On Jul 4, 4:25*pm, thunder wrote:


I heard something interesting, perhaps on NPR, the Chinese prefer foreign
brands because the perceived quality. *Seemed a little odd to me, as most
of those "foreign" brands are manufactured in China.



In the past few years. American-made Snap-on tools have found a good
and profitable market in China as well as the rest of Asia.

"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Jul 4, 4:25 pm, thunder wrote:


I heard something interesting, perhaps on NPR, the Chinese prefer foreign
brands because the perceived quality. Seemed a little odd to me, as most
of those "foreign" brands are manufactured in China.



In the past few years. American-made Snap-on tools have found a good
and profitable market in China as well as the rest of Asia.

------------------------------

That's fine as long as they don't decide to make them there and market 'em
back here.

Eisboch

Eisboch wrote:
"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Jul 4, 4:25 pm, thunder wrote:

I heard something interesting, perhaps on NPR, the Chinese prefer foreign
brands because the perceived quality. Seemed a little odd to me, as most
of those "foreign" brands are manufactured in China.



In the past few years. American-made Snap-on tools have found a good
and profitable market in China as well as the rest of Asia.

------------------------------

That's fine as long as they don't decide to make them there and market 'em
back here.

Eisboch



I'm sure the Chinese already are manufacturing knock-offs.
Counterfeiting is one of their best accomplishments. From women's
clothing to cosmetics to callaway golf clubs, the chinese are adept at
fake goods.

"HK" wrote in message
m...


I'm sure the Chinese already are manufacturing knock-offs. Counterfeiting
is one of their best accomplishments. From women's clothing to cosmetics
to callaway golf clubs, the chinese are adept at fake goods.

Some of the traditional, cultural and historical products from China are
exquisite.
Unfortunately, most of it is not allowed in our modern, tree-hugger,
environmentally sensitive world.
The art work is of bone and rare woods that are band in our western society.

They just haven't caught up to modern, high production manufacture of
plastics.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"HK" wrote in message
m...


I'm sure the Chinese already are manufacturing knock-offs. Counterfeiting
is one of their best accomplishments. From women's clothing to cosmetics
to callaway golf clubs, the chinese are adept at fake goods.

Some of the traditional, cultural and historical products from China are
exquisite.
Unfortunately, most of it is not allowed in our modern, tree-hugger,
environmentally sensitive world.
The art work is of bone and rare woods that are band in our western
society.

They just haven't caught up to modern, high production manufacture of
plastics.

Eisboch

heh. "band" ??? try "banned"

"HK" wrote in message
m...
Eisboch wrote:
"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Jul 4, 4:25 pm, thunder wrote:

I heard something interesting, perhaps on NPR, the Chinese prefer
foreign
brands because the perceived quality. Seemed a little odd to me, as most
of those "foreign" brands are manufactured in China.



In the past few years. American-made Snap-on tools have found a good
and profitable market in China as well as the rest of Asia.

------------------------------

That's fine as long as they don't decide to make them there and market
'em back here.

Eisboch

I'm sure the Chinese already are manufacturing knock-offs. Counterfeiting
is one of their best accomplishments. From women's clothing to cosmetics
to callaway golf clubs, the chinese are adept at fake goods.

They had good teachers, American companies go there and teach them.

Even Cisco has problems with knock offs.

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Jul 4, 4:25 pm, thunder wrote:


I heard something interesting, perhaps on NPR, the Chinese prefer foreign
brands because the perceived quality. Seemed a little odd to me, as most
of those "foreign" brands are manufactured in China.



In the past few years. American-made Snap-on tools have found a good
and profitable market in China as well as the rest of Asia.

------------------------------

That's fine as long as they don't decide to make them there and market 'em
back here.

Eisboch

Already happening. Quite a bit of their inventory is made in China and
elsewhere. Sometimes they slap a "Product of USA" on packaged sets but the
tools came from China. Deceptive, but has been known to occur. Oh, the
case it'self was mould-inejected in the US with imported plastics so it is
technically true for the case.

Same thing goes on with GM, Ford and Chrysler. Engine from Europe,
transmission from Korea, bearings from Japan, steel from China, electronics
from Tiawan but assembled in USA. I doubt there is a 100% NA made vehicle
out there.

Snap-on is no angel here. Foreign made and imported. Just milking the
brand.

"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Jul 4, 4:25 pm, thunder wrote:

I heard something interesting, perhaps on NPR, the Chinese prefer foreign
brands because the perceived quality. Seemed a little odd to me, as most
of those "foreign" brands are manufactured in China.

In the past few years. American-made Snap-on tools have found a good
and profitable market in China as well as the rest of Asia.

Yep, and as of last year you can get the knock offs pretty inexpensively.
Just minus the logo.

As for the profits, while they are making some, the market is quite
competative and margins much thinner than Snap-on is used to. And as the
Chinese manufacturer for Snap-on, they gain the expertise to undercut
Snap-on. Good for short term numbers but lets take a look at Snap-on say 3,
8, 15 years out. My guess is the profits will be squeezed and pricing
elasticity is shot to hell.

With credit the way it is, the dealer part of the business is under the
squeeze in both costs and credit. Industrial is under pressure.
Government? Not sure but not big enough to mater that much.

The real problem with companies like SNA on a long term view is the new
management style. Hacksaw Jack of HNI fame started it and no doubt some was
needed. But new managment knows nothing else but ruthless and often
mindless slash and burn mentality, geared only towards short term profit and
management bonuses. Good short term view, but not maintainable in the long
term. From what I hear, they are not repairing the social damages done to
morale either. A ticking time bomb and VP/executive top heavy.

Review the history of another mid-west company, Master Lock. No longer
manufacturers much at all and ever bit outsourced. A shadow of it's former
self, went to China too. Snap-on in right on this track.

It isn't to say I would buy SNA stock, I might. If it dipped to $20 I might
make a short term play for $35 but it has no place in my long term portfolio
as a buy/hold. Sold my last lot at $59.90 just over a year ago. It will
not see $60/share until inflation drives it or a reverse split.