[VegasCowboy]

I believe outsourcing is a trend that will eventually fade away, especially in regards to customer service. I predict within a couple years you will see companies touting the fact that all customer service calls will be handled within the U.S.

The market will eventually work this out. It may take a while, but it will come.

[Dat Mon]

YOU SAID..."I believe outsourcing is a trend that will eventually fade away, especially in regards to customer service."

IMHO...foreign outsourcing (actually OFFSHORING) was invented for all intents and purposes by Jack Welch of GE, when he started moving large segments of GE's aircraft engine design and manufacturing over to China in the late 80's. The effects were traumatic...I once did consulting with a former senior engineer from GE Aircraft Engine who clued me in on it.

Like most tulip crazes however....it was picked up by the Harvard MBA crowd...who jumped on the bandwagon...as Welch is still revered in business circles and on the street.

Now...I'm not saying outsourcing itself cant be a winning proposition for a company..IF DONE WITHIN AMERICA, it can be a winning proposition...as in outsourcing accounting, legal, payroll, HR, or even engineering (as in consulting).

OFFSHORING on the other hand, IMHO is way way overused and its benefits overstated. We WILL see this over time, but not before suffering severe damage to our infrastructure...some of which will be irreversible in our lifetimes.