Chineese engines

[jd670]

Was at my local co-op yeasterday visiting the mower and equipment repair guy. He told me that is Troy-built and MTD reps told him they were going to start switching over to Chinese engines in their push mowers and string trimmers. They were going to start mid year 2012. Push mowers and string trimmers first, then move up to the riding mowers. Can't we make anything here anymore. Also said he got a memo from JD about the Honda deal. Push mowers and hand held equipment to be Honda. The memo also mentioned the thinning down of the JD riding mower line.

 

[psdx]

So all three equipment manufacturers are dropping Briggs or Tecumseh, and John Deere is filling the gap with Honda and the others are sourcing their engines from factories where the quality varies widely from run to run. I resent the currency and market manipulation being practiced by the Chinese and hate the steady erosion of our jobs as a result.

 

[jd670]

I hear ya. I've already noticed power washers and generators at Home Depot with the chinese engines in them. I guess my biggest beef is (besides loosing jobs here) if they are getting cheaper labor & cheaper parts, while do we still pay a premium price at the store? If they want to cut costs, then pass some savings down to the consumer.

 

[Baby Grand]

I hear ya. I've already noticed power washers and generators at Home Depot with the chinese engines in them. I guess my biggest beef is (besides loosing jobs here) if they are getting cheaper labor & cheaper parts, while do we still pay a premium price at the store? If they want to cut costs, then pass some savings down to the consumer.

And that's why they're going to China. It's all about the race to the bottom, chasing the lowest price. If you had to pay $17 more for a mower with a US built engine vs the exact same product with a Chinese engine, what percentage of the units sold would be Chinese? I think the answer would be > 80%. That's just my opinion, YMMV. Once the US engine makers close up shop, then there's an opportunity to raise those prices and profit margins. If shipping costs go up, we are in a pickle.

 

[psdx]

And this this is the same country that sold us millions and millions of sheets of poorly manufactured drywall. How many years have homeowners been dealing with this? Legal bills plus remediation costs of $100-$150k and higher and the cleanup is still going on.

Every week you read about babies over there dying from tainted food products, or bridges or mines collapsing, or the total lack of even the most basic focus on landfill management.... Yet the wholesale buyers that supply engines or half the items on our retail shelves seemingly can't buy enough from them. This isn't complicated, it's a common sense issue.

 

[murphy1244]

This just in from Cleveland Ohio, Dog treats that are made in China killing thier pets.

 

[jenkinsph]

This just in from Cleveland Ohio, Dog treats that are made in China killing thier pets.

Sorry to hear that.

My dogs get small amounts of treats, that are much cheaper than the crap sold in stores. I give mine chuck and flank steak sometimes chicken (deboned) for alot less money. Last time I checked the 25 oz bag of treats was about $10.00, I can buy leg quarters or tough steak for alot less money.