It's been my experience that cultural differences come into play. In China, and this does not apply to all manufacturers there, only the ones I've worked with (names and faces withheld), manufacturers will at the onset of the contract manufacture to exceed specifications outlined. As time moves on, however, QC diligence is on the contract holder as long term quality drops as time passes. If received Chinese items are rejected, generally the Chinese manufacturer will rework or correct the issue if the outlined specifications are not met. Sending stuff back for rework can get pretty pricey so often we would work a deal on new parts. The problem with the cultural differences are that the Chinese companies are busy lining pockets as well. They too are looking to deliver at the lowest possible cost and at their own highest margin, and often will play the "it's easier to ask forgiveness after the fact than ask permission up front" game. So if they have inferior items off of their production line, they will take extra measures to hide and bury those items so that unless every item is inspected on arrival in NA, the inferior products will go unnoticed for some time. This makes it extremely difficult for an importer of large volumes to recover. And so plays the game. A company like Harley then, either does not inspect every item before shipping, or if they do, look the other way to hope items are acceptable to the end user. I woudl hope that a company like Harley would be guilty of simply not having the resources to closely inspect every item in detail.

Like I said, this is simply my experience. Others experiences may vary, but from my take on it, quality from a lowest Chinese bidders is what it is whenever you go with the lowest bidder. They are the lowest because they find more corners to cut. It is indeed rare that the lowest bidder is ever the least expensive. One day the US manufacturers will have to catch on to that or they will fail.

Business is very different in China. In North America we would consider many of their business practices corrupt and unethical, at the very least, and illegal at worst.

 

I disagree, When you have mass product coming out in mass amounts the quality control just plain sucks. I also have seen good stuff come out of china (like plates). In China they just don't care if the stuff is good quality they make their money in quantity...If the chrome isn't up to your standards thank the EPA for that they are the ones that pushed all the good ol boys out.

 

I'm gonna say it and I know it will offend some and my grand fathers will roll over in their graves but, when you have the unions charging what they charge companies like Harley just can't afford to pay them and keep their profit margins where they need to be. Next thing to happen will be Harley being 100% put together in Mexico...Unions are just as bad as China these days too busy lining their pockets instead of worrying about keeping business here...Flame away.

 

I agree. The money always comes from somewhere, and if it's me controlling the money, it ain't coming out of my pocket! So, ya gotta find it somewhere.

The good news is that Harley has survived the worst of times on the loyalty of it's customers. They may have to again at some point.

 

I was thinking only Kuryakyn had cheep crome, now the Mother Ship, Oh No.

 

Yep, agree, China like any other can and will build to the specs.

 

And another guy that's rolling over would be President Reagan, he saved harleys *** back in the 80's...he put higher tariffs on Japan so they would stop importing so many bikes and keep an American made product here (jobs), now look harley farms everything out to foreign countries...god help us. Lol

 

Try "Tie Downs"...just like the ones you use with your HD on the trailer..they work great.

Be Scared No more my Son

 

I agree as well. Problem is, the loyalty that harley gets is from older folks like most of us here, and we aint livin' that much longer!

 

As a sort of a twist....

Company I work for sells components to an aerospace manufacturer that has sub assemblies made in China, so we ship the components directly there. One particular part, a little fastener with a threaded hole.... we sent a shipment of 27,000 the last time. They found 3 without threads & rejected the lot.

The Chinese certainly can do quality control, when it's in their interest.

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