| author | comments |
| M.Odishoo | American companies have to try harder to improve their products. We need to have union labor making a decent wage to instill pride in the workmanship and the companies willing to share the profits with them. We complain about union wages, but say nothing about the exorbitant salaries that the CEO's get. Something wrong there? |
| Kathy | I own an ICamp. It is well made and has had no problems in the three years I've owned it. Many of the features are state of the art like a heat pump for heat and AC and a killer sound system as well as a flat screen HD TV. Have any of you attended an RV show? Unfortunately many of the RVs being produced in the US are junk. Just look and compare. |
| MacaroniGuy | Here's the mistake with "buy American": If you are an adherent of CAPITALISM, then you follow the principle of "buy the very best product that you can w/in your budget". If US companies (including my own) don't measure up, then they will fail AND THEN BE REPLACED BY A COMPANY THAT WILL FIGURE IT OUT AND SUCCEED. Don't whine and blame the Chinese for building a better product at a better price. THAT P*SSY ATTITUDE IS WHAT WILL KILL US COMPETITIVENESS!!! The way to deal with a worthy competitor is to roll your sleeves up and out work an out think him. REWARDING POOR US COMPANIES FOR MAKING OVERPRICED INFERIOR PRODUCT IS JUST EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM. PICK UP AN ECON BOOK AND STOP COMPLAINING. |
| I am sick of Chinese junk? | Only a American fool would buy one. There are a lot of them these days. I will never buy another thing that says made in China if I can help it.
If you believe the same like my face book page. "Sick of Chinese Junk? Buy American |
| Scott M. | No freaking way! I try not to buy anything from China. I would never buy a RV made n China! NO NO NO NO!
Search for my Face Book page, please like it. "Sick of Chinese Junk? Buy American" |
| American crap | I will buy made in China over made in america anytime.
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| ChevyM | I too have seen some really shooty workmanship. I rebuilt my rv from top to bottom and saw alot. Like one bolt holding the front wall to the floor. But since i have rebuilt everything it is a great rv. I only buy american products, i will only buy gm products. Alot of economy runs from gm. I will never buy a china made piece of crap rv. thats insane. well it will probably never happen anyway because they couldnt pass inspection and DOT. |
| Emily E. | I don't want to buy ANYTHING made in China! I look at all the labels and tags! |
| Nic | It is not the quality "Dr. R Alderman" it is the principle of purchasing something made in a country other than the US. Americans need jobs; we have ourselves to worry about. I am personally in favor of the LiL Snoozy as well. After reading Alan's post I checked them out. The owners allowed me to "test drive" the prototype behind my Accord. I knew it was there but the camper was rock solid stable, and my car had no problems pulling it. I have assurances that the RV I ordered will tow even better, the prototype is just that, a test bed. EXELLENT down to earth people, the true embodiment of an AMERICAN company! |
| Alan | The I-Camp looks really nice but after looking at a new all American camper,The LiL Snoozy built down in South carolina I'll wait for the LiL Snoozy. It is a family run business. The campers are actually hand built by a father and son team and thier design is out of this world. We were only able to see the prototype and I ordered one on the spot. The quality is unreal and the floor plan designed by the old man with many years of camping under his belt is actually comfortable to spend time in on a rainy day if needed. At under 1500 lbs and a aero shape that looks like the nose cone off a jet i know it will pull nice. They spent a lot of money on the fiberglass molds and wooo what a finish. If any one is interested thier number is 803-655-5336 |
| Cher | I never knowingly buy China or imported..of course, there are hidden foreign pieces/parts of products, a small part of the whole purchase, I will never know about every screw...but I do walk through my day absolutely knowing as much about what I am doing and I do not purchase anything knowingly imported...and may decide to just go without in the case that it simply is not made in America at all..I do not feel lacking or abused..in fact I do believe I have far less stored and unused junk cluttering my home. |
| Dr. R Alderman | I lived in China and saw the massive usage and abuse of Chinese built buses. They are extraordinarily well built. I would love to have a Chinese made chassis-shell with an American interior. Bring it to the USA, I have my checkbook in hand. |
| Cher | No thank you to China..For me, just because they can out cheap us,doesn't mean I should have no choices what to buy,and in many products it is just china..many will still spend the money to buy American products..we've been taught that cheap is it..do you really believe there is a comparison..even some with money have to buy inferior as it is cheap..but this is still America we should still have choices and they are removing the choices,I don't want cheap..I don't want dirty fumigation all over my very precious personal stuff, you know it is all tarped and fumigated the same as a house being fumigated for termites using Chloropicrin (Tear gas) has a strong odor...when did Americans get so lethargic anyway..they are continuing to downgrade us daily..wake up people..hear about the gravel roads in parts of America..they can't afford to repair with asphalt..get a grip..it will continue 'til we have little of greatness here in America. |
| me | "Since China has 13 million forced abortions each year because of their one child policy, then all americans who buy Chinese products condone abortions."
This response is so stupid.....
So you have never bought a product from China? What do you do make everything you use? |
| Confused | Since China has 13 million forced abortions each year because of their one child policy, then all americans who buy Chinese products condone abortions. |
| Are you kidding? | Most items sold in NA are Chinese. If components were made in NA it was made using Chinese tooling and or equipment. I worked for a few places with manufacturing and the components were made in China to the NA standards. Even parts for our beloved 'domestic' vehicles. Even imports are 'domestic' now days. Toyota plant in Ontario, Canada comes to mind. I know there are more. When I was in manufacturing, sure we "built" the items, but our parts that WE assembled were made in China. And those completed units, well, they were used to suck oil from the earth to power our home on wheels. Those homes regardless of where they were built in NA, use Chinese components in some fashion.
Would I buy one made in China? Why not. Those that say they would not knowingly buy anything made in China had best move back to the 60-70's because most (not all) large ticket items are some percentage Chinese. That's the wonderful world of cost cutting measures. |
| Robert | I have now read through the comments submitted by other readers, and can only conclude that most anti Chinese comments come from people with no knowledge of the Chinese automotive industry, or probably of China. .... Every major Automotive company in the world now produces either whole vehicles or components used in vehicles from their China bases... These are top quality components, including brands like Ford / GM / Toyota / Nissan / Mitsubishi / Kia / Hyundai / Volkswagen / Mercedes / BMW / Wabco / Cummins / Deutz / Perkins / and many more ...
Most of these are partnerships with chinese companies, which have raised the standards of China auto manufacturing, to good quality... Readers should open their eyes to the world around them, yes, get your dumb heads out of the sand, and accept that China can and does produce good quality products ... If you go and see modern China, you may perhaps understand that hard work and the right attitude, have led to China becoming the manufacturing giant it is. ... Something the USA went through in the 50s 60s and 70s, but seemingly has now forgotten how to do.
Give some credit to the USA, as it is number one in the world in developing a culture where bankers and finance brokers, take the money that many potential RV,ers invest, and turn that potential RV into nothing but a worthless investment account. ... Note the China RV show is run by USA companies, but is open to any company with RVs or components to show, ... at least when the USA RV industry does this, it should be the ultimate proof of their faith in China as a destination and as a base for quality manufacturing.
Regards Robert
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| Jason | Of course I would and I'm looking forward to saving a ton of dough. My friend just purchase a yacht in China and it's beautifully hand crafted with imported woods and has a imported volvo diesel engine. If the Chinese can produce a RV like they can produce yachts at 1/3 the price why wouldn't I. I can save the rest of my money for my retirement instead of helping them retire early. |
| Ed | Sure why not?
Everything else is made in china these days. If you object to this then don't shop at WalMart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes ... Made in China is a fact of globalization and american's insistence of lower and lower prices on everything. |
| Ivan | Safeth hazart reason possible lead paint? e.t.c |
| Rob | It's the American middleman that are at fault. They want to sell a product with a 1000% mark up and still undercut itmes made in the US. So they pay the Chinese pennies to build it. |
| Marco | I don't agree that chinese products should have a red label saying "NO GOOD". I already had a chinese laptop that it went to fix since the first two months. I almost the same fixing it as the price I paid for it - almost 2500$. Very often, I receive Emails from chinese enterprises that want to sell me those technologies like laptops. But they also want to sell motorcycles 100x cheaper than in the national market. I wonder if you mean that they also want to kill us with defectuous products. Just imagine a bike having problems at 100 mph. It's sudden death for certain. I have a Ford Fiesta 1.8D (2000), and we are in 2009. And I'm still alive. But till when will I resist to the temptation of a BMW K1200 GT costing 1000$ brand new imported from China? |
| Danl | There's no Chinese word for quality. Unless I plan to throw it away in 12 months or so, I don't buy Chinese products. Basically, "Made in China"=low quality junk. They may get over this someday (both Japan and Taiwan were the same years ago) but until they do something about quality control, only a fool would buy a big ticket item (like an RV) made in China. |
| I am a Chinese | Chinese are working hard to achieve the best they can. Chinese made RV will make the RV dreams become true. |
| Kentuk | NO,NO.NO WAY. I HAD A 4wh drive tractor,(farm pro) made in china. It was CRAP! Within two years use about 150 hours on the meter, complete clutch assembly replacement, brakes, all elec. connections redone, switches, lights replaced, most all rubber boots, seals, gaskets and hoses replaced due to rot/poor quality/manufacturing. HARD to get parts for it. Impossible to get electrical parts and rubber seals and bearing seals and covers for tie-rods ect. Except for the light bulbs and some rubber hoses nothing else was interchangable with anything else. The manual that came with it was impossible. The importer/distruibuter was NO HELP. I found someone in Alabama who was importing a China made tractor and was able to get oil, fuel and hydraulic filters from him. When we sold our small farm I pitched in the the tractor and all attachments in the deal, even showed that yankee city feller how to start it and drive it. That was a year and two clutchs ago. SO NO WAY IN HELL WOULD I BUY A RV MADE IN CHINA. I have had six RV's and yepp most of them are apiece of s--T but I can get parts for them and get repairs done that I can't do myself. I do about 75% of my own maintenance/repairs AND MY MONEY STAYS IN AMERICA, If I have to buy junk I want it to be American junk. Well maybe German or Japan would be ok. I drive a Ford crown vic. and a Chevy pick-up, my wife has a Honda and a Audi TT Coupe (super-charged). All you people who want to keep America American please vote for the True American Man with the True American first name of John. The end |
| MadeinAmerica | No way, no how. I don't knowingly buy any Chinese junk. |
| Dan B | America is selling out. Everything we buy is made overseas and now the last bastions of American industry is in jeopardy. I laugh at the guy putting gas in his honda talking on his cell phone dressed in his chinese made clothes complaining about HIS job being outsourced overseas. We are in big time trouble and people are too busy trying to save a buck here and a buck there to notice it. It's going to bite us and I hope it won't be to late to do something about it. I know some people will laugh this off but China is one of the biggest threats to global security and that's where we are sending all of our money. |
| Robert | We are building motorhome shells in China..... Made as a bare or empty shell, ready for motorhome builders to finish on the inside, and add the awnings etc to the outside..... They are well made and use top quality international brand components...... this way motorhome builders and buyers can have their cake and eat it..... Realistically most of these will probably in the future be sold in asian countries, where RV,ing is just attracting interest. |
| Grace | I think its bound to happen. Rvs are big value and they'll want to get into the market. They'll need to set up dealerships and the dealers will be willing to sell cheaper rvs if the quality is good. |
| China Dev | Well, you're too late. I am part of a team that has started neg. with a Chinese truck co. to build RV's there. The intended market is China/India as the network develops. First Order will probably be over 10K units. U.S. market can't even conceive of that. So watch for the announcement, "See the PRC in your new RV" coming soon. |
| John Wahlsten | Sorry to say perhaps not Chinese (not been in business long enough) But yes on a Toyota or Honda. I had a Itasca Suncruiser 37' Class A. Owned it 53 months and it was in for repair 45 times. When traveling across the country I had to look for a repair place and then find a campground closs enough. WE LOVED the rig---but the problems drove us nuts. |
| Paul | HELL NO...It is time we as American consumers think of the consequence of our purchases; not about how cheap we can amass crap. I gage my purchases largely on whether the worker receives a living wage for his or her efforts. Don't blame US mfg companies for outsourcing blame your self!!! |
| snuffy | Not no but HELL NO!!! |
| roscoe | Americans don't own the concept of camping,, but if you buy a Chinese camper you will contribute to the death of yet another American manufacturer. The Chinese unit will NOT be better built,, it will only cost less because of the value of the dollar. When you camp,, buy American! (even if you were not smart enough to buy that American car or truck) |
| questmin | On American Quality (I love America) but quality has been lost, I have read hundreds of pages about owners of new rvs and the bad workmanship they describe, so I bought a bus and reworked it myself and the help of a few others. After 5 years on the road and still runing strong with no major problems it can be done. Would i build another, no way and the cost to bring it in to service was huge. Maybe we could'nt aford to buy an rv at all if the quality and time spent were there to make it a true american rv. But Chinese, NO THANK YOU |
| Wake UP | I do not know why my comments were deleted. The Chinese are exporting, not importing, and RVIA is selling all of its members out. Richard Coons leading the way. |
| orbal1 | Oh, c'mon, everybody!...Just vote for Obama...take your Paxil/Zoloft/Prozac/Cymbalta psychotropic(al) cocktails...and watch transfixed at the latest sports, American Idol, Oprah and Bad Girls Club TV shows!...IT'S ALL GOOD! @-D |
| Waldo Boomschlager | I couldn't agree more. I have been in the RV repair industry for a number of years now and I must say that "there is no such thing as a well built/good quality RV". If you think there is, you don't understand the definition of good quality.
I see the crap (classified as RVs) come in to the shop on a daily basis for repair, many of them requiring repairs more costly than the unit is worth. It's good for me though, job security. |
| rewrlw | No not at all. we're have enough problems keeping people in the usa working . |
| sumtingwong | John C wrote that he wanted a proven product so he bought an Airstream. If you talk to the old Airstream owners they will recommend buying a used Airstream built before 1993 or 4 as thats when it was sold out to Thor Industries and hence down hill on quality. When I went through the new ones I didn't see anything that would lure me to buying a new Airstream due to their enormous price. I also saw one of these icamp's at a show last Jan and they do look good as far as quality, They are american designed as most chinese made products are but I'm not ready to buy anything knowingly made in China.I bought 2 Dahon Bikes that I thought were made in USA but after they arrived the stickers on them said designed in USA and not mentioning where they were made. While stumbling throught he owners manual it said made in China BUT designed in USA. poohie |
| Pat Delgado | I definitely like the thought of foreign RVs. It took Japanese cars to improve US cars and maybe foreign competition would be good with RVs. Chinese? I'm not sure. Most stuff is Chinese now and most of it is OK. Japanese RVs would be wonderful. |
| BDK | I looked at the price, size and weight of T@B rip off design. I would buy it for the same reason I wouldn't buy a T@B. The weight vs size vs cost don't add up to what you can get from several molded fiberglass trailers made in North America. If that's an example of what China can do, no thanks. I'll buy American or Canadian. |
| AL B | Fifteen years and china will own the usa - lock, stock and camper......
Free trade - how about fair trade and no tax incentitves(my money) paid to corporations that send usa jobs and usa equipment to asia. No china rv for me.
Invest in america, invest in yourself, |
| Charles B. | After the lousy drugs and lead toys, I would not buy an RV made in China. At this point I would not (knowingly) buy anything made in China, let alone something so complicated. RVs made in the US could use improving regarding quality control. RV from China? Never. |
| blackrockjoe | The Chinese are LOOOOOOOOONG term planers. This secret agenda of China taking over is really no secret if you read The Biggest Secret By David Icke. Americans have short memories and our so called leaders are in cahoots with the Globalists to enslave us because the job of President is just middle management. It is the Rockefellers, the Windsors and Builderburgers that control the world...stop watching TV and read this book. |
| Al H | Having been a quality manager for a Fortune 100 manufacturing company I have been to China several times. I hate to disagree with many/most comments but Americans don't realize that most of the products made in China have been made for American companies, to the company specifications. The only reason China manufacturing has grown so fast, and large, is because they can build cheaper. I have been to factories that build products with top quality from start to finish. I have also seen the opposite, reminiscent of the Japan products until the mid 70s with poor quality the norm. If the government decides they want high quality RVs for export to the USA, you can bet that they will be high quality and reliable. I have owned six RVs and cannot believe the shoddy workmanship and inferior quality of many US made units. It seems like most of the effort of mfgrs. is appearance, not reliability. Have always wondered what would happen Japan started to export RVs to the US |
| John C | One of the reasons we bought an Airstream is because of the quality. We wanted to keep it for a long time. The rest of the industry seems to strive for new ideas, not perfection of what they already make. No, I would not buy anything Chinese at this point, much less an RV or car. It's bad enough for things made in the USA, much less for a state owned company. |
| Patsy | To Glenn: Re: Providence...Please get in touch with Fleetwood..again...you must have gotten someone that is no longer employed there. We have had super cooperation from Fleetwood (not the dealer), keep calling until you get the upper crust and I bet they will make it right. I would never buy anything made by the Chinese! |
| fred b | I'm for it if it will raise the quality just as the Japanese motivated US car makers to improve to world class levels. How many US RV makers use world class, ISO third pary audited, certified quality systems? None; that I know of. |
| Patti | To begin with, THINK ABOUT what they are trying to do. They want to destroy the economy of this country and everything else. THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED! They have been enemies for yrs..they have hated us for yrs.(their gov't that is). I hope the citizens of this country are smart enough to see what they are trying to do. The next time you get an Rx filled make sure it(the drug) was not made in China. A country that ALMOST killed our pets what more can you expect! We have very SHORT memories. WAKE UP AMERICANS! The Chinese may take us over yet! |
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