[.3578]

Chrome rims are like cavities in teeth. The hard enamel is like the chrome and you see a small perforation on the surface. But underneath the softer dentine or steel will decay or corrode much more. Not good. Poor quality control on the bare rims before chroming and or poor chrome plating.

 

[.3578]

The fact of the matter is the us labor force is not yet ready to adopt the Chinese labor model. We would have to go back to the late 1800s and early 1900s to even come close to competing with them. Lower wages, longer hours, little or no employer benefits, little if zero workplace and environmental protection, and other concessions. We are getting closer in some respects, but still nowhere near. I wonder what PI pays for each wheel...I bet we would be blown away at the per unit cost.

 

[.3578]

I agree whole heartedly with both of you. Big bussines and industry still views us as too expensive. They are more than willing to compromise quality for cheaper product price. We actually are in a very delicate balancing act with being the lead consumer in the world. The ability to maintain income on a household basis enables us to purchase goods. But offering decent wage and benefit packages for assembly line work, or piece work, is too cost prohibitive and hurts their profit goals. It also drives up finished unit cost that is passed on to the consumer. If income is insufficient then purchasing stops and product collapses.

Again, I agree we are the premier labor force in the world, and blood was spilled to achieve decent wages and working conditions, but big business along with enabling politicians have made it where foreign goods are accepted into our country ... And we as consumers gobble them up as fast as they come off the boat.

 

[.3578]

I hate to be an alarmist, but take a dental pick and probe some of those small holes in the chrome and see what's the condition of the steel underneath.

 

[.3578]

You can't see a poor plating job at initial assembly. It rears its ugly head after exposure to the elements. QC on these rims has to be done during the plating process starting with the bare steel hoops all the way through final polishing. An assembler is seeing it as a finished product with no way of seeing what's underneath.