I'm not carrying a grudge against BD for moving processes to China-their primary focus was growth and they did what they felt they had to do to grow.

I still use lots of BD gear and will probably end up buying more some day.

As it is, they ended up building most of their stuff in China, with a small proportion of gear or parts of gear still being made in SLC. I'm not sure that is how they originally planned it, that's just how it worked out.


From a personal view,I don't like to see someone claiming erroneously that BD didn't lay off people though- they did and it was a bad time for the people involved-those that left as well as those that stayed.


Also-as I understand it, offshoring is generally used to mean the relocation of processes,while outsourcing means procuring outside of the company. BD built and staffed a factory in China-I called that offshoring, but the usage may be different elsewhere.

SPLT Image I do care deeply about buying American and I do look where my products are made. That's why most of my rack is Metolius. It is also why I shop at the thrift store for clothes. Most products that were made in the U.S. aren't made here anymore so it is difficult to "buy american". I dont agree with the idea that you can sell your product here and falsely create a warm and fuzzy image. For example Apple has a factory in china (for those who dont know that often means the employees work 7 days a week, live on company property, and shop for thier necessities on company property, how do I know that you ask? My wife and I live in the Philippines where there is similar production facilities and has actual relatives in China working in that environment). Try having a dispute with your employer while living, eating, and borrowing from the company store --when you have a debt at the company store it kind of makes it hard to turn down overtime or just work 5 days and take a vacation for 2 whole days. Dont believe me? Google the employees who jumped off the building commiting suicide at the Apple factory. Maybe that's why Google was censored there and left the country maybe not. I wonder if you can find it anymore. As long as we allow companies to sell thier products to us and enjoy the protections our laws provide we should demand their working conditions, employee pay, and environemental protections are up to our high standards. I mean it is everyone's planet and I dont agree with slavery or near slavery anywhere.

A climbing friend who is an Engineer for GE called BD and spoke to their CEO or someone high up. He was told that cams are made here in the USA and simpl assembled in China. Same with carabiners.

I find that every sad that we supposinly and make the cams here but simply cannot assemble them here as well. Was told it was "More cost-effective to have them assembled in China."

No doubt. From a company that Chouinard started from his van making pitons here in the USA - this is what BD has now become.

Yeah! Lets remove all the factories from developing nations! Then the local populations can go back to agriculture and poverty. I'm sure they'll like that better than the "near slavery" working conditions.

I'm not for out-sourcing, but the issue is ridiculously complex (look into the Cambodian garment industry). Maybe if economists and american consumers were as smart as the troll the worlds problems would be solved!

Why bother...I get it that exploiting a countries labor pool and resources in exchange for cheap products is a good trade off. At least for the people who own the major corporations. I guess we will see in the future what that holds for the U.S. citizen as well as the rest of the world. And SPLT Image I have lived in both countries here in the philippines just for a short time and it is a bit eye opening sorry if how I spout my opinion is a bit pretentious to you that's not how it is intended. I moved here because my own business failed in the U.S., I lost my house, I wanted an adventure, and to meet my wife's family (who I had never seen). As for: my business-I learned I need to be a better businessman, My house--it was just where I lived and dont stress about losing it, adventure--I am having an experience that they call life enriching and everyone should have it, my wife's family well at least they are becoming familiar before I never knew them.

Why? overhead, gov. regs.

Overlooked fact - pre-single stem BD Camalots were made in Korea.

Korea!

Yeah, My old Chouinard cams say U.S. Products manufactured in R.O.K.

Kenny Thompson my business failed because I am/was a poor businessman. I had a business that provided me an adequate living but very little for a rainy day (I also spent my discretionary income on climbing and outdoor activities) Anyway to make a long story short my first and most important client (Commander John H. Folsom U.S.S. McCook D-Day John wasn't the commander of the boat but a damage control officer at the time) was near death and had never had kids(he called me eho which means son in spanish). I ran my personal training business out of his house for about 7 years and as he began to die I had to put my business on hold (for about 3 months)to ensure he had the dignity he deserved and died in his own home. I was confident that my clients would return but after he died the economy started decline. In addition I decided that I wasnt going to let anything stand in the way of me having the life that I wanted and I wanted to focus more on the fun activities and less on my business. The result was a business that failed. Some regulations hindered my business but mainly it was me making a human decisions instead of business decisions and you know what I wouldnt change a thing. I am proud of my business but I am happy that I chose a life of adventure instead.

Or perhaps it was naivete...

All personal attacks aside local US companies are great except unfortunately they cannot compete on a large scale for reasons I named above and therefore can't have the economic impact (read:jobs) that a "evil" out-sourcing/shoring corporation does.

Specifically to us, there are some great small American made climbing companies out there but I fear that they can't compete on a larger scale because of this and can't grow beyond the few employees they do have. The US economic impact of these companies is very small compared to bigger companies that maybe outsource but probably employ more US employees then all of the small ones combined.

In a general sense capitalism is inherently exploitative, stiff competition resulting in a quest for ultra efficiency. Currently, the internet has leveled the playing field allowing small outfits to reach a larger audience more easily and allowing them to bypass at least some of the capitalistic pressure of outsourcing. Unfortunately I don't see a strong effort from these small manufacturers to take advantage of that.

If I may now return to the personal attacks; Eric perhaps if you made some better business decisions you would now be able to contribute to the US economy by earning a fair income, paying taxes and employing people. I'm happy for you and your "adventure" in the far east but as of currently outsourcing evils are having a very large US impact and you are having very little. Also, this isn't to single you out but to use you as an example for my point, we are all guilty for the ills of this country and the world.

If BD ships parts to china for assembly- Lobes springs cables and stems- why don't they just sell it as a kit and you can make your own cam. Shit I`d put it all together myself if it took $20 bucks off the cam.

For anyone who wants the other side to the Chinese Apple factory"story" Eric is baselessly depicting, here you go:
podcast.thisamericanlife.org/special/TAL_460_Retraction_Tran>>>

I'm always feeling charitable'ee, btw .. if someone was looking to send their profits for a cause.

anybody can have propaganda Nick, all I was trying to do with the manufacturing campus story was to tell the plight of the individuals who work there. I did get the story almost first hand (ok it was translated to me by my wife who was telling the story of her nephew and where his dad was when I bought lechon (a pig) for a family party when I met her family. If you can put two and two together you will realize this is a kid who is growing up without his dad (I know big deal who cares dad's are overrated). He does have someone he never sees who is putting food on the table and shoes on his feet though.