| There's an awful lot of opinions, tattle and conjecture | | | | world country... |
| on this subject. I've stumbled across literally hundreds | | | | The Build Quality and Materials Are Inferior |
| of forums with questions about it often with extremely | | | | It's true China doesn't have an established recognized |
| opinionated answers which are almost inevitably based | | | | quality control system nor is it a member of the ISO |
| upon no actual facts whatsoever. So here are some | | | | (International Organization for Standardization) and as a |
| of the most common arguments I've seen touted | | | | consequence some genuinely inferior product can be, |
| against buying a Chinese import followed by the facts. | | | | and is, produced by some Chinese factories. Its also |
| How can a bike that costs so little possibly be any | | | | true that in the interests of making a quick buck, many |
| good? | | | | small companies in the past have been guilty of |
| The purchase price of goods is determined by a | | | | importing sub-quality vehicles at rock bottom prices |
| combination of many factors. Most of these are simply | | | | which rapidly fell apart. However it's worth noting that |
| profit and tax. The manufacturer wants his profit, has | | | | these cowboy importers are, as a rule, no longer |
| to pay his employees wages, their income tax, his own | | | | operating. You can only sell so many poor quality items |
| tax, his energy bills (which are higher because of tax) | | | | before word of mouth gets around or the powers that |
| and also pay for the raw materials. The distributors | | | | be get involved. Either way you get shut down. |
| also want to make money but they too have | | | | Logically then, if an importer of Chinese motorcycles or |
| employee's wages to pay, plus the relevant taxes and | | | | mopeds has been and continues to operate, and |
| fuel bills which are also taxed. And there are at least | | | | indeed increase their market share, after trading for |
| three of these in our equation, one from the factory to | | | | more than a couple of years we have to assume their |
| the port, the shipping company and one from the | | | | build quality is not inferior at all but in fact good enough |
| docks to the warehouse. Often there's a fourth one | | | | for customers to return, recommend and continue to |
| who collects from the warehouse and delivers to the | | | | use their product. |
| Dealer. Then there's the Dealer's costs. He too has to | | | | The Back-Up Service, Parts & Availability Are |
| make a profit and pay storage costs, lighting, wages | | | | Inferior |
| etc etc. And let's not forget import tax, VAT and a | | | | Again this opinion developed as a consequence of no |
| host of other 'stealth' taxes. All these stack up to raise | | | | longer trading cowboy importers of sub-standard |
| the final cost to us, the consumer. | | | | machines. Established companies such as Baotian, |
| By removing one, or more of the layers in this profit | | | | Lifan or Superbyke that continue to trade and indeed |
| tax stack we reduce the cost. The more we take out | | | | grow will, and do, provide full back-up and spares. |
| or reduce the lower it becomes. First off Europe and | | | | The Resale Value is Rubbish |
| America have both agreed on a Global trading | | | | Now that's one statement I can't argue with. But when |
| platform and consequently reduced the amount if | | | | the initial purchase price is the same as or less than |
| import duty on goods coming from third world | | | | the mere *depreciation* on a Japanese or Italian model |
| countries. Secondly Chinese wages *and* taxes are | | | | is it really relevant? |
| vastly lower than those of the other producers such | | | | Summary |
| as Italy or Japan. As a consequence their transport | | | | If you buy from a reputable Dealer you get a |
| also cost less and so does the production of raw | | | | warranty, full back-up service and most importantly a |
| materials. Added to this is the fact that China is still a | | | | brand new bike for less than a Japanese or Italian one |
| Communist Dictatorship as opposed to a Capitalist | | | | depreciates. So check out the dealer and check out |
| Democracy and as such the profit margins are also | | | | the brand. If both have been trading for more than let's |
| reduced, or even completely removed, in each link of | | | | say 3 years, isn't it reasonable to assume that they |
| the chain. That is why they are so cheap. | | | | must be doing *something* right? Apart from that if |
| But Isn't That Supporting Chinese Slave Labor? | | | | they were truly, truly awful wouldn't there be a host of |
| To quote Wikipedia "Rapid industrialization has reduced | | | | bad publicity about them? If you can't find any then you |
| its (China's) poverty rate from 53% in 1981 to 8% in | | | | have your answer. If you *do* find some then just |
| 2001." So maybe it is but by supporting their economy | | | | double check that the arguments are factual and not |
| you are actually helping reduce the poverty in a third | | | | simply someone's ill advised opinion. |