News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Why can't China make a good ballpoint pen?. Parent comment

Re:Why can't China make a good ballpoint pen? by lispm on Wednesday December 16, 2015 @03:29AM (#10743033)
It's hard to believe that in a market with a billion consumers there is not enough demand for slightly higher goods.

But product quality is not just about the ball of the pen. Product quality is about the whole product and its place in the environment: labor conditions, energy production/use, material use, waste treatment, usability, precision, etc.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Why can't China make a good ballpoint pen? by dagw on Wednesday December 16, 2015 @05:20AM (#10743366)
It's hard to believe that in a market with a billion consumers there is not enough demand for slightly higher goods.

People who want and can afford higher quality goods, can probably also afford imported goods and the higher status they give.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Why can't China make a good ballpoint pen? by gambiting on Wednesday December 16, 2015 @04:17AM (#10743168)
There probably is. But that market is probably sufficiently satiated with foreign pens, and not large enough to warrant domestic production.
[ Parent | on HN ]