Chinese Toy Recall - Paying For Cheap Play
The Chicago Sun-Times has published an article written by Rachel Beck, offering a very insightful view concerning the recent recall of toys manufactured in China.
It does raise some interesting points about how modern businesses have been reducing costs to provide cheaper toys to the consumer. However, reducing costs has also reduced the product quality and removed many processes that provided quality assurance. To be honest, it was only a matter of time before the ‘Made In China’ brand becomes somewhat tarnished, as it is not just toys that are today manufactured to a lower quality than previously. It seems that many of todays clothing and consumer goods have a shorter and shorter shelf-life. Whilst the manufacturers are partly to blame (they want you to buy more products), manufacturing technology has improved to allow for higher quality products to be produced. Should this not balance itself out ?
Rachel Beck’s article is recommended reading for any parent.
It will be interested to see if we see a ‘Made In USA’ brand being pushed here ?
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jamison said,
Wrote on October 5, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
The very moment that a toy company issues a press statement saying:
“We care too much for our customers and their children. Because of this, we are eliminating the risk and fear associated with out toys made in china. From now on we will only have our toys made in America. This will rise the costs of our toys and we will lsoe customers, but your safety is more important to us than profits.”
That toy company’s profits WILL soar. Look, we all know we dont need flashy toys to entertain our babies. But if a company were to say THAT statemnet, you bet I will spend a few extra dollars and buy from them. I am SO SICK of handing my 4 month old a toy, and as he reaches for it, I pull it back, check the label, see “Made in China” and then hesitantly hand it over to him, not know if I did the right thing or not. The fear and guilt is terrible.
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Ian said,
Wrote on October 6, 2007 @ 4:22 am
I completely agree. It was interesting to see the CEO of Mattel over in China stating that the recent problems with the Mattel toys were due to a design fault and were Mattel’s fault. I doubt if the use of lead paint was part of the design !!!
It seems that the US companies are a little scared to point the blame at China, but we all know that when you outsource your manufacturing to reduce costs, how can you also expect the quality to remain the same.
I am also a bit worried when buying toys, as you do not really know what corners were cut to keep the costs low.