Chinese products - experiences

[Botabill]

A few years ago I bought a shovel made in china. Looked good to me. Had a nice chrome finish. First time I stuck it in the ground the handle broke. My next experience was when I bought one of those garden windmills also made in china. My wife and I assembled it. That was some form of chinese torture I'm sure. Took forever to do. The instructions, although they seemed to be in english, made no sense. I ended up having to jerry rig and re-drill to get it together. Within 6 months the windmill fell off worn by metal fatigue. OK I don't learn easy I guess... A month ago I bought a chinese flail mower from a dealer who advertises on Kijiji. Looked like a knock off of a Europeon brand. Got it home and within 30 minutes of use it fell apart. The bracket that holds the machine to the 3pth failed and the bolts fell out. Either they hadn't been secured, they had been over torqued stripping the thread or the terrible vibration that the poorly balanced rotor created had jarred them loose. When I took the machine back to the dealer he looked it over and the hammers where nicked badly underneath. I wasn't mowing anything worse than I had done for years with my Kubota finish deck. He grumbled that he would now have to sell it as used. To his credit he gave me my $ back. On September 3 2011 I bought a Champion chinese wood splitter from TSC. We split 3 cords of wood last fall and it seemed to work well. I put it away in my dry garage covered til I hauled it out this year on Sept 2 for my wife to split some wood (she loves splitting and piling wood) I was pretty impressed it started on the first pull. About 20 minutes later my wife was drenced in hydraulic oil from a failed line. I checked the lines and both were badly cracked. looked like they were 20 years old and left out in the weather. Called up TSC store and they wouldn't do anything for me. Called Champion 3 days ago and they said they will consider covering it under warranty and get back to me within a day. Have heard nothing yet. What kind of luck have others had with Chinese products?

[Don87]

My luck has been 'bad' for the most part, with Chinese pruducts

[zonta223]

Mine has been the opposite.
Got a wood splitter had it 3 years never missed a beat.. Had a Gen set 5 years worked it hard and still runs like a top. Same with a jackhammer and a belly mower. Sure some of the hand and gardening tools have been really poor quality but you could get those from any country.
Took the big plunge this year and bought a Chinese tractor.....Came with a full warranty and about $10,000 cheaper than any of the brand name tractors. So far so good. The way I figure it there are more farmers and local authorities in China using there own tractors than just about all of the "western" farmers combined so I took the chance.

[DarkBlack]

I think China is starting to crest the hill as Japan did years ago. I find the quality of a product is related to the company, not the country of origin. Most high quality manufacture's are global with plants in China also. A Stihl, or Husky saw, a John Deer, a Panasonic ect.. made in a Chinese factory has about the same odds of being high quality as being made anywhere else. In fact some the most troublesome items I have had in recent times were actually made in US. It's when you buy a Chinese product made from a non global company that might be made under a tarp roof that you will see the remining low quality of an emerging nation. If it looks questionable and has a non-recognizable name like "quan zee -zing-doo corp" then you might have to worry.

[nuffer460]

I have a NorTrac tractor (China "Jinma"). I bought it in 2008 it has 930 plus hours on it. It has been used and a couple of times abused. I have a Jinma 6" wood chipper have owned it for two years bought it from Ranch Hand Supply. I have worked it hard and not a problem. I have a NorTrac 3pth Finish Mower that I can't keep working. Definatally a cheaper China knck off. It seems that China doesn't have a pattent law system like the US. So, companies copy other companies products almost to the last nut and bolt. They just use cheaper bolts, fewer welds, etc., etc. Ronald, at Ranch Hand Supply helped me to understand the differences. It's also true that a few companies in the US have gone very cheap on builds. It's still the buyer beware.

[Don87]

I have a NorTrac tractor (China "Jinma"). I bought it in 2008 it has 930 plus hours on it. It has been used and a couple of times abused. I have a Jinma 6" wood chipper have owned it for two years bought it from Ranch Hand Supply. I have worked it hard and not a problem. I have a NorTrac 3pth Finish Mower that I can't keep working. Definatally a cheaper China knck off. It seems that China doesn't have a pattent law system like the US. So, companies copy other companies products almost to the last nut and bolt. They just use cheaper bolts, fewer welds, etc., etc. Ronald, at Ranch Hand Supply helped me to understand the differences. It's also true that a few companies in the US have gone very cheap on builds. It's still the buyer beware.

I'm glad to hear that you are getting good service out of 2 of the 3 pieces that you purchased.

Ronald told you the truth...........China does not need to abide by patent laws, like most of the world does. But, and this is a big 'but'.........It's my understanding that the WTO is now going to step in and we may see some changes in China's manufacturing processes.

And as to the US. companies that put out bad equipment..........lawyers are waiting in the wings with drool coming from the corners of their mouths.

[Soundguy]

china sells what we buy. if you want high quality.. you can get it. if you want low quality.. you can get it.

[kneedeep]

china sells what we buy. if you want high quality.. you can get it. if you want low quality.. you can get it.

How true!!

When we decide to purchase equipment, do we automatically assume the cheap product is a better buy for the savings only??
As long as we buy the cheap stuff there will be a market. There is a lot of good equipment made overseas and we can find all kinds of information on any product we want. It is a good idea to research any future purchases before buying and not just buy cheap!!

Just my humble opinion

[k0ua]

I have bought my share of "harbor freight" things.. some good some so so.. and some just junk.. I usually have a rule: nothing electrical. but some things are ok.. The Everlast PA160 welder I had for about 2 years now, and it seems to be first rate, in fit finish and durability so far.

James K0UA

[Markcuda]

Buying cheap stuff is for people with a cheap attitude about spending money.