WTF my PEs are made in China

[KQ]

Question: Isn't the design process the same as before? Isn't it just the finished product that's made in China? I'm sure K2 has experience skiers overseeing the finished product. If they produce crap they will lose in the end.

In the fishing industry the Japanese hire individuals to oversee the processing of surimi to ensure it meets their standards. The fishermen aren't necessarily Japanese but the final product is always inspected by an experienced Japanese (I know this from immigration work I've done).

Good point about the issues with K2's delaming and what not. I was wondering when that would play into all of this.

As to Globalization - we still don't have to lose jobs to overseas, do we? Some is Globalization is good but shouldn't we try to curb it a bit?

[robokill1981]

Originally posted by KQ
but shouldn't we try to curb it a bit?

You're from Seattle, right?

[iceman]

Originally posted by Pinner
Fat, ignorant and arrogant?



EDIT: not you particularly, boo. All Americans.

I'd kick your ass for saying that but I don't know where you live and I wanna finish these Doritos right now.

[KQ]

Originally posted by robokill1981
You're from Seattle, right?

Buh?

The question was not meant to name names or place blame just thinking that perhaps there is a happy medium. I was simply asking - I haven't formed an opinion on it, I'm not sure there is a way to combat it, but I know I don't like seeing ppl in our country lose their jobs.

Just pondering the pros and cons.

[ak_powder_monkey]

Oh I'm not bitching if it wern't for china I probably wouldn't be able to buy twin tips

[joshbu]

Originally posted by KQ
As to Globalization - we still don't have to lose jobs to overseas, do we? Some is Globalization is good but shouldn't we try to curb it a bit?

No. We shouldn't even try.

What we should be doing is retraining. Not that the Bushs would lift a finger to help people who have lost manufacturing jobs, but there is enourmous amounts of work left to be done in many segments of the economy.

edit: A bit of on-topic reading http://www.salon.com/tech/wire/2003/...obs/index.html

[zion zig zag]

Originally posted by iceman
I'd kick your ass for saying that but I don't know where you live and I wanna finish these Doritos right now.

pretty good, ice. covered all three!

[robokill1981]

KQ- I had no malicious intent with that post, sorry if it came across that way. There was a huge anti-globalization protest there a few years ago, but I couldn't remember if you were from Seattle or not.

Anyways, farming out of American jobs seems to be inevitable. Workers in other counties will work more hours for less pay than Americans. I personally don't think an end to globalization is possible, but an end to the exploitation of workers in other countries is a more feasible goal. If anyone is so inclined there are two major protests in November for such things, one is at the school of americas, and the other will be in Miami. www.rmpjc.org should provide more info.

Again, KQ sorry if it sounded like I was calling you out, I didn't mean it that way.

[Plakespear]

Originally posted by Mcwop
With a whopping 1.62% profit margin, and negative 3 year sales growth - it is not surprising they tried to cut labor costs.

Well, maybe if they actually built skis that didn't delam, they wouldn't be in trouble. Word of mouth is the best- and worst- form of advertising. What happens when anyone posts a K2 question in TechTalk? the word "delam" will pop up in 80% of the posts. You gonna buy those skis after that? And when skis delam, they get warrantied. Hard to be profitable when you have to replace so much stuff on warranty.

[BakerBoy]

Originally posted by Plakespear
Well, maybe if they actually built skis that didn't delam, they wouldn't be in trouble. Word of mouth is the best- and worst- form of advertising. What happens when anyone posts a K2 question in TechTalk? the word "delam" will pop up in 80% of the posts. You gonna buy those skis after that? And when skis delam, they get warrantied. Hard to be profitable when you have to replace so much stuff on warranty.

K2 has gotten much better with delam problems ever since they started using the rivets.

[DINMS]

yeah that is going to help... yaya...they could be replaceas buy a real glue and thewole rtyhing would stay down.

[PeachesN'Cream]

it's a bummer about K2 moving production from vashon but i gotta say that the new skis are way the hell better, more consistant and tougher.

sure loosing american jobs is a bummer, but try to remember this, it's still an american company. the skis are designed here. when K2 works on new skis all the protos are built in vashon. all the race room stuff is hand built on vashon. just the consumer production is done in china. my subaru was built in ten. but it's still a japanise car right?

anyway it sucks but still better to have K2 with us helping progress the sport than to have them go under due to expensive production.

yeah - bcf

[laseranimal]

Originally posted by Plakespear
Well, maybe if they actually built skis that didn't delam, they wouldn't be in trouble. Word of mouth is the best- and worst- form of advertising. What happens when anyone posts a K2 question in TechTalk? the word "delam" will pop up in 80% of the posts. You gonna buy those skis after that? And when skis delam, they get warrantied. Hard to be profitable when you have to replace so much stuff on warranty.

on the flip side if they didn't have to pay higher labor costs etc.... they could stop skimping on materials and build better skis?

[Lumpy]

Originally posted by KQ
Plakespear - I would like to add I feel the loss of jobs to overseas factories sucks but we've got to ask ourselves and our government "why is that and how can we reverse the trend?"



Edit : I'm a life long Washington resident. I've seen so many of our cultural icons leave town it just breaks my heart.

Thread hijack-

Uhhh, farmed Chilean salmon being sold at Pike Place instead of Northwest harvested fish?

Smart economically for the wholesalers, big retailers, and restaurants, but sucks for the consumer (poor product full of chemicals, pesticides, dyes and inferior taste) and harvesters. Talk about the demise of a Northwest icon...

End of hijack. Carry on. -Lump

[Mcwop]

Here is a Ski magazine article on the move:

K2 Moves Manufacturing Overseas