Why can't China make a good ballpoint pen?

Re:Why can't China make a good ballpoint pen? by nroets on Wednesday December 16, 2015 @02:13AM (#10742837)

I think Mr. Li would consider Bic a good pen. "crappy pen(s) ... leak ink".

There are lot of unbranded pens in the market that stop working even before the ink inside them are used up. On the other hand, Bic has better pens because they cannot afford to disappoint customers.

China faces a branding problem, but most markets are saturated and cannot accommodate another brand.

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Re:Why can't China make a good ballpoint pen? by mc32 on Wednesday December 16, 2015 @02:19AM (#10742850)

Right, but most Chinese pens work like bics. Most don't explode ink in your pockets.

After the reconstruction of WWII Japan too had a branding issue. Before wwi the US had a branding issue. We all have to start somewhere and work our ways up.

I believe the PRC spokesperson just wanted to embarrass industry in general to get them to think about improvement and innovation --which is good and well, but I don't think its couth to bite the hand that fed you. It seemed a bit ungrateful.

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Re:Why can't China make a good ballpoint pen? by pheroden on Wednesday December 16, 2015 @02:28AM (#10742871)

They don't, and this is the problem. They aren't talking designer.

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