Main > Everything Else
Why does shipping from China take so long?
hypernova:
--- Quote from: Nephasth on May 11, 2012, 08:15:30 pm ---How do you know the American you're buying from isn't selling Chinese merch? (Looking at you Vigo... :lol)
--- End quote ---
You don't. You just hope.
Howard_Casto:
Anything more complex than a toaster (ironically including your average toaster) is made in China. 90% of the shelves in your local S-mart are stocked with Chineese merch. Even "American" and "Japanese" products have 50-90% of their components made in China.
The only things still made in the USA are products that are too bleeding edge for China to manufacture (think processors and such) or too large for it to be cost-effective to ship (think cars, and homes).
Our industrial age was several decades ago. We are now in the business of services and r&d... get used to it, this is how capitalism works. I don't think people understand that the local economy doesn't exist anymore. It's been purely global for decades, ESPECIALLY when the internet poped up. China in terms of their social-economic state are stuck in the 50's in many respects. It's their turn to work factories. Don't worry, when the next industrial age hits we'll be ready.
Also communism isn't bad, nor are the Chinese people or their businesses. It's just the creepy little fat kid that opresses them that is bad. ;) As a whole the business aspect of China is very similar to our own countries.
Btw, I am NOT saying that these facts are particularly a good thing, I'm just making the point that the ship has sailed and there's no going back to the 50's where everything was made right here in the good old U S of A and you could point to a spot on the map and instantly say "that's a good country" or "that's our enemy".
Getting back on topic. I've actually been astounded at how things from China often get here quicker than other parts of the US. Anything I order from CA , for example, can take a full two weeks to get here. On the other hand yoru average import do-dad will get here in about a week, sometimes alarmingly sooner, like 3-5 days! I think it has to do with what you order though. I usually order electronics kit... leds, resistors, ect...
trekking95:
Actually I think its the cheapest and fastest shipping in the world! Any time I order stuff there has never been a problem with it.
Grasshopper:
--- Quote from: Howard_Casto on May 12, 2012, 07:47:21 pm ---
Our industrial age was several decades ago. We are now in the business of services and r&d... get used to it, this is how capitalism works. I don't think people understand that the local economy doesn't exist anymore. It's been purely global for decades, ESPECIALLY when the internet poped up. China in terms of their social-economic state are stuck in the 50's in many respects. It's their turn to work factories. Don't worry, when the next industrial age hits we'll be ready.
--- End quote ---
I don't share your complacency.
What you've just described was essentially plan B, for when our manufacturing sector became uncompetitive. And for a few decades we (more or less) got away with it. However, even the relatively well paid knowledge-based jobs are beginning to be outsourced to places like China and India, and there doesn't appear to be a plan C.
The only thing that will bring the global economy back into balance (and which will eventually be forced on us) is a massive devaluation of all western currencies. There's simply no way that someone working in a western country can compete on the global stage when there's an equally skilled individual in China or India willing to do exactly the same work for a tenth of the salary.
Gray_Area:
--- Quote from: BadMouth on May 11, 2012, 03:17:06 pm ---That's the price you pay if you want it cheap.
I quit ordering <$5 ebay stuff from China because the last few required a signature upon delivery.
It's just not worth it to have to drive downtown to the post office and stand in line to sign for it.
--- End quote ---
You don't have to. You can call their 800 number and request it re-delivered....of course, you have to be there.
--- Quote from: Grasshopper on May 13, 2012, 09:51:32 am ---
The only thing that will bring the global economy back into balance (and which will eventually be forced on us) is a massive devaluation of all western currencies. There's simply no way that someone working in a western country can compete on the global stage when there's an equally skilled individual in China or India willing to do exactly the same work for a tenth of the salary.
--- End quote ---
The western world would've done well to have taken ownership of the rest of the world into the beginning of the twentieth century, and particularly at the end of world war two. Then, only those folks would be working. Not that, barring some catastrophe, anyone will be working in 100 hundred years. Maybe less.
But this is all off topic. I don't check on my items from abroad. I just wait for them. Some come quickly, some don't.