Why is everyone going to China for parts, etc.?

I have a small business in Chgo area, we will have to close soon due to our clients going to China for parts that cost less. Has anyone been concerned about this delimma, recent stories reflect badly on China, lead in paint for kid's toys, recall of food, etc. Why can't Americans buy American? So what if it costs a little more. Parts made in America by American citizens, keep the jobs here. I'm so angry about this I could bust. Than there's Walmart, what, 90% of their products are made in China. Wake up America!!!!!!

Well first of all not everything in China is bad. China is a quickly devoloping country, and is encountering growing pains. However american business operates on the principle that cheaper is better. That is primarily because Americans are greedy and want to make more money. China doesnt allow the same type of labor unions our country does. And the cost of living is much lower in China. Therefore they pay there employees less, most of which may not be as skilled as employees in America are expected to be. That is why the big three american automakers are suffering so badly. For years they outsourced parts from mexico and canada. Why? Because they could produce parts cheaper because they dont have labor unions, usually people in a union are paid more as they are seen as highly skilled laborers. However in Mexico the cost of living is MUCH lower than here stateside, so they simply pay there employees less thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing a product, so that they can sell it for cheaper. That is part of the reason that the big three are having such a hard time, that fact itself is giving people the wrong idea. "Why buy American if its made in Canada?" Well if Americans werent so money hungry and expected full benefits from their parent company, they wouldnt need to outsource. Paying a Union to produce an individual part can cost GM three or four times what it would cost to have it made in Mexico. And if they depended on unions to produce every part, The 2008 Ford Focus would cost three times what it does now.. That doesnt make you very competitive. On top of that GM is still paying for full medical benefits for employees that are retired, most of those have their spouses insured. And it is costing GM millions, if not billions of dollars, so they need a way to save money. Even if you arent in a Union, usually skilled laborers are paid more in the U.S. because we simply cant afford not to get paid at a given rate.

I am sorry that you are losing your job, because somewhere there is a guy in a plush office who will make a ton of money because he is outsourcing a product from China. And I do agree that is wrong, but then so is most of America these days... And if the car example isnt good for your situation, I just know its based on the same principle, it all comes down to saving a couple of bucks... If some of these companies actually thought about their employees I would respect them more. But on the same token, their own employees can run a company into the ground especially if they are in a union, by not being cooperative when it comes to cutting cost.

I manage a small business as well. I find that you get what you pay for, chinese made products don't have the quality that american mades do. and business does better when people know that you provide a quality product that will function for many years to come. but I don't think it will last. this country is being swamped by the third world. buy gold, a gun and hope for the best.

China have much lower production cost, workers who will do more hours and for less pay鈥?no union reorientation and often higher build quality them America (i import from America, China and India)鈥?.it also doesn鈥檛 help American productivity when Bush start slapping import taxes on no American steel, copper, and aluminum鈥?forcing American company to by there components domestically forcing the price up鈥︹€ou guys are in for a real hard time now you economy is going into recession along with your current falling housing market鈥︹€hina and India are going to over take you as super powers in the next 5 years and there is very little you can do about it鈥︹€?.capitalism, isn鈥檛 it fun!