Tiny Post: Japan vs. China

Fri, Nov 30, 2007

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Interesting observation on their differences HERE.
(slightly off topic… but not completely)

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5 Responses to “Tiny Post: Japan vs. China”

  1. Tim Says:
    30. November 2007 at 12:49 pm

    I think the “a way” philosophy is what has gotten China in trouble recently with all of the various product recalls.

    Reply

  2. SpoonKiller Says:
    30. November 2007 at 4:02 pm

    I just got back a month ago from a trip to Hong Kong and Tokyo, and Fallows’ observation is on the money. Bad service is the exception to the rule in Japan. You will get the same excellent service whether you go to a Mickey D or a fancy restaurant. The Japanese just seem to take immense pride in their work and whatever task they are doing. They’re a fairly sedentary homogeneous society and the social pressure to comply and do things for the greater good of the whole is immense.

    This is not to imply that you won’t get good service in Hong Kong, but it usually comes at a price and is part of their bottom line calculation.

    Reply

  3. Balance Says:
    1. December 2007 at 3:28 am

    What I am getting from this is china and america have more in common than I realized. Do whatever it take to make the fast buck and **** the rest.

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  4. GenWaylaid Says:
    2. December 2007 at 9:13 am

    The point about America is well taken. Most of the “good ol’ Made in America” products were cheaply made but hugely over-engineered. Look at an American car from the 1950′s: crude even for its day, unreliable by today’s standards, built like a tank. For a scooter example, compare a Cushman to a contemporary Vespa, or better yet a German scooter. The Cushman comes across as pretty farm equipment.

    Today computers allow designs to be refined so over-engineering is very uncommon. So, before we go complaining about Chinese goods, it’s worth asking whether U.S. manufacturers would actually make anything better.

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  5. Tim Says:
    2. December 2007 at 12:57 pm

    When it comes to scooters I think their products are on par with most of the other manufacturers out there. But I doubt you would find a US company painting their products with lead based paint.

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