iPod gulags (Chinese slave labor)

WorldNetDaily ^ | 6/23/06 | Joseph Farah

[ROTB]

>might be equivalent to a an American salary of $12k or
>possibly even $24k in terms of buying power.

What's taxation like in China?

[RS]

"Many of these workers are migrant workers (who may not even 'exist' legally) from the provinces who have very little contact with family, and in the event of an emergency- such as a hospital stay- cannot fall back upon normal means of coping."

Wait until they start taking jobs from the urban Chinese worker ... then there will be a clamoring for a "Great Wall" to be built to keep them out -

Right now they are doing the jobs the average Chinese would not do ...

[JudgemAll]

Err.... scarier is that these are more like PRC military living conditions... let me see... why such stealth military conscription...

Damn, they got us again a tower.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

My deceased brother had our old family wire recorder.
It had wires of my father talking and telling a joke.
I need to ask my SIL if she knows its location.
Even though I think I could splice the wires, I would rather have an expert put the data on CD.
Wire recorders were the first magnetic recorders but the wires broke very easily.

[sgtbono2002]

Well all this is well and good, but it appears to m that the ipod is a lot like the ink cartridge in your printer. It costs about 15 bucks to make and they sell it for 200 to 3oo bucks. the ink Cartridge costs about 1 buck to make and costs 45 bucks. And they bitch about windfall profits in the oil business.

[mgstarr]

The price will NEVER come down

LOL so you know a lot about the Shuffle and other intro iPod models. You might as welll quit while you're behind...

Curious, how many iPods do you own or have used?

[AntiGovernment]

I have an iPod. And President Bush has an iPod. I'm very concerned about these reports. However, Apple is investigating them, and I'm awaiting to see what the investigation results in.

[wagglebee]

The prices for the Shuffles have come down, but sales of them have lagged the other models. The Nano is actually at the SAME price point as the old Mini, but with two gigs LESS capacity. And yes I own two iPods, a Mini and a 30 gig.

[Huntress]

With apologies to Tennessee Ernie Ford . . .

You build sixteen iPods what do you get?
another day older and deeper in debt.
St. Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the iTunes store.

[mgstarr]

There seem to be a plethora of competing products out there, so I assume you agree there's decent market competition. The Nano has a slimmer profile than the Mini.
Mini: 91 x 51 x 12.7 mm
Nano: 89 x 40 x 7 mm
Weight
Mini: 102 grams
Nano:42 grams

I strongly urge you to quit while you're behind

[Democratshavenobrains]

Yeah, the Chinese were much better off a century ago when they weren't reduced to making cheap electronics. Farah sure showed us.

[SouthCarolinaKit]

I couldn't live without my Nano. It's loaded with audio books which entertain me whenever I'm waiting for anything, am out walking, or doing housework. I'm well over sixty and female but. . . don't know anyone else my age who knows what an iPod is!

[wagglebee]

My statement was that Apple would continue to introduce newer models with different features. By doing so, they will be able to keep prices relatively constant. That is what they have done. They have not had to bring prices down because none of the models that were on the market 12 or 18 months ago are even available any more.

[mgstarr]

Wow - better features, slimmer profile, lower weight, constant price. Capitalism sucks. Older models are out there - have you queried eBay? It would be different if the functionality of older models was impaired but it isn't.

(I strongly urge you not to debate me on this because you will lose)

[wagglebee]

I would love to know what makes you think I am somehow anti-capitalism. It is great that Apple has been able to introduce newer models that are smaller, lighter and have better features while still keeping the price constant. But that is not a price REDUCTION.

I was responding to post #41 where the poster wrote, "I'm waiting for the price to come down! I will not pay full price for anything"

My response was, "The price will NEVER come down, Apple just introduces newer models with different features to keep price and demand up." With the exception of the Shuffle (which very few people want in the first place), you have yet to demonstrate how I have been incorrect.

There is nothing to debate here, you are trying to equate expanded features with a price drop and the two aren't the same thing. I agree that the newer features will attract more buyers, they will not attract buyers who are solely interested in price.

[dawn53]

I just bought a shuffle for my niece, it was $69. At Christmas they were $99.

My 18 year was given some $$$ to buy a gift. I thought he'd be buying a new game system like xbox 360, but he bought the iPod 60 gb. It is an amazing little piece of technology, I don't forsee the price of those dropping dramatically.

[Bommer]

How Ironic. Steve Jobs using a Big Brother Govt. To build his crap for capitolistic prifit! Its like 1984! Hmmm. Where have I seen that theme before?

"REVE ROBS RAYS BUILD HIS IPRODS FASTER!

[wildwood]

Yes all iPods should be made in America by happy and fat unionized workers

THANK you. in the area of competitive compassion, i have just about had it with boycotting stuff because the workers don't have the same standard of living we do.

[mgstarr]

Oh please, spare me your diatribe against Jobs. As for the "crap" he builds, I suggest that you haven't a clue.
So if it's "crap", why does it still (20 plus years later) demand a market premium?

The biggest beef I have against most protectionist posters is that they don't understand Economics 101.

[vpintheak]

There is the irrational Wal-mart hate again. Blame friggin' Apple or the damn commies in China. Do not blame a company that brings the in the lowest prices. If the commies didn't work their people to death and the manufacturer's didn't ignore it, then the retailers (walmart) would have quite as low prices.