Poorly Made in China

This book explains why "Made In China" means whatever you bought is probably going to fall apart. And more interestingly, why Chinese business culture is unlikely to change even as they grow more prosperous and technologically adept. And why--for all its reputation for poor quality--Westerners keep going back to China to do business. One Western sucker after another goes to China and gets snookered into a deceitful business marriage that turns bad at the moment divorce becomes too expensive to contemplate. (The Chinese work that angle masterfully.) Now I understand why when merchandise breaks, deteriorates, quits working, or otherwise disappoints, the "Made In China" label explains it all.

I have had this book in my possession for about 36 hours and am just about finished with it. I admit that I am caught aback by just how easy and enjoyable a read this book is. It is a tremendously well written book. What I enjoy so much about it, in addition to the author himself, is that most of the points he makes about manufacturing in China are arrived at anecdotally. Did I mention the book is extremely well written? I think if the author had been taken to write fiction he would be just as acclaimed as he is for this book if not more so.

This reflects my experiences as a dropshipper using Chinese products. Many of the middlemen I worked through using Ali Express were good, honest people. But a significant percentage (20%) fit this book very well. Deteriorating quality over time, deceptive product pictures, long shipping times, and indifferent customer service, until I would threaten a dispute, then the tears and begging start. If you want to do business with China, this is a must read.

The author is an MBA who speaks Mandarin and lives in China. He works as a "middleman" between American importers and Chinese manufacturers. The first (approximately) 200 pages consist of entertaining anecdotes of his experiences in dealing with Chinese manufacturers. It is primarily a story of dishonesty and cunning--not incompetence-- on the part of the Chinese. Subtly, by these anecdotes, the author draws us further into the question of WHY the Chinese manufacturers behave as they do towards Americans and other importers of their products? The remaining (approximately) 50 pages provides a convincing answer.Everywhere one turns these days, we are told that the Chinese are the new master race, that China will bury the US and dominate the world, etc. This book is the furthest thing from a political polemic, but an incidental effect of reading it leads one to question how China could ever manage that?

The one-star reviews have a good point. No doubt others have different experiences working in China. And it should be said that with a hugely increased product presence in the U.S., there will be more experiences with sub-par product. Nonetheless, I'm old enough to remember when all sorts of products, from light bulbs to deck screws, were far more reliable and of consistent quality than they are now.That said, this is another book among others I would see literally every time I transited HK over the last 25 years. It seemed that on each trip there was another book on the "difficulties" of doing business in China. Of course, negativity sells, but what is the more general reality on the ground? Having worked in and around China and SE Asia for decades, and speaking the various languages, the attitudes and business practices he describes via first-hand anecdotes fit exactly with both my own experiences and stories I heard consistently across that time. And I've operated in entirely different industries than the ones the author describes. There has always been the penchant among Asian manufacturers to second-guess your product design and to "improve" on it, without asking or telling you they've done so. This is leaving aside the eventual cost-cutting and corner-cutting Midler describes, along with a rather different understanding of what constitutes "quality." I could go on. Minimally, my own experience has shown that when you don't understand the local language and culture you're always in potential trouble.In short, Midler has written a very readable and eminently cautionary tale. It's also not like he doesn't acknowledge that some other "importers" feel they've had positive experiences. IMHO, the most damning review is that when one looks at how much (LITTLE, actually) locals trust their own products, apps, etc., there is not a lot more to be said, and in the main Midler gets it right.

If you’ve ever wondered why toys from China have such a bad record for lead paint, read this book. This spoke to a lot of my concerns about product safety and toxicity of items manufactured in China and worse - items sold directly from Chinese manufacturers through major websites, who have no legal liability if their product harms you. At some Chinese manufacturers safety always comes last after profit and saving a penny, down to not having soap for workers at a personal care factory or deliberate using an old ingredient label - potentially triggering a recall for the American distributor. On the bright side with global commerce it is now possible to buy most of what you need without contributing to these practices and the human rights situations in China. Unfortunately sourcing components can be tricky - buying used and buying less may offer the best solution here.

I have written some five star reviews for excellent products from china and twelve months later found most of the other reviews seem to be much lower to the point of some reviewers wishing they could leave zero stars. This book explains the phenomenon called "product fade". The samples and initial batch are as good as the prototype but after an extended production run cheaper materials or processes are employed without any notification of change. This is considered standard practise by many manufacturers in china, a penny saved is a penny earned etc. Do that a couple of million times on a long production run and the results are obvious, at least financially. Lead paint dries faster than the non-toxic varieties so why not use it on childrens toys as supplied to Mattel? Just because it is outlawed all over the world is not enough reason apparently when weighed against savings in costs. And as for fakes; well what do you want for the money? If a phone charger catches fire..........well, they don't all catch fire. And fire blankets that catch fire? And smoke alarms that fail to detect smoke or fire? Who cares? They are export only. Perhaps extreme examples, but the book will show a total lack of conscience or even concern about making inferior products and the maxim "never mind the quality; look at the price" is the only consideration.

....into the pitfalls and frustrations of doing business in China. Amusing for the disconnected reader but for anyone doing or thinking of doing business this currently evolving and largely unregulated manufacturing cauldron it must be a worrying and extremely 'off-putting ' tale.However, the current edge this country has namely a mainly uneducated, unorganised, low expectation labour force enabling manufacturers to have very low labour costs, will surely not last for very long before costs begin to rise, above those of newly emerging Asian and African countries, thus negating China's price competitive effectiveness.This coupled with increasing State regulation, and bureaucracy , particularly involving health and safety issues which are currently almost non-existent, will further dent China's world manufacturing supremacy. At some point the penny will drop, whether in time or not to retain it's current position, and manufacturing standards and reliability will improve. In the meantime the various almost farcical events so interestingly related by Paul Midler in this book will continue to befall those that choose to have their products made in China.This book is not a definitive guide to doing business in this region but for those giving it consideration, it at least will put them on their guard as to where the pitfalls might lie, and for those like myself with not the slightest inclination to trade in the homelands of Confucius, it provides an interesting and light anecdotal tale.

Fascinating look from an insider's point of view at the state of the manufacturing industry in China today. Also very revealing about western companies' attitudes, quirks and foibles, and it is this two-sided make-up of the stories that makes the book so interesting. What is most shocking about the author's experiences is, I think, quite how common and across the board the tricks, cons and outright illegal practises he witnesses seem to be. I found myself silently seething with rage each time he entered negotiations with the lying owner of the main factory at her disregard for the most basic, decent, human principles. At the same time, there are several instances where the importers seemingly allow themselves to be fooled in the search for quick profits, and, while the Chinese factory owners do frequently come across as 'the bad guys', there's no suggestion that the importers are anything other than (at best) 'the ever so slightly less bad guys'. I also enjoyed the connections and comparisons made between challenges found in the manufacturing industry and those in everyday life and international relations to be very well done. The author himself has a flowing, very readable style and the book is well structured from start to finish. A great (although occasionally paranoia inducing) read.

Even if you do not work in China, or even if you have no business interest at all with China, you will probably still find this an interesting and amusing read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have had some experience in working with Chinese colleagues and importing goods from China and could definitely relate to many of the things being described!The author takes you through his experiences of living and working with China during the boom of outsourcing production and reveals some of the shocking and ridiculous antics that many manufacturers resort to. Insight into the Chinese mindset when it comes to business.Everyone should read this, and consider their future purchases!

Wow. This book brought back many memories.Paul Midler's experiences working with Chinese manufacturers is a highly amusing, yet factual account of the infuriating job that is outsourcing manufacturing to China. If anything, i would say that Paul has understated his subject for fear of being unbelievable.I couldn't read this book quick enough, being in this business myself.If anyone is presently manufacturing in China, or considering moving their manufacturing to China, this is a must-read.There are huge HUGE opportunities for people who decide to outsource manufacturing in China, and to export to China. And these opportunities will only improve in the next decade. But beware. With great opportunity there comes great risk, unless you have excellent people on the ground looking out for you.Read this book. Forewarned is forearmed.Get yourself an excellent outsourcing manager. (This is where I give you my sales pitch, but i can't)Great book, Paul. Thanks.

This book is a MUST READ for anyone contemplating sourcing or otherwise doing business in China. If you are already there, OOPS, its possibly too late ! Unfortunately, this well crafted and easy to read volume very accurately depicts what you will be up against. Despite the warm eager welcomes you will receive from many companies, the reality of QUALITY FADE will already be on their mental agenda. They will execute this quietly, but quite expertly. Chinese companies are wonderfully creative long term strategic planners when it comes to squeezing blood from stones, your stones. They are also among the world's best at reverse engineering - anything !On the flip side, if you can establish a permanent presence within the company with whom you have chosen to do business, then that is a good beginning. Your "presence" must be able to speak the language fluently, and be totally commercially self sufficient. They must be empowered to take meaningful decisions on the spot without requiring recourse to a boss back home. In the absence of that, the Chinese "partner" will ensure that the big boss back home spends a considerable amount of his time on a plane. CAVEAT EMPTOR !

Well written to hold me in and want to read every page. Classic stories I can really relate to as someone who has visited China a few times

Very good read if anybody wants to do business with China, an eye opener. Easy read, humourous in places, but sad at the same time, understanding what goes on from somebody who lives there and helps western business to launch products. Enjoyed every page and am very glad I found this book in the first place.

Interesting reading to anybody interested in current economy and world affairs. A must read to everybody who are plannig to start shifting production to China. Correlates with my own experiences of the quality of products made in China.

Great read

Great book

Entertaining and true. Well wort a read if you are a business working with China to understand some of the culture.

Its what I have always suspected about Chinese products. They know every trick in the book and I like many others have been victims. This is well worth reading and then do everything you can NOT to buy Chinese.

as described

I don't know which is worse - some of the tales told in this book or the fact that I know several people who work in the Chinese production industry who confirm that they are 100% true.Well written and an eye-opener. I closed the last page and found myself sad that I had finished it and depressed in equal measure!