The Frugal Corner?

[Kid Cossack]

Arlen:

Well said on all counts. I've seen the difference in "country of origin" quality level assumptions in my own lifetime. Why, back in the day, EVERYONE just KNEW that Japanese products were at best cheap, rinky-dink knock-offs of quality goods. Well, my Honda Civic del Sol is 12 years old, runs like a top, and hasn't had any unscheduled maintenance.

The Pakistanis produce crap, yes, but they can also produce first rate goods.
The Scots produce crap, yes, but they can also produce first rate goods.
The American produce crap, yes, but they can also produce first rate goods.
In all three cases, a lot depends on the vendor's specifications and rigorous standards.

[slohairt]

I agree, Arlen. I, too have friends of Indian and Pakistani ancestry, and I'm getting tired of seeing the term "****" being bandied about. It's about time someone said something. I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure racial slurs are against the rules here. Bad products don't equate bad people.

[Erisianmonkey]

I agree, Arlen. I, too have friends of Indian and Pakistani ancestry, and I'm getting tired of seeing the term "****" being bandied about. It's about time someone said something. I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure racial slurs are against the rules here. Bad products don't equate bad people.

I've said it before, and I will say it again, just because a product comes from Pakistan does not make it a bad product. If you think that it does, then you really need to reevaluate how you arrive at quality decisions. I have seen numerous compliments for SWK on this board, and his stuff comes from Pakistan. I have stated before that as a blade collector, I have received some Pakistani knives that were of incredibly wonderful craftsmanship. Indeed, I have a fantasy sword, one of my favorites, that is of Pakistani origin and the craftsmanship is second to none. I also have a sword in my collection that is nice to look at from a distance, but is a flimsy piece of second-rate crap-made in the USA. Does that mean that all products made in the USA are bad? Absosmegginglutely not! Look at the craftsmanship rather than the origin stamp first, and when you hit that origin stamp you just might be surprised. (Depending on your prejudices.)

[Kilted-Marine]

We have been looking at ordering some swords to sell, Some Scottish style and also some USMC NCO Swords, Navy swords, and a few others. Maybe even doing a Leatherneck Kilt & Marine NCO Sword package. My question is..do you folks think there is enough of a market for swords that we could move 25-50 a month (I know a lot depends on price and we would try to be competitive)

[Erisianmonkey]

We have been looking at ordering some swords to sell, Some Scottish style and also some USMC NCO Swords, Navy swords, and a few others. Maybe even doing a Leatherneck Kilt & Marine NCO Sword package. My question is..do you folks think there is enough of a market for swords that we could move 25-50 a month (I know a lot depends on price and we would try to be competitive)

That is a very good question Mark. I wouldn't know whether or not you could do 50, but I think you might be able to pull off 25. Depending on how you register pages with the search engines, I think that a page of swords (no, not the Tarot card...) could actually pull some random people in that would get kilts.

[slohairt]

I've said it before, and I will say it again, just because a product comes from Pakistan does not make it a bad product. If you think that it does, then you really need to reevaluate how you arrive at quality decisions. I have seen numerous compliments for SWK on this board, and his stuff comes from Pakistan. I have stated before that as a blade collector, I have received some Pakistani knives that were of incredibly wonderful craftsmanship. Indeed, I have a fantasy sword, one of my favorites, that is of Pakistani origin and the craftsmanship is second to none. I also have a sword in my collection that is nice to look at from a distance, but is a flimsy piece of second-rate crap-made in the USA. Does that mean that all products made in the USA are bad? Absosmegginglutely not! Look at the craftsmanship rather than the origin stamp first, and when you hit that origin stamp you just might be surprised. (Depending on your prejudices.)

Hmmm...you seem to have missed the point I was making. I was protesting the use of an ethnic slur by other members of this forum. As for the quality of products exported from Pakistan? I would expect that it is much the same situation as any other country. Some are good, some are bad. What I was trying to say was that when one receives a bad product from a country (whatever country that may be) he or she should not allow it to prejudice his view of the people in general.

[Erisianmonkey]

Hmmm...you seem to have missed the point I was making. I was protesting the use of an ethnic slur by other members of this forum. As for the quality of products exported from Pakistan? I would expect that it is much the same situation as any other country. Some are good, some are bad. What I was trying to say was that when one receives a bad product from a country (whatever country that may be) he or she should not allow it to prejudice his view of the people in general.

I'm sorry if I missed your point Sean, although I got the point about people. The last sentence of the post I was responding to was "Bad Products don't equate bad people." I would agree with that sentence, but I would also say that the argument that it was made in the middle of was the notion that Pakistani/Asian made=crap. I was objecting to that notion, which despite defending the character of the people, you seemed to be upholding. I apologise if I misunderstood.