𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 ... 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 ... 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐝 ... 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐠𝐥𝐲

You likely may know how after WWII "Made in Japan" was another term for "junk". Perhaps colored with a big dose of enmity for our war time adversary. But, in fact, the stuff being exported to other shores at that time — my reference is the US of A "shore" — was just that; a lot of junk. Charming, rustically painted papier-mâché thingies and figures and flimsy tin toys. 

Wow! How things have changed! "Made in Japan" and "Made in Occupied Japan" ... those thingies bring the bucks with collectors. Tables seem to turn, huh? And, "Made in Japan" for current goods is now a mark of excellence.

Back then what we got exported to us from Japan was cheap crap. No doubt on account of Japan getting back on its feet commercially after the hostilities. Yet, at the time, completely obscuring the fact that ancient civilization held a long traditional historical treasury of the finest arts and crafts. Fast forward to now, "Made in Japan" is on the very short list of some of the best merchandise in the world. 

Now, China. 

China is a manufacturing juggernaut. With output that fills every niche; from the highest of high tech and world leading sophisticated engineering to some pretty crappy crap. I'm sure there are those who study the situation deeply and could expound brilliantly on the why's and wherefore's of that. 

Key word to understand the context in this mix is "outsourcing"; how USA manufacturers offshored to China to cut costs. For me, it's just about right now currently getting my money's worth. Nobody wants junk. 

Case #1. 

By the way, you may also know about "Made in USA". It's well known, and well deserved reputation as something with quality. Sturdy, reliably functional honest stuff. Craftsman tools. Vise Grip. Swing Away Can Opener. Levi's.

Case in point: it turns out that Swing Away is no longer made in the USA, but in China. Not the same sturdy quality. We purchased a replacement vegetable peeler from said company expecting the same robust quality as the can opener. Broke apart at the first try. Right away! Got it replaced, same thing. Turns out the latest peelers are made in China. When we compared the original American made with the newer of China origin, the culprit turned out to be a small, but critical metal spacer; some soft, flimsy metal bit instead of the rock solid piece engineered into the original. The customer service seemed to be unconcerned, just kept sending replacements. Stay "away" from Swing Away. Let sleeping dogs lie.

The lesson in that instance is not that China goods are inferior across the board. No. China will make anything you want. To your specifications. Very important point. You have to specify and oversee the quality that goes into whatever it is you're having them put together. Otherwise you could get something that is produced at the cheapest cost to them. You do get what you pay for.

Case #2. 

And, yet, you don't always get what you pay for. You get less. 

One of the gambits in direct marketing from China is the steep discount. A $600.00 watch selling for $87.00. I bought a few watches from China. Mixed results.  Great looking for the price, but the movements were unreliable junk. Quality control is not always high on the priority list. Some manufactures are now using Seiko movements and that is a big step up in quality, and reliable utility. 

Recently I'd been looking to replace my original issue US military field jacket. I enjoy the shopping hunt for things. But, a military field jacket like the bulletproof one as an original issue spec is sehr, sehr hard to find. The price spread is wide. Even a $225.00 M65 from a well known purveyor, Alpha Industries, is made in China. And, not 100% cotton like the original. [It's that cotton that gives it the patina and lived in shape.] Seems if you want to get top quality the going rate is at least double that. I buy clothing for utility, not to stash my fashion closet. At pushing $500.00 I'm not inclined to spring for it. Let's not splurge. And, even if you got bucks to burn. 

So here I see an ad for a military M65 field jacket on steep sale from $180.00 now $89.00; with an additional 10% discount for ordering another garment(s); a quilted Bomber Jacket marked down from $130.00 to $59.00. Not bad, $310.00 value for $130.00.

Caveat Emptor. It wasn't just the steep "going out of business" discount that was the only inducement. The website was listed with a seeming very proper identity "Carter & Miles Boston", which now shows up as "Willara Richmond" with an 80% anniversary sale. Both websites gushing with how they hold to high standards. 

This just in ... Now I'm seeing the same goods being sold under other store names. Going out of business; steep discount. Names that suggest proud family ownership. What is it that P.T. Barnum said about who is born every second?

Hey, China! You got sellers in your country acting like they're selling to idiots and dupes. In marketing there is a thing called "repeat purchase". Your not gonna sell again to a customer that didn't get their money's worth, or what was expected and promised. Seller/manufacturer reputation is a factor you know.

I imagined I was getting garments from some proper and venerable East Coast establishment. Admittedly, the nice photos of the pieces notwithstanding, there wasn't much information about details. Like type of fabric. And, no detail photos. The robust snaps like on the original field jacket in fact were cheesy, thin metal. 

Once I got the tracking information I realized the merchandise was coming from China. Not Boston. The website allusions to time honored family traditional values is a complete fabrication. There's a Willa Richmond like there's an Aunt Jemima, or a Betty Crocker. Fake name, and fake allusions to high quality standards. They even feature a lovely smiling photo image of a women [ostensibly Willa herself] with a young boy [son?]. 

Hey, China! Do you want to earn a reputation for being duplicitous? We got enough of that going on in geopolitics already. Play it straight! 

Okay, okay. There are bad Apples in every barrel. It's not like the whole country is a bunch of crooks. 

After waiting two weeks following very vague tracking information the garments arrived. When you use Amazon Prime you get used to top notch service and information. 

I sent the seller this message: 

I received my order #4837. Not at all satisfied with the items. I feel I got suckered in by the hefty discount. Even with the discount the clothes are not worth half the price. Low quality; poor, snug fit even at XXXL. In the parlance, I was "had". This sort of poor quality gives "Made In China" a bad name. I'm donating the garments to charity. Refund my purchase, please.

The garments weren't worth even a fraction of the discounted price. Cheesy upon cheesy.

They replied that they would process a refund, but the shipping back to China would also be expensive. [Not to mention the hassle of schlepping to get it done. Time is money.] Their compromise was to offer a refund of 15% of the purchase price. The main point about that I received shoddy goods did not get addressed. They can keep the 15%, I get to write about it. 

Note to sellers: You Customer Service is only as good as you train them to be. 

Shopping merchants from China is a bit of a "wild west" situation. Buyer beware. The marketplace will sort out the scammers in time. And, I do expect that, like as it went in Old Nippon, the ancient culture of the Chinese will shine forth and "Made in China" will become a mark of high quality. It's already happening, I just got burned by my own greed falling for a deal that was too good to be true.

Another thing. Foodstuffs from China. Make that from the Orient in general. I shop for staples for Chinese and Asian recipes. There are now a lot of stores in the United States catering to the Oriental market. It's going to be a while for things to sort out. So many different brands of packaged goods. With food, the sourcing and the processing is critical. Stick with the big brands. Pass items with tossed off names like "Lucky Boy" or "Double Happiness" or "Beautiful Horizon". Know your sources.