posted on Jun, 14 2007 @ 10:54 PM
As well, you get what you pay for, in many instances.
Chinese goods, currently, are less expensive, most often. Most people like to save money. Maybe we've been overlooking the obvious, such as: Maybe
if they cost less, they're not as good ? '
Or maybe we've believed that the products themselves are up to par, but are less expensive because of cheaper labour costs in China?
Whatever the case, we're learning that not all that glitters is necessarily real gold.
I've read on forums that Chinese produced toothpaste, for example, costs mere pennies in the US. More recently, it's been claimed that Chinese
toothpaste contains hazardous ingredients: in one thread I read that Chinese toothpaste causes cysts in the brain. If true, it's a perfect example
of false economy, isn't it?
We buy a New Zealand produced toothpaste. The company in question produces several variations, none of which contain flouride or other toxins.
Currently, we're trying their Propolis toothpaste: highly recommended ! The New Zealand toothpaste, brand-name 'Natural', costs over six dollars
in US currency. With a family of four adults, all of whom brush several times daily, it's not a cheap proposition. Colgate, for example, made in
Australia, is less than half the price of the New Zealand brand. But we're happily sticking to the NZ product, because it's superior, can be
trusted and as such, is value for money, regardless of cost.
Similarly with other consumables. Australian and New Zealand produced items are much more expensive, no doubt about it. Seafood for example. In
contrast, Asian produced seafood is a fraction of the price. But we choose not to consume seafood extracted from foul waters, drains, etc. in Asia
and processed in a way, quite possibly, that would not meet first-world regulations and standards.
Living as we do in a first-world nation, we have no immunity to parasites etc. that may be contained within inexpensive Asian foods -- unlike
(possibly) the natives of those nations. If we're not able or prepared to pay the much higher prices for Australian and New Zealand foodstuffs, then
we do without, rather than compromise and eat the cheap, imported products. Our choice of course and we're not complaining.
Other items we have purchased that were produced in Asia (such as two toasters bought on the run) and other inexpensive electrical items, have failed
to operate properly or have fallen to bits within very short time. Often, we discovered they were dangerous. Recently I puchased some small
washing-bags, made in China. Looked great and very cheap. Again, fell to bits after two uses. So, false economy: waste of money; money down the
drain.
Unfortunately, thanks to the proliferation of cheap, Asian made products, many of our own manufacturers have been forced out of business. It's
virtually impossible these days to find locally made products and consumers are reluctantly forced to buy Asian-made in many instances..
We hear so much about out-sourcing, that I was under the impression (until the recent revelations of poisonous Chinese-produced pet food, for example)
that manufacturers from the West had merely moved their factories to China in order to capitalise on the cheaper labour costs. I was under the
impression that apart from that, everything else (ingredients, health and safefy issues, etc.) remained exactly the same.
Now, in light of information revealed by the Western media, it appears this is not the case at all. I still don't understand what is going on, but
it appears that Chinese manufacturers are producing the product which is then sold-on to Westerners -- with no-one taking responsibility for what may
or may not be contained in those products.
Most of us are accustomed to accountability re: the products we buy. We're accustomed to our Western authorities' ensuring for the most part that
goods are safe and contain only the ingredients displayed on the pack.
So it's a steep learning curve for many of us and seems as if it will get even steeper, with the only guideline being 'Buyer beware'.