Thread: Repair Parts Debate

Permit me to relay a conversation that I had with a small manufacturer at a trade show in Las Vegas.

I think that it was the National Hardware Show, as much as 6 or 8 years ago.
(The NHS is aimed at buyers for retail establishments. SWMBO likes to go to LV and the show keeps me out of the casino during daylight.)
I don't remember what the product was being displayed. The product was one of those that fall into the category of, "Oh that's neat and I've never seen one before. Unfortunately a week after the show you've forgotten the product because you don't need one."

My trade show badge had me coded as a small store (really cabinet shop) but it really was more 'Daytime Entertainment'.

We were talking about the product and the difficulty or bring the product to market. The inventor / owner / booth person was very excited and told me, "We have factory time scheduled in China and we'll be able to deliver the product to stores just before the start of the holiday shopping season."

As I moved on and the more that I thought about the conversation, this whole "China factory time" comment caused the great awaking. In China, they set up the factory to build, they build and then repeat for the next product. By the time that you or I need a repair part, the factory has built many other products. There is no such thing as left over parts. There is no such thing as correcting any kind of errors. The whole concept is that the consumer does a buy, use, discard and buy again cycle.

It is a harsh reality mates.