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hookedonclassic · 06-26-2007, 06:22 PM

Just received one of Michael's t-shirts with a cool picture. Airstream of course.

Silvertwinkie · 06-26-2007, 06:39 PM

I read the Goodyear thread and was not sure what to go with, but then, thought the Marathons can't be all that bad.....now I wonder. Mine were still made in Canada where fair wages and working conditions prevailed. In China? Just makes me sick....

...and by the way, I have seen Michael's work and it is really top notch!

**azflycaster** · 06-26-2007, 06:42 PM

Did anyone notice the price drop when these compamies moved production to China?

I didn't think so....

Silvertwinkie · 06-26-2007, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Did anyone notice the price drop when these compamies moved production to China?

I didn't think so....

So at least we know where that money isn't going......

ArtStream · 06-26-2007, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hookedonclassic

Just received one of Michael's t-shirts with a cool picture. Airstream of course.

Hey Rich, I didn't know that was you!

Thanks,

Michael

Silvertwinkie · 06-26-2007, 06:54 PM

Here is another link to the Reader's Digest version of the story:
http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articl...mktNews&rpc=44

overlander63 · 06-26-2007, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

So at least we know where that money isn't going......

It's one thing if we have the choice to buy cheap crap cheaply, and take a chance with our and others' lives, but I don't think it is right to pay top dollar for cheap crap, and unwillingly take a chance with our and others' lives.
I know Goodyear was on the ropes financially a couple of years ago, this is undoubtedly one of their cost (and company) saving measures. I still don't like it, but at least they're still in business.
I have to place the blame squarely on the shoulders of Wall Street, Corporate America, and us, the American Consumer, in that order. If a company doesn't show double-digit profit growth yearly, their stock price takes a huge hit, and the company gets in trouble financially very fast. It may sell a great product, and sell lots of it, and make lots of money, but if Wall Street doesn't like it, they get massacred on the stock market.

Oh, by the way, I went over and checked the country of origin on my 6 week old Marathons. Guess where they came from?

Silvertwinkie · 06-26-2007, 06:56 PM

Amen Terry......some karma your way.....

FreshAir · 06-26-2007, 07:14 PM

I seem to remember the recent short lived thread by anholman, "Chinese Airstreams??". When you are done checking your tire's origin check other 'accessories' too. Then look to be sure where your coach was built.

Neil and Lynn

ArtStream · 06-27-2007, 05:32 PM

Can't find that thread?

Michael

codybear · 06-27-2007, 05:58 PM

Hi,

Well, the tire that had that nice chunk of rubber missing was a Carlisle, bought just a year ago..we recently replaced them with new tires: Transmasters..I went online and found that Transmasters were distributed through Greenball as is the TowMasters..apparently Towmasters make tires for ATV's..what's most interesting now, after reading about tires/recalls..both tire brands are made in Asia..so now, we'll see just how long they last..I did not see this brand on the Recall list.
Company History..

Wherever products are outsourced, shouldn't the quality control be one of the most important factors in producing a product that would ensure safety??

hookedonclassic · 06-27-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artstream

Hey Rich, I didn't know that was you!

Thanks,

Michael

Yup. That's me. Nice to visit with you at the rally.

HiHoAgRV · 06-27-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codybear

Hi,

Wherever products are outsourced, shouldn't the quality control be one of the most important factors in producing a product that would ensure safety??

Yup it should be. 4 years ago, the company I ran had the choice of loosing our core business or competiting with a group that was importing the product from China. We elected to match the price, keep the business but the only way was to- you guessed it- outsource. I traveled to the privately owned facility in China who we partnered with, did a full QC audit and implemented USA methods and approved subsupliers. A personal understanding with the owner was also forged. The quality was as good or better than ours, but we did have a full time employee (that speaks Chinese) on site. We lost quite a bit of margin, our customer saved the mandated $$$. We passed on several cheaper companies that were only there to make American $.
Then I got new owners and, well, I'm happly employed elsewhere.
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