I believe all digital bar code rods are made by the same manufacturer (Nedo), for Trimble, Leica, etc. At least that is what I had heard.?ÿ
I had a 4 m meter Trimble rod (wooden) for many years, never had any problems at all. However, the face was a bit scratched up, so I decided to get a new one. A lot cheaper than I expected, under $175.?ÿ
But, the hinges are not good, they are difficult to lock into place, and now the bubble is way out. The old one never had an issue with the bubble over about 10 years. So maybe the new one got knocked, but the hinges are definitely an issue. Talked to my dealer, he said they recently ordered three and they differed in scale, so they sent them all back.
I think they switched manufacturing from Europe to China. My dealer sort of confirmed this.
I would gladly pay more for a quality product from the US or Europe. But I guess not everyone thinks as I do, they just want the cheapest possible.?ÿ?ÿ
EBay used is your friend.
It's across the board, the fixation on price over the economy of value. For many years I've used Xtratuf boots, I think they were made in Indiana and they held up wonderfully. Commonly referred to around here as?ÿ 'Alaska sneakers'. Of course the manufacturer saw dollar signs and moved production to China and the price of a pair didn't change much, but now I hear they just don't last nearly as long. I ran out and bought a couple pairs of the USA made boots as soon as I heard their plans to move and those will be the last ones I'll own.?ÿ
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
My last pair of USA Xtra-tuffs are on their last legs. They will be my last. BTW they call'em Sitka sneakers down here.
I have been wearing Danner boots for decades and when they began making some of their boots in China the poor quality was immediately noticeable. I have sent several pairs of boots back in exchange for a different pair. The most recent was about 4 months ago because of a god awful horrible smell. The little gal I spoke with told me they have had many reports of that and didn't even ask me to return them because they would stink up their repair shop so I burnt them once I got the replacement pair, a different boot I might add.
Quality is hard to define but poor quality is easily and quickly recognized. People often say that nobody will pay for good quality products but it seems the only choice we have are crap products. Give me a choice of good quality vs: crap and I will choose good quality all day but rarely do we even have that option.
Some of Danner's more expensive models are still made right here in river city.?ÿ During the height of the Iraq war they were almost impossible to get because the military's needs.?ÿ
I'm hoping that we are in the early stages of correcting the problem a broad acceptance of poorly made Chinese products.?ÿ I just went through orientation to get an entry badge for a large construction site.?ÿ The safety instructor drove home the fact that any crane rigging components that were made in China would be tagged and removed from the site.?ÿ If the same company was caught with Chinese rigging again they along with all their equipment would be permanently removed from the site.?ÿ?ÿ
I'm hoping that we are in the early stages of correcting the problem a broad acceptance of poorly made Chinese products.?ÿ I just went through orientation to get an entry badge for a large construction site.?ÿ The safety instructor drove home the fact that any crane rigging components that were made in China would be tagged and removed from the site.?ÿ If the same company was caught with Chinese rigging again they along with all their equipment would be permanently removed from the site.?ÿ?ÿ
I will tell you this & not to get political here but there has never been a more prescient statement when back in 1992 Ross Perot said that if NAFTA was enacted that there would be a giant sucking sound of jobs leaving this country. All throughout the south and Appalachia factories closed as the owners of them were incentivized to relocate. It is going to take a long darned time to recover if it ever does as many of those places have been destroyed with that fools folly.
As the manufacturing costs and standards of living in China rise, you're going to be wistfully remembering the quality of European and American goods made in China when your only option is Chinese goods made in sub-Saharan Africa.?ÿ
China still ships a lot of junk, but they also make a lot of high-quality stuff.?ÿ They followed the Japanese model:?ÿ after the war Japan produced and exported tons of crap products, using the income and experience to improve its industrial capability.?ÿ 30 years later its reputation had improved to the point that American consumers perceived many Japanese goods to be superior to those produced domestically.
China is in the same path, but they're working faster.?ÿ They're not only producing excellent electronics, but a lot of industrial goods as well.?ÿ They even put a rover on the moon.
There's still a lot of Chinese junk (that's a pun of sorts) out there, but there's a lot of high-quality stuff coming out of China, too.