Comments on: You’re not getting what you asked for? Really?

By: Help! My supplier won’t reply to me!

Help! My supplier won’t reply to me! — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:18:36 +0000

[...] that you run into. A great article from David Dayton over at Silk Road International titled, You’re not getting what you asked for? Really? . It is from last year, but I think it is a great [...]

By: China Business Blog

China Business Blog — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:05:50 +0000

Great way of clearly stating what you need to do in order to ‘maybe get what you asked for’. Being in China yourself is the best start I guess, because from that, you can show up anytime and check production and samples.

By: A "must read" furniture industry professionals blog, with valuable insights & comments for furniture dealers, buyers agents, factories and buyers of manufactured furniture, case goods, lighting, antique furniture or ethnic home furnishings. (muebles c

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:37:50 +0000

[...] In fact, there is funny little post over on the Silk Road International Blog entitled “You’re not getting what you asked for? Really? which really sums up what the experience entails. Very quickly it became obvious to me [...]

By: david

david — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:34:48 +0000

As wishy-washy as it sounds, I think that it’s both.

There certainly is some real effort and honest intent to make things physically better with the clean up after the toy-paint problems last year. You can see this by how many factories were closed and how many standards are being enforced.

There is just as much intent to cover up any problems and any stories that would tarnish any of the 0lympic luster (if there is any left). This is the worrisome part–how much of the enforcement is real and how much is politically motivated? Who knows.

The question really isn’t the intent, though. The question should be how long it will last. It will certainly last through the end of this year. And hopefully it will last longer too. But, according to the govt. sponsored excuses, (China is very big, China is still a developing country, etc.) there is certainly potential for things to get worse/go back to previous conditions.

I would love there to be standards that are, well, standardized–meaning the same for all, all the time, no matter what. I think that there is real intent to maintain this, but I doubt that will happen long term. Further, If the Chinese economy has any bumps or hiccups in the next couple of years you’ll see a loosing of controls, for sure.

By: DetinSino

DetinSino — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:12:39 +0000

What kind of impact do you see this true-to-the-law enforcement having? DO you think this is simply a quick solution to clean up a little before the olymipcs or do you see China making a concerted effort to step up enforcement of regulations?

By: david

david — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:39:12 +0000

You’re right, I think on two accounts. First, the investment into company often does imply a vested interest in seeing that they have an easier time becoming successful. Often that is more to the advantage of the stakeholders than anyone else.

And second, the level of attention being paid to image right now in China is very acute. But unless you are talking about millions of dollars worth of product it probably won’t affect your production directly.

Where it’s hitting everyone right now is in shipping. The thumbscrews are really being tightened and every single rule is being followed right now–not a bad thing at all, but certainly not the same as in the past. I mentioned to a friend the other day that the combination of toy problems last year and the 0lympics this year are really making exporting more accountable/honest/true-to-the-law. Can’t complain about that.

By: jp

jp — Mon, 26 May 2008 16:41:14 +0000

謝謝您!
David!

I guess the only thing I can compare it to over here in the west would be “grease” or “protection” most often acquired by campaign contributions. A kind of “most favored corporation” status.
I was hoping that the government, with their partial interest, might be more receptive because of potential image roblems, already suffering.

By: david

david — Sat, 24 May 2008 02:20:30 +0000

I always think that it’s a great idea to involve decisions makers into the negotiation (and subsequent problem solving) discussions and to do it as early on as possible. Having said that it probably wouldn’t make sense to involve government officials unless they were directly involved in the introduction to the factory of management of the factory or are involved in the marketing of your product/partnership somehow. A minor ownership stake probably means some, um, how to say this, help with difficult legal issues more than it means that the govt. is directly involved in the manufacture of goods.