In reply to Post #15
People saying we can't stop buying Chinese but we don't have to produce everything ourselves as we never have, there are plenty of other global manufacturers.
People saying we can't stop buying Chinese but we don't have to produce everything ourselves as we never have, there are plenty of other global manufacturers.
I remember the first time I went on holiday in Germany
I went into a huge tool shop and was shocked to see the Black & Decker drills were far far more expensive than the Bosch ! the guy explained we want to protect our own workers and products so imported goods get loaded with import tax as they should never be cheaper
sadly we just want things the cheapest we can get them for
its so so short sighted it started years ago when we used to produce some of the finest things in the world in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries Sheffield Steel was the best SADLY we imported cheap undercutting and killed our industry and its got worse ever since we are just a nation of importers now
I went into a huge tool shop and was shocked to see the Black & Decker drills were far far more expensive than the Bosch ! the guy explained we want to protect our own workers and products so imported goods get loaded with import tax as they should never be cheaper
sadly we just want things the cheapest we can get them for
its so so short sighted it started years ago when we used to produce some of the finest things in the world in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries Sheffield Steel was the best SADLY we imported cheap undercutting and killed our industry and its got worse ever since we are just a nation of importers now
In reply to Post #14
Yep...when I used to repair Landrovers for a hobby, Saturday mornings were completely taken up with returning defective parts that had been purchased the previous Saturday morning...not productive !
Yep...when I used to repair Landrovers for a hobby, Saturday mornings were completely taken up with returning defective parts that had been purchased the previous Saturday morning...not productive !
In reply to Post #17
We definitely killed our industries, many car manufacturers have moved away or even sold to foreign investors.
I would argue Swedish or Japanese steel is better than Sheffield steel, but as you say, we import most now from China.
Supermarkets are guilty as well, fruit and vegetables that we can grow in UK produced in Ghana and other African countries, meat imported from Denmark, New Zealand etc. because the supermarkets pushed prices paid to farmers to less than they could afford to produce for.
'We want to be carbon neutral', easy with no manufacturing industry, look at the pollution in China, coal, nuclear power stations, sweatshop factories, farms, using children and other cheap labour.
For us it is out of sight out of mind.
We definitely killed our industries, many car manufacturers have moved away or even sold to foreign investors.
I would argue Swedish or Japanese steel is better than Sheffield steel, but as you say, we import most now from China.
Supermarkets are guilty as well, fruit and vegetables that we can grow in UK produced in Ghana and other African countries, meat imported from Denmark, New Zealand etc. because the supermarkets pushed prices paid to farmers to less than they could afford to produce for.
'We want to be carbon neutral', easy with no manufacturing industry, look at the pollution in China, coal, nuclear power stations, sweatshop factories, farms, using children and other cheap labour.
For us it is out of sight out of mind.
In reply to Post #19
Perhaps we could look into more personal self sufficiency and even just buy less tat.. I've currently got 9 x 13' rods alone ,just buying for the sake of it.
Buy local, holiday inland, support your people and economy.
Perhaps we could look into more personal self sufficiency and even just buy less tat.. I've currently got 9 x 13' rods alone ,just buying for the sake of it.
Buy local, holiday inland, support your people and economy.
In reply to Post #20
As a single male I mainly shop in the local farm shop which people tell me is expensive but not true for me as I can buy all item singularly or in the multiples I want and the quality is superior and nothing gets thrown away.
As a single male I mainly shop in the local farm shop which people tell me is expensive but not true for me as I can buy all item singularly or in the multiples I want and the quality is superior and nothing gets thrown away.
In reply to Post #20
Local holidays lol. I paid £1200 for 3 x nights centre parcs local plus whatever it will cost me whilst there as everything is a rip off.
Also booked a villa in Spain for 8 people for 10 days with its own swimming pool/bbq and sea view in august for £1400 including flights(2 adults, 2 children). You tell me which sounds the best option.
Even a week caravan in devon is more then the spain trip
UK has turned into an unsustainable beast imo. Tried booking glen eagles golf in july, they wanted £3k per person for 2 nights accommodation and 3 rounds of golf. I can go play pebble beach and tour the whole CA coast and play golf for that.
Local holidays lol. I paid £1200 for 3 x nights centre parcs local plus whatever it will cost me whilst there as everything is a rip off.
Also booked a villa in Spain for 8 people for 10 days with its own swimming pool/bbq and sea view in august for £1400 including flights(2 adults, 2 children). You tell me which sounds the best option.
Even a week caravan in devon is more then the spain trip
UK has turned into an unsustainable beast imo. Tried booking glen eagles golf in july, they wanted £3k per person for 2 nights accommodation and 3 rounds of golf. I can go play pebble beach and tour the whole CA coast and play golf for that.
In reply to Post #22
Centre Parcs? About as chavvy and naff as an all inclusive in Benidorm then.
This country has a wealth of hidden gems tucked away in leafy green nowhere, I'll take a rural English summer over a package free for all on a ****ty, cheapo plane fare.
Choices of course.
Centre Parcs? About as chavvy and naff as an all inclusive in Benidorm then.
This country has a wealth of hidden gems tucked away in leafy green nowhere, I'll take a rural English summer over a package free for all on a ****ty, cheapo plane fare.
Choices of course.
In reply to Post #23
I go to centre parcs for my children not me pal
I go to centre parcs for my children not me pal
In reply to Post #23
The average working family man can't afford the secluded country retreat you mention, even self catering those places are out of reach.
The average working family man can't afford the secluded country retreat you mention, even self catering those places are out of reach.
In reply to Post #23
He wasn't asking for your opinion on where he decides to take his kids on holiday.
He wasn't asking for your opinion on where he decides to take his kids on holiday.
In reply to Post #1
I wouldn't be that worried about fishing tackle.. we are just all going to have to get used to waiting a bit longer & paying more for things for the next 18 months or more. In the global world of trade China has played an important role and we've all benefited.
I would forget all the flag waving and bring back manufacturing to the UK we are a service industry and have been for any years...
“The service sector is the dominant sector of the UK economy, and it accounted for 79% of GDP in 2019”
Take consumer products (many other sectors you can look at also), most are made in China along with all the semiconductor components that go in them, whether it's the substrate material, the lead frames, testing.
More than 60% of the raw materials come from china and Russia, you only have to look at how expensive everything is becoming already due to Covid and things have not recovered take new car orders for some nearly a year some manufactures not taking any orders because they can't get the bits to build cars.
I wouldn't be that worried about fishing tackle.. we are just all going to have to get used to waiting a bit longer & paying more for things for the next 18 months or more. In the global world of trade China has played an important role and we've all benefited.
I would forget all the flag waving and bring back manufacturing to the UK we are a service industry and have been for any years...
“The service sector is the dominant sector of the UK economy, and it accounted for 79% of GDP in 2019”
Take consumer products (many other sectors you can look at also), most are made in China along with all the semiconductor components that go in them, whether it's the substrate material, the lead frames, testing.
More than 60% of the raw materials come from china and Russia, you only have to look at how expensive everything is becoming already due to Covid and things have not recovered take new car orders for some nearly a year some manufactures not taking any orders because they can't get the bits to build cars.
In reply to Post #27
85% of the UK working population work in and for the UK service sector. There's a big part of the problem with the cost of products. That's a ridiculous position to be in as we're finding out. We have no control or options over the price of everyday items we buy. It's not a good place to be at the whim of foreign governments and market's.
A good manufacturing company in the UK will have about 4% of it's costs in staff wages. Wages aren't the issue in manufacturing, speed of production, quality and efficiency are. That can only be overcome with automation and training, which requires long term investment. We all know that's an anathema in this countries current split in goods and services make up.
Just cause something's the way it is doesn't mean you have to plough on down the wrong road. The balance is wrong and needs addressing.
85% of the UK working population work in and for the UK service sector. There's a big part of the problem with the cost of products. That's a ridiculous position to be in as we're finding out. We have no control or options over the price of everyday items we buy. It's not a good place to be at the whim of foreign governments and market's.
A good manufacturing company in the UK will have about 4% of it's costs in staff wages. Wages aren't the issue in manufacturing, speed of production, quality and efficiency are. That can only be overcome with automation and training, which requires long term investment. We all know that's an anathema in this countries current split in goods and services make up.
Just cause something's the way it is doesn't mean you have to plough on down the wrong road. The balance is wrong and needs addressing.
In reply to Post #23
nothing wrong with Benidorm,ive been a few times and always had a good time. and I wouldn't call centre parks chavy..where as this year to keep my daughters happy I've a booked a week in a caravan in clacton, now that is chavy
. and it weren't cheap..and will more than likely piss down all week 
nothing wrong with Benidorm,ive been a few times and always had a good time. and I wouldn't call centre parks chavy..where as this year to keep my daughters happy I've a booked a week in a caravan in clacton, now that is chavy
. and it weren't cheap..and will more than likely piss down all week
In reply to Post #29
Oi clacton is classy
Oi clacton is classy