a possible explanation to the "made in..." questions?

[markD]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/business/fender-aims-to-stay-plugged-in-amid-changing-music-trends.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=general&src=me

i found this to be an interesting read. it certainly could explain a little bit...

[Endrik]

I've never thought that Made In ..... was a good label in the first place. I can't help it but read Made In "Some western country".... by cheap starving immigrant labour.

Some countries use Product of ..... (insert country's name and write it in its language). Semantically different context. It gives you a sense that whatever you are buying is a product of some cultural space and tradition not that it's just made there.

[xenophobe]

i found this to be an interesting read. it certainly could explain a little bit...

Of course it is. Just look at FMIC's financials they released last year because of their desire to go public.

Fender Corporate is too big. They eat all the profits. So profit margins on guitars needed to be much higher just to break even, which they didn't.

Instead of cutting corporate jobs, they've decided to hike the price and lower the manufacturing costs.

[Newc]

I don't think they needed to cut corporate jobs, just corporate pay (and do it without cutting worker pay).

I mean, yeah it's great to have a 6-figure income, when the national economy can sustain it. If you've got 10% unemployment in a nation, it's time to start cutting pay at the higher levels of business and put that money into job-creation, because the few at the top can sustain the hit. The Working Man cannot take a 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50% pay cut. Top Level Execs can, and still maintain a respectable standard of living. Might not get the BMW, but you can make do with a Chevy, or Honda.

[decadence5423]

I love how they had to throw this bit in about Guitar Center:

"It’s controlled by Bain Capital, Mitt Romney’s old firm."

[LouSiffer]

Thats what happens when you charge $2K for the same guitar you have been building for over 50 years.....in fact, you have figured out how to do it cheaper than ever before.-Lou

[horns666]

Thats what happens when you charge $2K for the same guitar you have been building for over 50 years.....in fact, you have figured out how to do it cheaper than ever before.-Lou

Lou, these are facts !!!

Oh, If Kitten Mittens' firm owned anything ..it's probably "Made In Kolob"...or somewhere on Kolob.