For U.S. consumers, allure of Chinese goods still price

For U.S. consumers, allure of Chinese goods still price

This article very briefly highlights the consumer response to Chinese product recalls, and the general attitude toward escalating product safety costs. Some consumers consider the “made in China” scare to have been blown completely out of proportion, and feel no need to worry about contaminants in their goods, and shrug off massive recalls China has made within the past year. In the mean time, others have taken product contamination to the heart making sure to avoid, at all costs, products made in China. Ultimately though, we can track how the consumer’s reactions will be further in the future by monitoring what people buy, and what people don’t buy. If consumers take the threat of safety seriously, discount chains and mass retailer companies will suffer unless they increase the safety standards. Burns’ article however, takes the attitude that we as a society are drawn to the cheap and the fast, and implies that safety precautions will not be made as good as they should be simply because it is too costly for what the majority of people will pay. But changes are being made; China has begun to put more emphasis on their quality control, and has created a somewhat effective recall system. One obstacle that customs inspectors must deal with is the fact that Chinese producers collect their parts and chemicals and such from countless long supply chains that are nearly impossible to trace back to thus making sure that the chemicals and parts are safe becomes difficult. It is not only the consumers though, who have a stake in the situation, the large companies have a lot at risk when they make decisions over their safety inspection standards, and quality control. [1]

I feel this situation is quite a big deal in that products contain hazardous chemicals and are not adequately inspected because it comes down to my own health and I would not want to jeopardize my health if I didn’t have to. I think that the ones who will really suffer in the coming years will be the large corporations because they have to make changes that will satisfy the public as well as to earn reasonable profits, and one bad choice could bring a massive company down. This does not, however, relieve the public from their responsibilities. It is important that we take more consideration to our health, eventually once enough recalls have been made, and enough people have died at the expense of fast and cheap goods, the public opinion will turn and better changes will occur.


[1] Burns, Greg; For US goods, allure of Chinese goods still price; Chicago Tribune Web Edition; august 15 2007. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/shopping/chi-wed_lead0815aug15,1,68574...