tomlang
Los Angeles area
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Joined: 06/11/2007
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My daughters each own Volkswagens. The one made in 1995 in Germany is fine. The one made in 1999 in Mexico is junk.
On the other hand, I understand some of the highest quality Fords are re-badged Mazdas made in a Mexican plant.
Being that I am not a fan of Fleetwood products, I'm inclined to believe quality will improve in Mexico, just like it did for Ford.
Tom and Lynne
Tom is an Electronics Engineer, Lynne a retired teacher.
old rig is a 1988 Winnebago Superchief, just back from being on tour with the Blue Turtle Seduction (band)
new (our dream rig) is a 2003 Foretravel 38' U295
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Greyghost
San Jose, CA and Brunswick, ME
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Joined: 10/12/2001
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Quote:The build quality isn't going to be very good since the pay scale is from $1 to $3 per hour. Whereas the pay scale in the states was $25 to $30 per hour.
I know this will tick off our union members, but from my limited exposure to the UAW when purchasing cars, I welcome a change in motivation of the person doing the work.
Wage does not reflect quality or the personal pride reflected in producing a quality product. It only reflects the pay that the person is getting for putting in their time. Quality is a personal thing that many of today's workers do not understand unless their job is at stake. It has nothing to do with wage paid.
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jhilley
Buxton, ND
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Joined: 12/25/2005
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According to that WEB link they are manufacturing two lines of travel trailers there, not motorhomes.
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Quote"The build quality isn't going to be very good since the pay scale is from $1 to $3 per hour"
Mighty big assumption, parts of my Ford Truck are made in Mexico and it has been flawless.
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Daveinet
il
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Our company sells manufacturing equipment to manufactures in MX. I am the primary technical support person for equipment sold to MX. The problem is that the technical experience is extremely limited in MX. The work done is done by wrote, rather than understanding the process. This means that quality control is limited to an inspection after the fact, rather than throughout the process. Once its covered up, it doesn't exist. It is not that the Mexican worker is slothful or careless, but the Mexican working has no understanding of what they are doing. Therefore if they assemble something incorrectly, they don't understand that there is anything wrong, they are just supposed to put wigit A into wigit A's spot. To be productive in MX, you have to have a high volume, simple repatative assembly, where there is only one way that something can go together, otherwise you will have a disaster. This is exactly why many companies are pulling OUT of MX and going to China and Countries of the former Soviet Union. These countries have the technical skills and understanding.
The quality will suffer. Current quality issues in motorhomes are generally related to improper assembly, and now they are taking it to MX. This will only make it worse.
Dave
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rightlaneonly
sonora ca.
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Joined: 02/14/2004
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Ok, another company moves to Mexico or China or where-ever, isn't the big picture that one more company has made increased profit above all else. One by one our jobs are going out of the country and soon there won't be any good jobs here, maybe no jobs. Picture Americans sneaking across the border to get a job.Ok, that maybe a little bit of a stretch but who do all these CEO's think are gonna buy their product when all the good jobs are gone. I still wont buy a Hersey bar sorry for the rant.
Leroy & Jane
2005 chevy 96 wildwood and now an Aliner sportliner.
The journey IS the destination.
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Aridon
SE Florida
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rightlaneonly wrote:Ok, another company moves to Mexico or China or where-ever, isn't the big picture that one more company has made increased profit above all else. One by one our jobs are going out of the country and soon there won't be any good jobs here, maybe no jobs. Picture Americans sneaking across the border to get a job.Ok, that maybe a little bit of a stretch but who do all these CEO's think are gonna buy their product when all the good jobs are gone. I still wont buy a Hersey bar sorry for the rant.
Jobs move there because people tend to buy the cheapest available. How many "Tire Price" threads do we see? People don't want to pay the extra $25 per tire so they buy them from Costco and then in 10 years wonder why the mom and pop place down the street closed and thats the only place they can go. Well why pay for higher priced American labor when a guy in India or Mexico will do it ALMOST as good for much less?
Unfortunately most Americans don't buy quality, they buy for price and what looks ok. They don't care that the Chinese furniture they bought from Rooms 2 Go is junk, they didn't want to pay the extra 25% for solid wood that will last a lifetime. Especially when people tend to change things like underwear.
2008 Newmar 4330 (Modified)
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javaseuf
Southern Cal
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Joined: 03/30/2005
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StoneyPgh wrote:edeslaur wrote:I'm wouldn't be so quick to align pay scale with quality, certainly not in the long run (and probably not the first year when they're being extra careful)
That pay rate down there is highly prized - you don't keep a highly prized job by delivering substandard
Agree. I don't think the higher scale is necessarily reflected in the quality of assembly in the U.S.
I also agree. This was proven with the Sunline company that went bankrupt in 2006. Their workers received less than workers in California RV factories made but put out a far superior product.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
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Fossil Hunter
Torrance, Ca.
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Wow I am surprised at some of the posts....
First off the quality will suffer. I work for a major corporation and we have both quality and corruption issues in mexico .
Also, "made in America" still means something to me.
I personally would not choose to purchase a mexico assembled product when there are so many fine American examples.
P.S. My Japanese engineered truck was assembled in California, USA by well paid American workers
Fossil Hunter
2008 Winnebago Sightseer 30B
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J.W.T.
Houston
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There is only one little problem. How are the people that lost their jobs here going to pay for a motorhome built in Mexico? Two jobs emptying bed pans is not going to give you the income to afford gas let alone a motorhome. Don't even think of going the retraining route. As stated above, emptying bedpans is not going to pay very well.
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