In reply to Post #163
We need to get away with thinking all China are capable of making is cheap stuff and blatant copying.
Look at the new huawei p30 pro great camera which is capable of taking fantastic pictures.
There are many more products.
For example so many US / European semiconductor (the IC that go in all electronic products) companies are reliant on China it's an important maket, which in hand fuels our economy's growth.
For decades yes the west funded the east they flooded the market with cheap copies & still do but they have moved on to become great innovators also did anyone ever watch Reggie in China (you can watch it on BBC iplayer) it's a real eye opener when he visited Shenzhen.
Eventually AI / machine learning - aka the rise of the machines will take many many more jobs even from the low cost countries - were a species in danger of becoming redundant - so who will we blame then ?
So I'll keep supporting our tackle shops by using them and not chasing down the price as sadly many do.
We need to get away with thinking all China are capable of making is cheap stuff and blatant copying.
Look at the new huawei p30 pro great camera which is capable of taking fantastic pictures.
There are many more products.
For example so many US / European semiconductor (the IC that go in all electronic products) companies are reliant on China it's an important maket, which in hand fuels our economy's growth.
For decades yes the west funded the east they flooded the market with cheap copies & still do but they have moved on to become great innovators also did anyone ever watch Reggie in China (you can watch it on BBC iplayer) it's a real eye opener when he visited Shenzhen.
Eventually AI / machine learning - aka the rise of the machines will take many many more jobs even from the low cost countries - were a species in danger of becoming redundant - so who will we blame then ?
So I'll keep supporting our tackle shops by using them and not chasing down the price as sadly many do.
Unfortunatly convenience is now one of the biggest factors when people are choosing a product along with price, I very much doubt any more than 1% of the UK population look at where an item is made and whether it has being made by workers in safe/well paid and secure positions.
I look at China as a legal sweat shop, have a good google for working conditions/rights etc and you will be shocked, it is far worse than I imagined and keep in mind China are renowned for censoring what they allow to go online.
The problam we would face IMO going with UK only products is the fact that we have so few factories left. I was watching a cool documentary on YouTube yesterday about a brand of scissors which are hand made in the UK and cost around £100 a pair, a quick look on Amazon and 'Replicas' are going for around a fiver!!!
Video Here Have a watch and listen to how much pride Cliff has for his work (around 6 minutes)
I look at China as a legal sweat shop, have a good google for working conditions/rights etc and you will be shocked, it is far worse than I imagined and keep in mind China are renowned for censoring what they allow to go online.
The problam we would face IMO going with UK only products is the fact that we have so few factories left. I was watching a cool documentary on YouTube yesterday about a brand of scissors which are hand made in the UK and cost around £100 a pair, a quick look on Amazon and 'Replicas' are going for around a fiver!!!
Video Here Have a watch and listen to how much pride Cliff has for his work (around 6 minutes)
In reply to Post #167
There are great number of UK workers who are not in safe, well paid and secure positions. A lot of people have to buy the cheapest products and do not have the luxury of choice even with essentials.
There are great number of UK workers who are not in safe, well paid and secure positions. A lot of people have to buy the cheapest products and do not have the luxury of choice even with essentials.
In reply to Post #156
British steel, been crippled by Chinese steel imports, HS2, using Chinese steel, when will we ever learn, first we don't need HS2, can work from home etc, plus we love kicking ourselves in the nuts
British steel, been crippled by Chinese steel imports, HS2, using Chinese steel, when will we ever learn, first we don't need HS2, can work from home etc, plus we love kicking ourselves in the nuts
I think I am correct in saying this. A number of years ago the countries of the EU, being concerned with poor quality subsidised low cost Chinese steel damaging their own industries got together to apply sanctions. One country applied their veto and no action was possible. No prizes for guessing who.
In reply to Post #169
Sorry but that's not correct. China's steel output 40 years ago was the same size as the UK.
Today they produce half the worlds steel. This has been driven by their development which had turned once rice fields into city's full of skyscrapers .Their population is 1.3 billion to our 64 million. The rest of the world for the last decade has been also supplying China as they did not have enough material. Though the price has now fallen due their slowing demand putting many companies out of business though our government wanted a low price to offset our high labour costs.
Sorry but that's not correct. China's steel output 40 years ago was the same size as the UK.
Today they produce half the worlds steel. This has been driven by their development which had turned once rice fields into city's full of skyscrapers .Their population is 1.3 billion to our 64 million. The rest of the world for the last decade has been also supplying China as they did not have enough material. Though the price has now fallen due their slowing demand putting many companies out of business though our government wanted a low price to offset our high labour costs.
In reply to Post #171
You don't appear to be a Luddite, if your labour costs are rising what are your options?
You don't appear to be a Luddite, if your labour costs are rising what are your options?
In reply to Post #169
Yep, your bang on
You only need to compare raw material costs or any product cost - it's a no brainer why companies use materials or have products made in China = massive profit margin.
It really is that simple.
But then you have to think "Why is China making stuff so phenomenally cheap compared to everywhere else?" What's the end game, what's the motive, why would you use your population as nothing more than glorified slaves?
Yep, your bang on
You only need to compare raw material costs or any product cost - it's a no brainer why companies use materials or have products made in China = massive profit margin.
It really is that simple.
But then you have to think "Why is China making stuff so phenomenally cheap compared to everywhere else?" What's the end game, what's the motive, why would you use your population as nothing more than glorified slaves?
In reply to Post #173
To be honest the whole of our economy is based on whats cheapest.
I run a building firm and when tendering from architects all the client is focused on is who is cheapest. Its endemic in everything we do - look at the rise of lidl - whoever is cheapest gets the business.
Not 100% I agree but 99% for sure.
Strange as everyone in this country is in more debt than they have ever been in yet everything is cheap!
To be honest the whole of our economy is based on whats cheapest.
I run a building firm and when tendering from architects all the client is focused on is who is cheapest. Its endemic in everything we do - look at the rise of lidl - whoever is cheapest gets the business.
Not 100% I agree but 99% for sure.
Strange as everyone in this country is in more debt than they have ever been in yet everything is cheap!
In reply to Post #173
"slaves".
Name me one Communist country that didn't treat it's populace as an expendable commodity?
"slaves".
Name me one Communist country that didn't treat it's populace as an expendable commodity?
Covid will result in deglobalisation to some extent for sure.
We know we are far too reliant on Asia. Macron has already been bold enough to say this.
This may apply to pharmaceuticals etc but carp gear? That will come down to whether we want British vs cheaper goods.
We know we are far too reliant on Asia. Macron has already been bold enough to say this.
This may apply to pharmaceuticals etc but carp gear? That will come down to whether we want British vs cheaper goods.
In reply to Post #176
It does not have to be just British-
My Reels are Swedish, French and British made.
Rods are 100% British made.
Line - American, hook link too.
My Alarms are British, and I also have a set of old JRC DSi's as well - can't remember now think they was Czech made.
Hook's - I have Norwegian, British and American (I bought old stock pre-Mustad's move to China) glad I did the price of old Partridge hooks has gone through the roof past few weeks!
Bivvy or Brolly - your stuffed it's Chinese or none, same with bedchairs and chairs.
It does not have to be just British-
My Reels are Swedish, French and British made.
Rods are 100% British made.
Line - American, hook link too.
My Alarms are British, and I also have a set of old JRC DSi's as well - can't remember now think they was Czech made.
Hook's - I have Norwegian, British and American (I bought old stock pre-Mustad's move to China) glad I did the price of old Partridge hooks has gone through the roof past few weeks!
Bivvy or Brolly - your stuffed it's Chinese or none, same with bedchairs and chairs.
In reply to Post #177
Not using penn any more then, Keith.
Because the models sold for carp fishing must be made in asia?
I know my torque spinning reel was USA made, but it was nearly 500 quid
Not using penn any more then, Keith.
Because the models sold for carp fishing must be made in asia?
I know my torque spinning reel was USA made, but it was nearly 500 quid
In reply to Post #178
Nope, I got a pristine set of Abu 54's - pure quality and about 40 years old.
Also have a brand new out of the box Mitchell 301a that was found in a loft, and some British Centre Pins too.
Nope, I got a pristine set of Abu 54's - pure quality and about 40 years old.
Also have a brand new out of the box Mitchell 301a that was found in a loft, and some British Centre Pins too.
In reply to Post #175
Cuba under Castro? The people were poor, but that was largely down to the American sanctions. Not ‘slaves' though, and everyone had access to good state run health care and education. At one stage I believe they were independently assessed as having 100% literacy, not something many capitalist set ups can claim.
Cuba under Castro? The people were poor, but that was largely down to the American sanctions. Not ‘slaves' though, and everyone had access to good state run health care and education. At one stage I believe they were independently assessed as having 100% literacy, not something many capitalist set ups can claim.