Chinese tractors at Wal-Mart? Not yet, but …

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( As to the original post about tractors at Walmart, I've heard they are working on car dealerships in their experimental stores. Also lumber and housing supplies.
)</font>

EddieWalker,
That would be good to give HD & Lowes more competition. Even though I have zero real complaints about either store other than the minor annoyance of leaving empty-handed because they were out of something and prices could always be better.

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The difference between Japan and China is that Japan was a free society with laws similar to ours...)</font>

Our own government is just as full of hypocrisy.
I can buy a store full of junk from communist China, But if I want a Cuban cigar (PC disclaimer: I don't smoke /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) well, they are illegal.
I think a bunch of politics are in play here. Or, to put it another way, the right palm(s) has not been greased, yet. (maybe the Wall-Mart lobbyists just don't want Cuban cigars here in their stores yet) /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Henro]

You know, in theory, the balance of payments between countries should cause the exchange rate to change, and the cheap products imported to a country to become more expensive...

Somehow, some way, we get these products supplied to us by other countries at bargain prices. And it just keeps going on.

Myself, if they are crazy enough to give me a bigger bang for my buck, then I will take advantage of them and buy what I can use, if the quality meets my minimum requirements.

When I was a kid we had one family car and a small house and were happy to have that. Now my kids have a car for each of them, and a car for their spouses, and while they don't have the greatest jobs, they still have as much or more than my parents did when I was growing up...way back when.

I guess my feeling is to take what they give...or just don't spend the money on the cheap stuff and live with less.

Personally I have no problem with a Chinese tractor appearing at WalMart. Heck, what dealer will give you a full refund after you use the tractor for a while and are not happy with it? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[slowrev]

Chinese Tractors at your John Deere dealer ? JD is involved in the Chinese tractor business. Might see green and yellow Chinese JD's before too long.

Ben

 

[Spiffy]

<font color="blue"> if they are crazy enough to give me a bigger bang for my buck, then I will take advantage of them and buy what I can use, if the quality meets my minimum requirements. </font>

The problem is they're not crazy; just patient. Putting it on a local scale instead of global: Let's say you're running a tractor dealership. Some guy across town with 12kids and an empty building says he'll do all your service for 1/5 of your overhead if you just send him some tools and give him some training. Sounds pretty good. He gets really good [his 12 kids too] at fixing tractors; also buy's new tools, even better than any you have left. But you don't care, because you still have those tidy profits. Next thing you know, he's doing service direct, selling tractors too - and cheaper! Your business is gone.

I know the example isn't a perfect parallel and flawed at that, but just proving the point that there are no "free lunches".

Perhaps generation X won't pay; but sooner or later "Pop Goes the Weasel."

 

[milkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Just wait until chinese cars arrive here,I heard they are in the works !! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )</font>

Go down to the Chevy dealer and check out the new Equinox, V6 engine IS made in China.

 

[riptides]

Regarding et al...

I find this discussion disturbing, in the light that it makes some people look less innovative and business savy than others.

The business of this country is just that - business. The USA in the global market is an inventive, agressive, demanding player. We have always been that way, and we shall always be that way.

This thread seems to imply that cheap products will turn our markets to mush and our people will be without.... I say nay. There is always something new coming around and we are a key influence in that product, direction and market in some form or fashion.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PitbullMidwest]

Is our opposition to Chinese products based on their effect on our economy or because they are a communist country? Put a different way is it an economic concern or moral concern?

I know VietNam vets who want no ecomonic relations with VietNam until all POW/MIAs are accounted for. This is a moral stance they are committed to and it doesn't matter how inexpensive the item, or how badly they needed it they will not buy it if it comes from VN.

I don't know anyone who isn't opposed to communism, but we still buy Chinese products sold at WalMart. Everyone seems to be concerned about the effect the Chinese imports have on our economy, but again we still shop at WalMart.

Unless your concern is a moral concern what difference does it make if we import tractors from China, Japan, Korea or India? Regardless of origin an import equals a lost job for some American worker.

Of course without imported tractors very few people on this web site would own a compact tractor.