4 ms·

I miss being able to buy high quality electronics from Japan that would last 20 years, instead of crap from China. I recently got a stereo for my home office i

I miss being able to buy high quality electronics from Japan that would last 20 years, instead of crap from China. I recently got a stereo for my home office in the garage. I went to a local thrift store to get an older receiver made in Japan, instead of China. It (still) works great. Japan as a country needs to run a consumer oriented advertising campaign: "Buy stuff from us instead of China, it will last 10 times as long!" They also need to find a way to make their stuff available again in US (and other) commercial outlets.

olalonde 13y ago
> instead of crap from China Did you know that iPhones, Xboxes, ThinkPads (the only laptop certified for use on the International Space Station) and loads of other quality electronics are made in China? I wouldn't say "made in China" automatically implies it's crap.
- ww520 13y ago
  Selective bias. People got what they paid for. They paid little for the cheap stuff and complained about the poor quality.
  - Roboprog 13y ago
    I'm writing this on a MacBook, but who knows how long it will last. Maybe it's a high quality device, and maybe I'm not supposed to care if it starts flaking out after 2 or 3 years. I like the software, and the exterior construction is nice. Stuff made in China might be half price from what things used to be, but it's hard to find any alternatives now.
activepeanut 13y ago
Isn't it better for their economy if the things they make is just a /little/ better than the stuff made in China? (Think "planned obsolescence".)
- Androsynth 13y ago
  no because consumers dont like 'planned obsolescence' and if they catch a whiff of it, your brand loyalty takes a huge hit. also china isnt 'a little' cheaper than japan. its a lot cheaper, so they would need to make stuff a lot better.
  - Encosia 13y ago
    > consumers dont like 'planned obsolescence' and if they catch a whiff of it, your brand loyalty takes a huge hit. Tell that to Apple.
lnanek2 13y ago
That's pretty much the entire article. If the Yen drops 50%, exports are much cheaper, and do much better.

olalonde 13y ago

> instead of crap from China Did you know that iPhones, Xboxes, ThinkPads (the only laptop certified for use on the International Space Station) and loads of other quality electronics are made in China? I wouldn't say "made in China" automatically implies it's crap.

ww520 13y ago
Selective bias. People got what they paid for. They paid little for the cheap stuff and complained about the poor quality.
- Roboprog 13y ago
  I'm writing this on a MacBook, but who knows how long it will last. Maybe it's a high quality device, and maybe I'm not supposed to care if it starts flaking out after 2 or 3 years. I like the software, and the exterior construction is nice. Stuff made in China might be half price from what things used to be, but it's hard to find any alternatives now.

activepeanut 13y ago

Isn't it better for their economy if the things they make is just a /little/ better than the stuff made in China? (Think "planned obsolescence".)

Androsynth 13y ago
no because consumers dont like 'planned obsolescence' and if they catch a whiff of it, your brand loyalty takes a huge hit. also china isnt 'a little' cheaper than japan. its a lot cheaper, so they would need to make stuff a lot better.
- Encosia 13y ago
  > consumers dont like 'planned obsolescence' and if they catch a whiff of it, your brand loyalty takes a huge hit. Tell that to Apple.

lnanek2 13y ago

That's pretty much the entire article. If the Yen drops 50%, exports are much cheaper, and do much better.