View Poll Results: Is it ethical to have Genuine GM restoration parts made in China?
YES, it is ethical!
14
27.45%
NO, unethical!
32
62.75%
Don't care!
5
9.80%
All of the above!
0
0%
Voters: 51. You may not vote on this poll
Ethical Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Hazerswoude-Rijndijk Zuid Holland
Ethical Question
I just received a gift from a friend. He brought a mug from the Corvette museum. Nice gesture.
On that mug was a holographic sticker "GM" special license. I have seen it on other parts to. My mind wondered off to the following question.
What if a part has GM all over it, with stickers like above or "Genuine restoration part". BUT it says made in China. Do you think that is ethical?
On that mug was a holographic sticker "GM" special license. I have seen it on other parts to. My mind wondered off to the following question.
What if a part has GM all over it, with stickers like above or "Genuine restoration part". BUT it says made in China. Do you think that is ethical?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
GM has sourced parts all over the world for many years. As long as the parts meet the original specifications provided by GM, it is ethical. Now, if GM buys 'gypo' parts from China or anywhere else (poor quality parts made of lower grade metals, or poor heat treatment, etc) and sticks them in a GM box for resale to unsuspecting customers....that is UNethical. And, it wouldn't surprise me one bit.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
From the way I understand it , if it is under the "GM Restoration" plan it can say on the part "Made in the USA" and be produced in china or taiwan and customs will allow it to come into the US.
That I have a problem with.
That I have a problem with.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Poll question: "Is it ethical to have Genuine GM restoration parts made in China?"
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 810
Likes: 48
From: West Chester Pennsylvania
Sourcing is not a matter of ethics but rather, price.
Ethics is really not the right challenge here.
What you're really asking is do people think when they buy GM that they are buying American and therefore supporting the USA? GM is a global brand.
What you are indirectly doing when you buy from GM is creating the revenues that supports the jobs here in the USA.
Look at this way. If enough of everyone's friends don't buy those Chinese Coffee Mugs with the GM Hologram at the Museum, the people at the Museum could lose their jobs.. along with the security company that protects the cheap *** mugs ... and the logistics company that delivered the knock off mugs so that they were there before 10:30.. and the company that made the boxes that the mugs were shipped in... and the company that sold the Truck to the guy who printed the boxes .. and so on.
Ethics is really not the right challenge here.
What you're really asking is do people think when they buy GM that they are buying American and therefore supporting the USA? GM is a global brand.
What you are indirectly doing when you buy from GM is creating the revenues that supports the jobs here in the USA.
Look at this way. If enough of everyone's friends don't buy those Chinese Coffee Mugs with the GM Hologram at the Museum, the people at the Museum could lose their jobs.. along with the security company that protects the cheap *** mugs ... and the logistics company that delivered the knock off mugs so that they were there before 10:30.. and the company that made the boxes that the mugs were shipped in... and the company that sold the Truck to the guy who printed the boxes .. and so on.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Look at this way. If enough of everyone's friends don't buy those Chinese Coffee Mugs with the GM Hologram at the Museum, the people at the Museum could lose their jobs.. along with the security company that protects the cheap *** mugs ... and the logistics company that delivered the knock off mugs so that they were there before 10:30.. and the company that made the boxes that the mugs were shipped in... and the company that sold the Truck to the guy who printed the boxes .. and so on.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
What does ethics have to do with where GM makes parts? I would be surprised to learn that anything marked Genuine GM Restoration Part was actually made by GM.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Oct 12, 2010 at 09:27 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,454
Likes: 328
From: Indy Indiana
i actually would pay a little more more for parts that were made in the USA. but, most people don't and will always subconsciously buy the cheaper part.
most contractors that under-bid a contract, win the contract over one thing... lowest price.
it is a simple fact that china can make the part and ship it all the way across the ocean for less than someone in the usa can make the part and market it.
ethical? yes.. smart business decision? maybe not.
most contractors that under-bid a contract, win the contract over one thing... lowest price.
it is a simple fact that china can make the part and ship it all the way across the ocean for less than someone in the usa can make the part and market it.
ethical? yes.. smart business decision? maybe not.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
I fail to see the connection between made somewhere and ethics. It is a business decision. Having said that, I am pretty disgusted with corporate America shipping manufacturing overseas. I apologize in advance is this offends anyone, but there are just too many Americans out of work. It hurts us all.
Last edited by Jeff_Keryk; Oct 12, 2010 at 10:12 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
I fail to understand what 'ethics' has to do with it. GM sources and sells parts and cars all over the world, has done so for many decades.
It would be interesting to do a social experiment with this- put one display of mugs 'made in China' next to another display of identical mugs 'made in the USA' and see how close they would have to be in price before the majority would chose the domestically made mug.
It would be interesting to do a social experiment with this- put one display of mugs 'made in China' next to another display of identical mugs 'made in the USA' and see how close they would have to be in price before the majority would chose the domestically made mug.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 339
Likes: 4
From: Northwest CT
Well, China IS GM's largest target market for the future. Sad but true.
Of course, that has nothing to do with coffee mugs. I doubt there are any manufacturers of mass produced coffee mugs left in the US or Canada.
Of course, that has nothing to do with coffee mugs. I doubt there are any manufacturers of mass produced coffee mugs left in the US or Canada.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
Now there's the real rub. We (the USA) no longer manufacture much of anything here. THAT is the basis for all the financial woes visited on us for the last 25 years or so...a "service" based economy can only work if there is a manufacturing base to support it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
There are lots of folks who have 'other' interesting questions, but the poll was about putting foreign made parts in "GM Restoration Parts" boxes....nothing more.
Also, folks on this Forum need to know that GM makes almost NO parts anymore; they got rid of all the manufacturing facilities (or sold them off) over the last 30 years. So, anyone expecting to get GM-made parts is "uneducated" to the realities of the discarded US manufacturing community.
Daring to delve into a non-Corvette [but relevant] issue: I'm amazed that the Republican political party still uses that title. Fact is, they are strictly a pure capitalistic group, caring nothing about the citizens of this country [except for the rich ones, of course]. They should change their name to the Capitalist party. The Democrats have 'different' special interests, but care little for the main body of citizens either. Basically, with big business and big politics in total control of all major infrastructure systems in this country, we have a much more serious problem than most folks realize.
Also, folks on this Forum need to know that GM makes almost NO parts anymore; they got rid of all the manufacturing facilities (or sold them off) over the last 30 years. So, anyone expecting to get GM-made parts is "uneducated" to the realities of the discarded US manufacturing community.
Daring to delve into a non-Corvette [but relevant] issue: I'm amazed that the Republican political party still uses that title. Fact is, they are strictly a pure capitalistic group, caring nothing about the citizens of this country [except for the rich ones, of course]. They should change their name to the Capitalist party. The Democrats have 'different' special interests, but care little for the main body of citizens either. Basically, with big business and big politics in total control of all major infrastructure systems in this country, we have a much more serious problem than most folks realize.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Arlington texas
Nowadays just about everything should say "Sold in America" instead of made in America. I always thought it was funny that during the bailout period so many people were saying, "Buy Chevy or Ford because they are American not a foreign car but so many are being assembled in Mexico or Canada.
The horse has already left the barn. Just give me a well made part for a fair price, that is what I feel is ethical.
The horse has already left the barn. Just give me a well made part for a fair price, that is what I feel is ethical.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Manahawkin NJ
As to the the original mug, a license is sold to use an image or trademarked logo. When clothing and toy manufacturers buy a license the seller is giving the right to use the copy righted material. The seller of the license then has no part in the manufacturing of the item.
I am sure that Commissioner Roger Goodell of the NFL does not care about the quality of the millions of Super Bowl shirts sold every year as long as the league is paid for the use of the images.
I do believe that if it says that it is a genuine restoration part that GM should make sure it is manufactured to the standards of the original part no matter where it is produced.
I am sure that Commissioner Roger Goodell of the NFL does not care about the quality of the millions of Super Bowl shirts sold every year as long as the league is paid for the use of the images.
I do believe that if it says that it is a genuine restoration part that GM should make sure it is manufactured to the standards of the original part no matter where it is produced.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Not getting off topic again, but the GM resto part program has no such quality assurance program built into it. it's a logo marketing scheme only.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
