it is better to have options.  You can usually find a better part/tool etc but you'll have to pay for it.  You need options in this hobby for sure I would guess that we as a group without megabucks would rather get a part that needed a little massaging to work than not have that option and have to buy used or NOS.  As far as tools I would guess that we have some of the best tools in the world  Snap-on/Bluepoint,MAC,S-K,etc Maybe I'm wrong maybe not but until another country is willing to even entertain the idea of making parts for our cars it'll have to do, and if you don't like them don't buy them simple as that  make them yourselves and maybe you could make millions if it's right.  Sorry for the ramble, I just don't like bashing of the USA.

You asked for opinionsLOL  It's all about choices.

Tom
Tom
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Offline Carlwalski

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2006 - 07:06:29 PM »
No worries Tom. lol  :lol2: :thumbsup: I did ask.  :cheers:


Yeah, that's true (in a way) though, there is no need to make them when we didn't make the cars. We make them for Aussie Chrysler's and the parts are good. We are basically making the Gear Vendors unit because it is poor.

No doubt there are good products in the States, but from what I have see and purchased nothing has been too well built. Not all but a huge % of the parts and items I have purchased. Some have broken already.

Just a shame when choices are limited to poor quailty most of the time.
Though like you said, nothing else is out there so we have no choice...........



1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
White, License Plate, 0A-5599
540ci Aluminium Hemi, F.A.S.T EFI
TF-727 Gear Vendor OD, Dana 60

Offline 422STROKER

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2006 - 07:16:45 PM »
I'd be pretty pi$$ed off too if I droppped that kind of money on something and it didn't work properly.  Your right about most parts available for sure but unfortunately if we as a group keep buying they keep making and if we stop buying they stop making!  I'd just be happy if there is a problem with the parts companies would own up and make it right.  I wish you the best of luck w/your GV unit since you are breaking ground w/this prob you should sell the info to them!  Again good luck.  I love to ramble!
 :drunk:
Tom
Tom
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Offline Carlwalski

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #9 on: August 02, 2006 - 07:46:56 PM »


Thanks Tom, I wish ourselves luck to. lol It's more on Gear Vendors though, if they come to the party and help with re-planning their systems. Unfortunately we won't see a cent back. But oh well......

True, we keep buying the parts though. lol
Not all are bad, just a big % some real good parts have come out of it but most are crud.  :crying:

This is not a America bash or anything like that, it pi$$es me off just as much. Sometimes I feel that they say, "the parts are crap" and I just pray they aren't thinking the Challenger or Cuda or the Mopar muscle cars in general are crap too. I just say: "Eh, what can you do.....I love the cars and they are generally well built" Interior isn't though. lol

But, yeah...... :-\ Cheers Tom.  :cheers:
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
White, License Plate, 0A-5599
540ci Aluminium Hemi, F.A.S.T EFI
TF-727 Gear Vendor OD, Dana 60

Offline Street_Challenged73

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Re: Parts and the State of Quality
« Reply #10 on: August 02, 2006 - 10:59:29 PM »
As a Business Admin. major, it all comes down to the cheapest labor for a "comparable" item.  Sure, that may be the case with cheap labor costs, but the items being sold are definitely not up to par with what used to be made in our own backyard.... :villagers:  "American" footwear is a prime example!!! (My Nike sandles actually used to last...now I'm lucky if I can get a couple weeks outta them before they're shot.) :poopoke:  They figure outsourcing will benefit our country, but look at how our economic situation is.... :misbehaving: :faint:
1973 Dodge Challenger......................The ongoing project. (00/----\00)
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All-American Muscle: 'Cudas and Challengers...Still the Elite and always will be.

                                                                                             
                 
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