Behold the future of high end audio retail

snow

headrott wrote: »

I would argue that a vast majority of American made goods are of vastly higher quality than Chinese made goods (of course there are exceptions). Go and buy a made in China DVD player Vs. an American made DVD player and let me know which plays your DVD's 8 months later. I cannot argue that the price of the U.S. made DVD player (necessarily) a similar price as the Chinese made one, but then again you won't have to buy 3 or 4 of the American made players as you would with the Chinese made one. That is absolutely not an exaggeration either. The DVD player is just one example of poorly made goods coming from China. Tires, toys, electronics in general, appliances, most food, and housewares that come from China are poorly made. That is not my personal attack at China, that is a fact. Try doing some research on defective products coming from China. Then re-evaluate if the Chinese made car is the same quality as the U.S. made one and if it's worth saving $5,000.

Greg

Dont waste your breath Greg he knows more than me you and the rest of us here at CP combined and hes probally not even 25 years old yet wait till he hits 40 or 50 he will be a world leader by then



REGARDS SNOW

Ric5811

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Right. I can see this is going no where. You have no logic behind your statements and 'economics' is a foreign term to you.

You also blindly fight for "americanism" as if america is an unchanging idea that has to do with a manufacturing economy. I hope you recall that before that, we had an agricultural economy, though I don't hear you shouting to bring it back. I'm sure it was real sad when all the farmers lost their jobs to the industrial revolution, but that's PROGRESS.

edit: and you know what those farmers did? they picked up a new trade.. because they are Americans, americans adapt... that keeps us ahead (or used to, until people like you came along )

You might mean well by trying to keep work here in america, but by simply "buying american" you will cause the opposite. America might buy from america, but if no one else does, then we will ultimately suffer.

I think most people don't understand we are a consumer society now. I know what you are saying and agree, I don't like it, but I agree.

Ric5811

headrott wrote: »

I would argue that a vast majority of American made goods are of vastly higher quality than Chinese made goods (of course there are exceptions). Go and buy a made in China DVD player Vs. an American made DVD player and let me know which plays your DVD's 8 months later. I cannot argue that the price of the U.S. made DVD player (necessarily) a similar price as the Chinese made one, but then again you won't have to buy 3 or 4 of the American made players as you would with the Chinese made one. That is absolutely not an exaggeration either. The DVD player is just one example of poorly made goods coming from China. Tires, toys, electronics in general, appliances, most food, and housewares that come from China are poorly made. That is not my personal attack at China, that is a fact. Try doing some research on defective products coming from China. Then re-evaluate if the Chinese made car is the same quality as the U.S. made one and if it's worth saving $5,000.

Greg

Well, who is making dvd players in the US off the top of your head?

My Polks were made in China:D


Emotiva is made in China:D


People also used to say the same thing about Hyundai and Kia...Now Hyundai beats out Toyota and Honda.

Give China some more time, and they will be kicking everyones arse. Aand they do have some actuall good furniture coming out of there.


The fact is, most of America is a disposable society, why do you think Wal Mart got so big? Because they enjoy quality? No, they enjoy cheap. Everything is disposable today, from homes to furniture to automobiles in general.

swb502

I guess I don’t understand the America makes crap mentality in it of its self. I worked in a America n Factory in college. They made a fine product, but the labor costs were exceptionally higher then making in china. Minimum wage in the US is %7.25 an hour, an well paid Chinese worker is $0.75 an hour.

The question of why America should manufacture things show a horrid ignorance of the world. Do you think the raising powers are going to treat the US the way the US treats Europe? No, there’s not. There are no social historical ties to make the Far East behave that way.

And you also don’t understand that all things could be made in the US, that’s not the issue at all. Textile is a great example since the US imports 93% of its textile. When it got moved over seas it went backwards in technology to make it more labor intensive and less automated. The little textile the US produces, military uniforms for example, are cheap, dependable and can be made in the 100,000s at short notice if need be. So its not that its impossible, it that ‘false’ economic factors have created a situation where it is cheaper to import goods. Namely again, currencies are not traded fairly because of government polices. Also bare in mind while the US is importing disposable crap the Chinese are importing capital goods. Machines, Presses, injection molders etc. It’s a transfer of wealth.

Also one of the biggest factors you seem to ignore in that is, raising cultures understand there not doing well but as a society there willing to take it on the chin for a generation or two to get there because of nationalism. South Korea is a perfect example, if you look at its history from post-war until about the mid 70s, straight up slave labor. Just barley a hair over being slaves to the American market. They were completely aware of this status but understood it was a necessary step to get to a better quality of life for there kids and grand kids, and the looming threat of North Korea forced them to be productive. This is no different then the program China blasts into there ‘communist’ population of the America threat, the terrorist in Tibet, and renegade province Taiwan.

Degrees that ‘can’t’ be outsourced. Lets see, well that leaves government work. A job that its totally dependant on involuntarily draining money from capital producing engines to feed an educated welfare class. Yes that’s sustainable!

As Snow points out in very simplistic terms, that the reason the US economy is so big, is the US was the only western country to adopt a ‘working’ mentality AND had education and resources to create ‘New Domestic Market’ economy. The computer is the easiest example of a domestic market that was created only on access. We had more then we needed so we invented something we all needed. Because everyone needs a computer now, there are people who produce computers, write software, run cable lines, fly satellites etc. The mentality you have is that there is the Wal-Mart one; ‘Disposal’ economy. In which rather then having more, you have often.

Again we have an issue of American goods are generally going to be superior to those made in the far east, but economies of scales kicks in and if you can sell a $15 toaster at Wal-Mart 5 times in 6 years, that’s allot easier then selling a $75 once. You have lots f people who buy it cheap because it seem like a minor disposable purchase.

As for the remark about Freedom, traditional sure we had freedom. We had the freedom to fail, which means if you do something stupid you died. The system was self-regulating at its curliest. Cleary that is not the case now, and staring at a wonderful 10% unemployment for 2 years is pointing out the lack of social character the US has. Again you don’t see American Made cars in Japan ever, soon you will not see them in China or India because as a people they understand they need to buy domestically to raise there quality of life. Americans don’t, your stand as a pinnacle of the American character issue Coke. I guess just don’t understand why you think there wouldn’t be internal American competition if exchanges were actually even. I mean clearly we still have Ford and GMC, there are gobs of electric car companies spring up.

Keeping up with the statements is hard, but the bit about the Agriculture economies explains why domestic manufacturing is still so important. The US produce MORE now that were a ‘service’ economy because it had to stay in the US and we modernized it, then we feed the rest of the world. The only reason manufacturing has gone off shore is because its not tied to the land, and that unbalanced playing field has fueled it.

To Norm, I would say china is a willing labor country. WW2 US economy was the same thing however. I also spent some time in China and involved in importing for several years now. You bring out the whole point however that Nationalism, and unquestioned government is competing with a democratic, fractured American society. No different the US Economy vs the European Economy from the 50 though the 80s.

This was a bit long winded, but I love this stuff, it what I went to school for and grew up with. All these things are going to correct, it’s a matter of time.

acmf74

i thought the majority of this board buys their stuff on the USED market. go figure

kevhed72

I think some day China may crush us, for several different reasons. The main one is their capitalist economy & policy is steered by one politcal party with ultimate authority. In the US, our bickering two party system steers us to non-issues and inaction, all in the name of our democratic elections that less than half the population take part in. Don't get me wrong, we live in a great country, but sometimes I think we all need to put politics aside and wake up. Or some day we may be working in factories for .25 an hour making fake dog **** for the Chineese and the rest of the world. This post was not aimed as a response to any of the posts in this thread, but rather as some things to think about...

acmf74

kevhed72 wrote: »

I think some day China may crush us, for several different reasons. The main one is their capitalist economy & policy is steered by one politcal party with ultimate authority. In the US, our bickering two party system steers us to non-issues and inaction, all in the name of our democratic elections that less than half the population take part in. Don't get me wrong, we live in a great country, but sometimes I think we all need to put politics aside and wake up. Or some day we may be working in factories for .25 an hour making fake dog **** for the Chineese and the rest of the world. This post was not aimed as a response to any of the posts in this thread, but rather as some things to think about...

1 reason is that China doesn't have Unions.

cokewithvanilla

snow wrote: »

Dont waste your breath Greg he knows more than me you and the rest of us here at CP combined and hes probally not even 25 years old yet wait till he hits 40 or 50 he will be a world leader by then



REGARDS SNOW

Do you still not realize that China was just an EXAMPLE? You can put any country in the place of "china" and the example works.

I said IF.. if they make better goods. Not "they do make better goods"

I was trying to show the idea of competitive advantage in a world economy and how "buying american" isn't necessarily smart.

bigaudiofanatic

Take a look at www.woofersetc.com they sell every brand you can think of for car audio at very cheap prices. What is the catch? The catch is they are older versions of products but they are bought right from the retailer and or directly from companies. Do many people see the difference or know? No even after i explain to my customers about the site and that they are not a authorized dealer they still buy from there. Why> because they want to save money, Shoot most of them just bought a 30k car why would they want to spend more when they can get pretty much the same for cheaper. Also even doing a system that consisted of products totaling 6k, they were bought off ebay and or that site with no warranty probably. That same stuff would of totaled over 10k retail easily. But that install was over 4 month ago and he is very happy with everything so are all my installs. If something is built to last a warranty should not be an issue.

cstmar01

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

In my opinion, the mentality that I should buy a piece of crap because it's made here is worse than outsourcing. If we made better products at competing prices, people would buy from us. There are just certain markets that we cannot compete in. Who makes your TV? or the ram in your computer? Should I attack you for being anti-american?

and this is why you fail to understand any reasoning behind USA made good Vs other countries.

So lets say I buy speaker A made right here in the good ol' USA at the cost of 4,000 but then there is speaker B made in a different country and is for sale for 3,000. Speaker A could have better quality control, better materials, and better manufacturing.

Yet because you live in your own little, " I don't need to see the product at a store I'll just buy online" you have no idea of the quality of the work done on it. You just see the price and say oh well the American made one is higher in cost and isn't being competative, even though they really could be compared to other American made brands, or the workmanship and quality is a lot higher and the company is better overall than the one from Country X....

At what point do you consider things to be competative? when American brand deceases the value to hit the point of the outsourced ones that can be cheaper and cheaper because of the low cost of labor? Really?

So that American companies are now producing crap because their materials have to be obtained cheaper, the quality oversight won't be there because they had to cut that guy out to "save on money" and you end up with them outsourcing again.

Kinda annoying don't you think? but quality to you doesn't really mean much, you just want something for cheap, who gives a crap if it fails in 2 years, you'll just get another. :rolleyes:

cokewithvanilla

cstmar01 wrote: »

and this is why you fail to understand any reasoning behind USA made good Vs other countries.

So lets say I buy speaker A made right here in the good ol' USA at the cost of 4,000 but then there is speaker B made in a different country and is for sale for 3,000. Speaker A could have better quality control, better materials, and better manufacturing.

Yet because you live in your own little, " I don't need to see the product at a store I'll just buy online" you have no idea of the quality of the work done on it. You just see the price and say oh well the American made one is higher in cost and isn't being competative, even though they really could be compared to other American made brands, or the workmanship and quality is a lot higher and the company is better overall than the one from Country X....

Kinda annoying don't you think? but quality to you doesn't really mean much, you just want something for cheap, who gives a crap if it fails in 2 years, you'll just get another. :rolleyes:

Uh.. what? why does the other good have to be online and not able to see? Why does it have to turn out to have poor quality? I am speaking hypothetically, I am saying if two goods are equal in every respect (sitting on the shelf next to eachother, whatever), except for the country of origin, the cheaper one has the competitive advantage, therefore will be purchased by the vast majority of the people.

I am not comparing apples to oranges, I'm not saying "you should save money and skimp on quality". I am saying that if another country can produce a better LCD than us at a better price, whether anyone likes it or not, most people will buy the cheaper, better quality product... and that SHOULD be the way it is.

edit: also, just because you cannot see a good before purchase, does't mean it's crap. Almost all the computer parts I buy, I have to purchase sight unseen... why? there isn't a single store in my area that sells them.

cstmar01

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Uh.. what? why does the other good have to be online and not able to see? Why does it have to turn out to have poor quality? I am speaking hypothetically, I am saying if two goods are equal in every respect (sitting on the shelf next to eachother, whatever), except for the country of origin, the cheaper one has the competitive advantage, therefore will be purchased by the vast majority of the people.

I am not comparing apples to oranges, I'm not saying "you should save money and skimp on quality". I am saying that if another country can produce a better LCD than us at a better price, whether anyone likes it or not, most people will buy the cheaper, better quality product... and that SHOULD be the way it is.

because you live in your internet cheap sales world and don't like B&M as you stated earlier in the thread. You live there, where are you going to see the product, pretty sure Amazon.com doesn't have a touch and feel section of their website....


In my time span, those two things do not go together. Cheap and better quality. Sorry but if I want a suit to be of high quality I seek out a tailor, and you know what I'm going to pay for that quality and making sure its fitted to my needs and body. Cheap hell I'll run down to Kohls and buy a suit from Chaps because why? Oh its cheap and easy to do. It'll fall apart in about a years worth of time, it will fit like crap and look like it too. Where as the suit I might pay about 200 bucks more for is all custom and made right by the tailor here in the US about a 3 blocks away from my office.

Cheap and quality items is highly contradictory. Have fun living in your internet world, because I'm done with this, you proved you can't fathom anything beyond what you want to buy at wally world, guess that were America can find an item that is high quality and cheap...:rolleyes:

cokewithvanilla

cstmar01 wrote: »

In my time span, those two things do not go together. Cheap and better quality. Sorry but if I want a suit to be of high quality I seek out a tailor, and you know what I'm going to pay for that quality and making sure its fitted to my needs and body.

Cheap and quality items is highly contradictory. Have fun living in your internet world, because I'm done with this, you proved you can't fathom anything beyond what you want to buy at wally world, guess that were America can find an item that is high quality and cheap...:rolleyes:

Oh dear god you miss the whole point

Ok. Let's start simple. Costa Rica produces Bananas. They do so very cheap because of the climate, the land and because of cheap labor. They have a competitive advantage in the Banana industry.

America could try to be the number one banana producer, however, it would COST US MORE to grow one banana for each one banana made in Costa Rica. Land is expensive here, the climate isn't right, labor is expensive. So our bananas will cost more.

Does this make our bananas better?

I was never talking about cheap stuff versus expensive stuff (a tailor versus a rack at Sears, as you would have it).. I am talking about a world market and how some countries are naturally more competitive in certain areas. This means, China can produce LCD's cheaper than we can, so, technically, they can make a better LCD than we can at a lower price.

cstmar01

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Oh dear god you miss the whole point

Ok. Let's start simple. Costa Rica produces Bananas. They do so very cheap because of the climate, the land and because of cheap labor. They have a competitive advantage in the Banana industry.

America could try to be the number one banana producer, however, it would COST US MORE to grow one banana for each one banana made in Costa Rica. Land is expensive here, the climate isn't right, labor is expensive. So our bananas will cost more.

Does this make our bananas better?

This message is hidden because cokewithvanilla needs to grow up and learn that he's not always right in his world views and not everything wikipedia tells him is right. :rolleyes:

maybe once school starts for you in the fall you can take classes to discuss world views with people, argue with them about it there, not here because your not making any friends with anything you say, just making people more annoyed with you.

I was in school too, not all that long ago. I really hope to God I never acted like you are now, oh wait, I was too busy studying and working to waste my time aruging with people about something that I have no idea what I'm talking about.


JUST BECAUSE IT CAN BE PRODUCED CHEAPER DOES NOT MAKE IT BETTER.

cokewithvanilla

cstmar01 wrote: »

JUST BECAUSE IT CAN BE PRODUCED CHEAPER DOES NOT MAKE IT BETTER.

and the opposite is true as well. Meaning, your statement about quality and cheap is not true.

Also, I was never inferring that quality and price went together. I was saying that because of this advantage, they CAN, if they choose, create a better product at a better price.

edit: I really didn't intend for my statement to be an argument. I was not making a crazy claim or anything... it's basic economics. If someone produces something better and cheaper (note, these are REQUIREMENTS, you cannot try to take them away or skew the meaning), more people will buy that good regardless to country of origin. It was more a statement of fact than one of position. I guess I went out on a limb when I said "and people have the right to make that decision"

Amherst

Coke Man have a seat and enjoy the ride.

cokewithvanilla

Amherst wrote: »

Coke Man have a seat and enjoy the ride.

If you say so. However, I'm not seeing much in the way of a logical argument against my simple statement from you.

Sure, it sounds good to say that I'm stupid, but if you could tell me why... that would be a bit more impressive.

oh, and please, insert some witty comment about how I am stupid in so many ways that it is hard to say why... then you can get on with it and actually try to refute my statement.

but to be honest, do it in a PM... this has gone on too long.

sucks2beme

Ric5811 wrote: »

I think most people don't understand we are a consumer society now. I know what you are saying and agree, I don't like it, but I agree.

Most people don't understand that the term "consumer society"
is a nonsense term coined by smart guys. It's drivel. If you don't make things
you become poor. End of story. Wealth comes from selling raw materials,
agricultural products, and manufacturing. That last one is where the real
wealth comes from. Providers of the first two were the the old school
third world countries. I guess they have re-written all the school textbooks now.
50 years ago this was accepted as fact. Now they come up with these
new ideas. No wonder the economy is in the tank.

cokewithvanilla

sucks2beme wrote: »

If you don't make things
you become poor. End of story. Wealth comes from selling raw materials,
agricultural products, and manufacturing. That last one is where the real
wealth comes from.

Don't forget, services can be sold as well.

I believe if we combine our goods and services export, we are still the largest exporter. (correct me if I am wrong, of course)

Amherst

sucks2beme wrote: »

No wonder the economy is in the tank.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Pass^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

don't forget, services can be sold as well.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Fail^^^^^^^^^^^^^^




Sooo, everyone please buckle up (start engine), turn on the tunes (Truck'in), whoooosh....................
if you look out the window over your left shoulder.....see all the preeetie flowers!

cstmar01

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Don't forget, services can be sold as well.

I believe if we combine our goods and services export, we are still the largest exporter. (correct me if I am wrong, of course)

its called a hooker.

cokewithvanilla

Amherst wrote: »

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Fail^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Really? Maybe I am using the wrong term. but in any case, people can pay money for services... here's a link, hope it's accurate.

http://www.chamberpost.com/2010/07/whos-the-worlds-largest-exporter.html

cokewithvanilla

cstmar01 wrote: »

its called a hooker.

kevhed72

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Don't forget, services can be sold as well.

I believe if we combine our goods and services export, we are still the largest exporter. (correct me if I am wrong, of course)

Guess what we export the most of to the rest of the world?

SCRAP PAPER (last time I checked). Yes, we are using millions of tons of carbon-based energy to export our scrap paper to the rest of the world. I am trying to decide if my kids would rather make fake dog ****, or fake vomit, in a factory when they grow up. Eh, I'll leave it up to them. I'm sure our fine education system will steer them in the right direction...

apphd

Norm Apter wrote: »

Well, I don't have a dog in this fight but I have to take issue with some (though not all) of this statement. Since Deng Xiaoping implemented the Economic Reforms and opened China to the world in the early 1980s an estimated 400 million Chinese have been lifted out of poverty...undoubtedly the largest upward socioeconomic movement in human history (granted things were very rough from the Great Leap Forward through the end of the Cultural Revolution, but still thats nothing to sneeze at).

China probably has the largest growing middle class in the world. Yes, there is also a dramatically growing gap of wealth (just as there has been in the U.S. since 1979 or so) but that does not preclude the marked expansion of a middle class. Some people are staying poor (though I doubt many are getting poorer)...a growing number of others are leading a lifestyle that their parents couldn't have dreamed of a generation ago. What we're seeing is a massive migration (from countryside to city and township, from west to east)...some are faring much better than others but on the whole everybody is better off than they were 30 years ago. Some no doubt feel left behind and thats why, in part, we have been witnessing a large number of rural disturbances in the central and western part of China over the past decade. But so far there is nothing close to a coordinated structure or ideology to bind them together into a force that would threaten the foundations of the nation.

And though it might not be germane to this issue, just today the BBC announced that China has ousted Japan for the position of having the 2nd largest economy in the world (behind the U.S. of course). Pretty amazing when just in the early 1990s everybody was claiming that Japan was going to be the U.S.'s number #1 competitor in the 21st century.

Finally, I don't think its quite fair to categorize China as a slave-labor society. Yes, there are some very wretched working conditions in the factories but there is also a tremendous entreprenurial spirit in the country at large. Basically as long as you do not challenge the Chinese Communist Party-government you can do anything, and that involves capitalist...yes, capitalist...schemes. In short, Communist ideology is long dead (its final death blow was delt by the Tiananmen Massacre) . No one except for the octogenarian (or older) Party Members who were on the Long March with Mao in the 1930s believes in the tenets of Communism. With this ideology discredited, the Party has relied on 1) arousing nationalism and 2) encouraging material growth to keep everybody in line.

Having lived in a few different places in China, I tend to be overwhelmed by the commercialization of society. Its in your face...everywhere, all the time. Shoot, even Mao himself, once sacred cow of Marxist-Leninism has been commodified and objectified into fashion, clothing, pins, you name it.

Not commenting on the politics involved that have fostered this, but some really good comments here. While many Americans have been to China in the past 10 years or so mostly some type of business I would venture, most people commenting on China never have, and are talking out of their a$$. Think of the American industrial revolution and early 1900's NY city. The American farm boy moving from the farm to the city to work in the better paying factories and provide a future with upward movement. These factories provided little better conditions than what is in China now. Which led to our child labor laws, minimum wage and the formation of unions, and many of the government safe guards to watch over unscrupulous business men.
So keep in mind what they are going through is not much different than what America went through including the slave wage labor, low quality of some goods/businesses, and snake oil frauds trying to scam their way to wealth.

I was amazed at all people I have met in China from different countries practically tripping over each other to produce in China. While America may be the bread basket of the world, China has become the factory of the world. I also think these companies did not move there just to produce cheaper goods for us. We have most everything we want/need, the real profits will come by creating 1.3 billion consumers, that if left to farm life would never have the disposable income to buy what they are now producing.
Just some more food for thought.

cokewithvanilla

kevhed72 wrote: »

Guess what we export the most of to the rest of the world?

SCRAP PAPER (last time I checked). Yes, we are using millions of tons of carbon-based energy to export our scrap paper to the rest of the world. I am trying to decide if my kids would rather make fake dog ****, or fake vomit, in a factory when they grow up. Eh, I'll leave it up to them. I'm sure our fine education system will steer them in the right direction...

In volume, right?

I think we export other stuff in higher value.

BlueFox

Sorry. Just because one has visited China does not make one an expert. Trying to equate modern China to the U.S. of 100-200 years ago is a red herring. When China starts playing on a level field with the rest of the world then we can start making comparisons.

I work everyday, and have been for 20 years, with Chinese engineers who are glad to be out of there. Of course, I also wonder which ones are spies for the Chinese government, or all just stealing IP for their friends back home. But that is a different issue.

cokewithvanilla

BlueFox wrote: »

Sorry. Just because one has visited China does not make one an expert. Trying to equate modern China to the U.S. of 100-200 years ago is a red herring. When China starts playing on a level field with the rest of the world then we can start making comparisons.

Just asking, but what do you mean by "a level field"?

Amherst

apphd wrote: »

Think of the American industrial revolution and early 1900's NY city. The American farm boy moving from the farm to the city to work in the better paying factories and provide a future with upward movement. These factories provided little better conditions than what is in China now. Which led to our child labor laws, minimum wage and the formation of unions, and many of the government safe guards to watch over unscrupulous business men.

Concentrate here Coke.

Someone who knows history and how we got here. Why have most people forgotten or choose to ignore while traveling on a backward spiral?

sucks2beme

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

Don't forget, services can be sold as well.

I believe if we combine our goods and services export, we are still the largest exporter. (correct me if I am wrong, of course)

But our ratio is all wrong. We import more than we export. And that ratio
gets worse all the time. We are outsourcing services such as IS support,
call centers, and billing paperwork centers at a record pace. Call your
local FBI office. The call is answered by somebody in India!
One of our larger exports is old steel. The last time this happened
was in the 1930's. Japan used it to build their war effort. Wanna know
who's buying it this time?


But back on subject. I am really going to miss the current dealer network.
I have several places where I can go listen to many high end products.
They also get in fine trade ins. I know they are all going to be in trouble.
There's not enough people willing to pay more to be able to see and touch stuff.
As my dad used to say, not all progress is good. Soon Chinese guys will
make it all, sell it on websites, and the only local involvement will be the
delivery guy. And everyone will blog how great their gear is, since nobody
will get the chance to ever compare products head to head. Cheap will be good.
Good will be whatever is hyped the most. Over at head-fi, the term
for the latest stuff is FOTM(flavor of the month). By the time the hype dies
down and all the reviews are in, thousands have bought some POS that
doesn't sound good, and the flea market fills up with the stuff. And it repeats
over and over.