The Tacoma has been copied

I blame the so-called problems with Chinese products on North American consumerism, not the lack of quality control that the factories obviously have a problem with. This might be a post for a different thread, but we as North Americans (Canada is just as guilty as the US), we have whined and cried to drive the costs down on everything from TV's to tires to Baby Formula to Dog Food, and commoditized (yeah i kind of made that word up) everything to the point that quality factories can't compete, so we outsource. Wal-Mart, Target, etc buy in such mass bulk and pre-order everything that the Chinese can't keep up with our neverending demands. So what happens? Just like any other manufacturing scenario, the quality goes down to fill orders on time. The Chinese oversell what they can build, and the retailers overbuy what they can sell. We end up with sub-par products that are "packaged in the US" or "north american approved" that don't go through normal safety checks and the victims? (in some cases) defenseless children and pets. It breaks my heart, but it's the sad truth of out of control consumerism and capitalism.

I'm no socialist, and i'm not crying for a "back to basics" mentality, but i don't shop at Wal-Mart and places that primarily resell Chinese goods for basic fundamental reasons. I don't mind paying more for dog food when i know where it came from and the first ingredient is "chicken" not "partially hydrogenated chicken byproducts fed into a contaminated lead shredder".

But again, i have the luxury of doing that. What of the welfare mom who can't afford proper formula and out of neccessity has to shop at Wal-Mart and doesn't know she's buying sub-standard products, that could, god forbid, hurt that baby? WHere is the corporate responsibility from these huge volume retailers or a check and balance system from OUR governments?

I gladly shop at "mom and pop" stores whenever i can, or at the very least, retailers that started here in Calgary where i know people, and when i choose something new, i can talk to a buyer or a manager and find out where things come from.

 

I'm full Filipino and we don't make anything worth copying.

 

A TOYSAN-I'll bet it really dependable. LOL