not slamming. But as a law enforcement officer in a previous life, a ball joint or suspension piece giving way at 60 or 100 mph resulting in a death would probably not be contributed to the failure of the ball joint, it would be contributed to the speedfreak driving that speed in a 30 or 40 year old car, no matter how meticously it was maintained (the press wouldnt mention that part). I want my cars safe, for me and others and when I install a new part from what I thought was a reputable company I expect it to perform as designed. Therefore I agree, and have learned over the past few years, you have to do your own research and when in doubt, vette it here on the forum to get others experiences.

 

Quite an ATTITUDE comming out of the "Great White North" considering what AS**OLES your customs people are. Your country is pretty protectionist and you are enjoying that defensive attitude of your "way of life". I hope the Canadian Government passes a "NAFTA type of legislation" so you can enjoy all the benefits we have here in the USA (closing of many quality manufacturing plants and loss of good jobs.) I DON'T WANT NO STINKING FOREIGN parts on my Vette (with the possible exception of some of the well built parts from our Canadian neighbors.)

 

Very true. If that is the case, you are either being ripped off or there are issues with the part. No manufacturer is perfect so you could have simply gotten a bad one. If you feel that the "premium" part is anything but premium, then treat it as a cheap part. If quality across the board has been lowered, then having the best of the crappy parts really doesn't mean the part is not crappy. Rarely will you ever find an instance where no true quality part or product exists in a market. Some times you just have to dig. That's where the internet can come into play in a big way. Many people collectively coming together to find a part that works.

 

Just a few observations. It is naive to believe the companies only cost reduce their products to remain competitive in the market. It is also naive to believe US products are inherently better. Companies cheapen their manufacturing costs because, that in turn, makes their profit higher. Companies, by nature, will try to maximize profits while maintaining their share of the market. If our government allows them to import from Mexico, China, or wherever, why wouldn't they. Company "A" takes the high road and stays in the US and is bound by OSHA, EPA, labor unions and our sue-happy judicial system. Company "B" goes to Mexico, China, Thailand, wherever. No unions, government regulation, ect, ect..... Company A has to charge $X.XX due to the cost to doing business in the US. Company B just has to beat the price to company A's product by a small percentage and they've displaced company A in the market. Company B's legal dept. has, of course, college educated experts ensuring the potential liability costs are lower than the manufacturing cost savings. Until we, as consumers, get our government to change this, it will continue. Germany, and Japan do not have this issue because they tax imports to the point that they better balance home-made products to imports. I don't personally have an issue with foreign made products as long as the quality is comparable. I've seen plenty of union-protected US made crap also. Bottom line, companies have a moral obligation to ensure their products are safe, and we as consumers need to decide what is truly important, saving a few bucks by buying company B's sweatshop labor parts, or buying company A's union-labor made part where since Joe Q has worked there for 25 years, management knows they can't fire him even though he sleeps through half his shift. Go ahead and spin the wheel.....just hope your grade-8 drivetrain hardware doesn't impode when you hammer it.

 

I won't get in to the foreign \ domestic issue here and no question about it, if you want top quality parts then do your homework and be sure that is what you are buying. On the other hand, a ball joint that will not last 1 to 2000 miles is not a question of which part is of better quality, this part is obviously defective and if the vendor that sells these defective parts won't stand behind them then that vendor deserves whatever bad press he receives. I don't think most are complaining about not getting good ol usa Moog ball joints, they are complaining about getting junk.

 

I don't think you can accuse the chinese of being "capitalists"

I hope you also realize that good blue collar and white collar jobs are leaving at an exponetial rate in this country. Those jobs left the multinationals will have you compeating with the illegal immigrants for.
We are not building nations up, we are building to the basement. We will be the third world country one of these days and a lot of these countries that benefit from this will say we had it coming to us. Health care costs in the US are the highest they have ever been, trade deficit is at an all time high, and we do not have big energy reserve. I don't know why an illegal immigrant would want to call this place home. Right now we are looking good, but we can't keep writing checks are butts can't cash. I know, I know tell us how you really feel. Just remember this when you are pulling that lever this fall, to think about what's best for the country instead of what's best for big business and the wealthy. Maybe we can turn some of this around.

 

The problem is a lot more serious than a few bad ball joints. Due to high taxes, union labor costs, and the high cost of employee benefits, companies started outsourcing. Some of the cost savings is passed along, but has anyone else noticed that the offshore crap for sale in the parts stores now costs as much or more than the "good stuff" did 15 or 20 years ago? Even buying the good American brands (Craftsman tools, for example) is no longer any guarantee of quality...its the same offshore crap, with a domestic pricetag. Our manufacturing base has dwinded to nothing, and the politicians brag about our new "Service" economy, and disparage the factory jobs that were lost. The thing is, those factory jobs paid a heck of a lot better than the local Wal-mart, and there are tons of good jobs from companies that serviced the industry (machine shops, welding shops, part suppliers, sales jobs, etc) that are GONE forever now. Now that those jobs are gone, everything else that can be is being outsourced...I'm a STOCKBROKER for God's sake, and my company is currently licensing people in the Phillipines!!! We're paying way too much for inferior goods, the best jobs are gone or going away, and to top it off, we are funding the largest military buildup in world history. The Chinese can own us economically, or militarily, its up to them. We need some SERIOUS incentives to bring industry back to this country, or I doubt we'll see our Tricentennial as an independent, sovereign nation. We need "change" in this country, just not the variety any of the ridiculously underqualified Presidential candidates are offering.

 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.... "Capitalism, unbridled by ethics, is a very bad system." Financial 'hooligans', who are driven by GREED [rather than reasonable profit], are the culprits. That includes CEO's, CFO's, and other XXO's whose MBA's are primarily used to maximize all means of 'gathering' monies (including the organized raiding of pension funds) in order to call them profits and line their own pockets.

Does anyone really think that these 'perverts of capitalism' would think twice about procuring shoddy parts when there is a big, fat, bonus to be made?

 

I agree.

 

Good ball joints don't last 160K. I don't think your wheel is going to fall off.

 

I agree with you except this. Corporate greed is the reason. Profits first. As a stockbroker, you KNOW that.

 

 

FB007, I mean that I am driving at 160kph or in your speak 100mph.

 

the end result is the same...they want the profit margin yes.. they cant get it with the "Due to high taxes, union labor costs, and the high cost of employee benefits," mentioned by the previous poster.

Your both talking about the same reason...however I would hold that the previous posters reasons are more on target, because if it was universal greed, every single company in the US would outsource for the cheaper labor etc..etc.. there isnt a company in the world that doesnt want to increase their profit.

And i dont buy that there are companies out there that are happy with their current level of profit...find me a company (especially one thats publicly held) thats willing to say..."we make enough money no need for more"

 

I will counter with this. GM has offered to buy out all union auto workers, and go non-union. I can assure you that the price of autos will not go down 10 cents. I gaurantee that. Seen it before here years ago. The union excuse was used, and when gone, prices stayed the same. Then the corp.s moved on to the next excuse. It's never greed, always "someone elses fault."

 

Ive been working in auto parts now for 34 years now. I started when everything was USA built, then along came the Japanese, then Taiwan, Korean, Chinese, motor mounts are made in India now. Yes there is alot of Cheap Parts, both in price and Quality, but there is still alot of good Quality. You just have to know the brands and to ask. I find AC Delco parts all the time made in mexico and other countries. I guess its just better to ask where the part is made, or ask for the better quality item if more then one is offered.

http://www.carpart.com/

 

It used to be that U.S. manufacturers of "important" auto parts had the integrity and conscience to assure that those parts would function properly and for an adequate lifetime. Those days are GONE...and those same manufacturers are benefitted because they can order product from countries that do not have any governmental safeguards on such production, AND those procuring companies (here) are not obligated or liable because they didn't manufacture the part. So, they get to buy cheap parts, charge a little less than good quality parts, and not be responsible when they fail early. What could be better for business....and PROFITS? And if anyone is naive enough to think this isn't happening all around us.....you need to go tune in to the Disney channel.

 

 

Like I said "there isnt a company in the world that doesnt want to increase their profit." doesnt matter wether they get it from outsourcing or reducing labor at home... the end result is the same...the point I was trying to make it they are trying to increase their bottom line...both you and the other poster have cited reasons (or excuses if you like) that lead to the same result... greater profit.

If the mfrs stay with their current staus quo the bottom line is effected, so if the goal is greater profit the excuse is valid..

The price of cars didnt go down when they outsourced either....and i agree it would be foolish to expect prices would go down, however i havent seen anybody claim they would.

 

100% true ! Do you really think the only way to make the $8 part at Autozone is to cut quality ? NO! Quality was cut so the part could be made for 8 cents so a bigger proffit could be made, bigger proffit, bigger bonus for the exceutive, NO more job for you because you wanted money for gas and insurance for your family, and not everyone in this country wants $40 an hour, some want just to get by nice with a toy or two so don't be sticking up for the Chinese saying their the only ones who can make the part cheap. Take out some of the corperate greed and we can make that same part at a similar cost but with QUAILITY AND PRIDE !