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1st out of 22 books
—
6 voters
Poorly Made in China: An Insider's Account of the Tactics Behind China's Production Game
by
Paul Midler
Praise for "Poorly Made in China""This fast-paced travelogue through the world of Chinese manufacturing is scary, fascinating, and very funny. Midler is not only a knowledgeable guide to the invisible underbelly of the global economy, he is a sympathetic and astute observer of China, its challenges, and its people. A great read."
--Pietra Rivoli, author of "The Travels of a...more
--Pietra Rivoli, author of "The Travels of a...more
Hardcover, 241 pages
Published
March 23rd 2009
by John Wiley & Sons
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Author Paul Midler, a non-Chinese U.S. native, learned Chinese as an undergrad and eventually got an MBA. Not wanting a stereotypical U.S. finance job, he became a middleman in southeast China's economic heartland -- a middleman between U.S. importers and Chinese manufacturers.
First, many American companies dealing with China are just that -- importers. Their companies never made a thing in America. They're start-up or near start-up entrepreneurs, aglow at the idea of selling cheap made-in-China...more
First, many American companies dealing with China are just that -- importers. Their companies never made a thing in America. They're start-up or near start-up entrepreneurs, aglow at the idea of selling cheap made-in-China...more
The author of this book worked as a facilitator in China, generally helping American importers and Chinese manufacturers come together. It's interesting, and is written by someone in the rare position of having experience and a good understanding of a variety of Chinese businesses and business deals, but I don't think there's really much new insight here for most people.
If the author has one point, it is this: a difference in assumptions about business practices and goals means that people often...more
If the author has one point, it is this: a difference in assumptions about business practices and goals means that people often...more
Jul 29, 2009
Kate
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
business readers; global trade readers; narrative nonfiction readers
Shelves:
nf
I was expecting something drier, with more statistics. In fact, this is a narrative of the author's experience as a business consultant working with importers from the US and manufacturers in China. It was a pleasant surprise, fast-paced and worth reading.
The ethics (or lack of ethics, to be truthful) and self-serving and/or delusional behavior of both parties in these relationships are on display here - although there are some detours into Chinese culture as well. The author believes he is maki...more
The ethics (or lack of ethics, to be truthful) and self-serving and/or delusional behavior of both parties in these relationships are on display here - although there are some detours into Chinese culture as well. The author believes he is maki...more
Interesting insight into "unique" manufacturing practices in China.
The author sounds like he was in love with chine during his undergrad, business school. With experience he became more bitter and started blaming his frustrations on oddities of Chinese culture. The narrative consists of typically hilarious vignettes on the clash of clashing cultures.
This book helps me understand the Chinese direct2consumer relationships on aliexpress better. I wish the author would consider the notion that oper...more
The author sounds like he was in love with chine during his undergrad, business school. With experience he became more bitter and started blaming his frustrations on oddities of Chinese culture. The narrative consists of typically hilarious vignettes on the clash of clashing cultures.
This book helps me understand the Chinese direct2consumer relationships on aliexpress better. I wish the author would consider the notion that oper...more
A man recounts his adventures dealing as a middle-man for Chinese manufacturers and American exporters, comes to the conclusion that Chinese business practises are fundamentally corrupt, and offers little in the way of solutions. Midler's prose is at once propulsive and repetitive, with his impact being diminished by establishing several sets of Confucian ideals over and over. The section on the short term versus long term goals is particularly infuriating in this regard.
Midler offers no answers...more
Midler offers no answers...more
I just finished Poorly Made in China and wanted to highlight some of my key takeaways in the book. The book recently made The Economist's Book of the year list (Book review - The Economist). Paul Midler has lived in China for over 15 years and worked as an outsourcing consultant for small-to-mid-sized companies on a range of products. He wrote the book because he was shocked at what he saw. The book was written as a response to the string of 2007 Chinese quality scandals (yes, it even it's own W...more
This is a very well written, well informs, and, very well paced book. The author did an outstanding job of describing the business aspect of China mixed with his own personal experiences. I highly recommend this book to any International Business students because a lot of business has head oversea to setup in China; thus, this is a great book to get a better understanding about the Chinese culture. Some argues that this book only talks about South China and it should be taken as factual because...more
This book will make you never want to buy anything made in China again. After the fall of communism and the birth of capitalism in China, businesses have started to pave their way into world production. For many of the products sent to China for manufacture, the quality of the items is slowly chipped away to be pennies cheaper at every iteration until something collapses. Since quantities are so large, and the degradation of raw materials is so gradual, the cost savings is worth it to the manufa...more
I just found this book fascinating. The way the small factory owners put the squeeze on their customers, the product's quality, and the workers lives harks back to Ebenezer Scrooge or the old robber barons of yore. The complete lack of ethics, oversight, quality control, or environmental responsibility puts China in a poor position to maintain their growth.
The writing is well done in a narrative story following a few customers through the ordeal of moving production to China, finding a manufact...more
The writing is well done in a narrative story following a few customers through the ordeal of moving production to China, finding a manufact...more
This was a fascinating book - fascinating in a very horrifying way though. I was quite sceptical as to "made in China" goods before but now I'm even more inclined to do my best and avoid them whenever I can.
The very questionable ways of conducting business, low quality, poorly paid workers, pollution, corrupted government officials - there are really lots of reasons to be more careful when it comes to Chinese goods.
The author is a good story-teller, the book was easy to read and there were plen...more
The very questionable ways of conducting business, low quality, poorly paid workers, pollution, corrupted government officials - there are really lots of reasons to be more careful when it comes to Chinese goods.
The author is a good story-teller, the book was easy to read and there were plen...more
I really liked this book because I have absolutely no background in the manufacturing industry, but I'm always keen to learn how about how products are made in China. After all, most of us are using things that are made in China, like it or not.
It really opened my eyes to some of the things that are happening in China that I would have never imagined.
I like the story of how Bernie screw Sister back at the end.
It seems to me that a contract between an importer and a manufacturer is useless if on...more
It really opened my eyes to some of the things that are happening in China that I would have never imagined.
I like the story of how Bernie screw Sister back at the end.
It seems to me that a contract between an importer and a manufacturer is useless if on...more
I picked up this book mostly based on it's title and positive mentions from a friend and reviews. I wasn't sure what to expect. It's a quick, easy to read look at manufacturing in China, based on the experiences of a guy who worked as a go-between for manufacturers and exporters. It explains some of the strengths and weaknesses of China, why so many companies that manufacturer in China have quality problems, and what US companies wanting to manufacture in China need to know.
It's a good read - i...more
It's a good read - i...more
I was given this book at work as we deal with China everyday. It turned out to be extremely interesting. Mr. Midler is exactly right in everything he says about doing business with China, I have experienced alot of what he talks about. Everyone in America should read this book. You will be checking all your products at home to see if they say "Made in China" especially your health and beauty products. I went through my bathroom and if it said Made in China it went into the garbage. We need to de...more
I am working with Chinese companies for over 7 years in China. I agree with many points of the author Paul Midler but he is missing some important points and here is a key message:
Mattel's toxic toys scandal
I have seen customers who don't bother about quality certificates.
Push prices to the limit and leave controls away. The supplier who worked with Mattel at this time was Lee Der Industrial. I was lucky enough to meet one of their employees on a train back to Hong Kong.
Zhang Shuhong (Chinese:...more
Mattel's toxic toys scandal
I have seen customers who don't bother about quality certificates.
Push prices to the limit and leave controls away. The supplier who worked with Mattel at this time was Lee Der Industrial. I was lucky enough to meet one of their employees on a train back to Hong Kong.
Zhang Shuhong (Chinese:...more
Книжку могу рекомендовать к прочтению - читается легко, написана с юмором.
И скорее всего в основном содержит достоверные факты о излагаемом аспекте современного Китая - взаимоотношениях западных заказчиков и китайских подрядчиков.
Не понравилось два момента. Во-1х автор рассказывает о приемах кривого ведения бизнеса в King Chemical, при этом он долго и плодотворно с ними сотрудничал в роли посредника-переводчика. Т.е. по сути сам участвовал в этом "обувании", причем, поскольку делал это в отноше...more
И скорее всего в основном содержит достоверные факты о излагаемом аспекте современного Китая - взаимоотношениях западных заказчиков и китайских подрядчиков.
Не понравилось два момента. Во-1х автор рассказывает о приемах кривого ведения бизнеса в King Chemical, при этом он долго и плодотворно с ними сотрудничал в роли посредника-переводчика. Т.е. по сути сам участвовал в этом "обувании", причем, поскольку делал это в отноше...more
This book should really be in the humour section. After reading it I can't really understand why companies are outsourcing there manufacturing to China. With no real legal recourse to the hijinks of the these manufacturers (don't really mean to generalize), they have their customers (generally importers) by the short and curlies. China seems to be the wild west of modern industrialization.
I'll be trying even harder not to purchase anything manufactured in China.
New term for me "Quality Fade".
I'll be trying even harder not to purchase anything manufactured in China.
New term for me "Quality Fade".
From this side of the Pacific, I didn't find any of Midler's descriptions of Chinese manufacturing tricks to be surprising. What's amazing to me is the naivete of his clients, US manufacturers and importers, and their incredible belief that the rest of the world plays by their rules. I also was incredibly sympathetic with his ongoing dilemmas when the companies that have hired him for his advice then don't want to hear it and vehemently reject his suggestions. Sadly true, all of it.
A very interesting look into the culture of China through the lens of Chinese business practices. Expected a dry book of statistics and ended up with something more akin to a travelogue. I've read many books about China, yet I still learned something new from this book. Was most intrigued by the idea that a well-made counterfeit is respected because of how well it was done. Frustrating that there seems no way to make manufacturers care though.
Having lived in China myself for over 2 years, I took this book after spending 3 weeks in China again this summer. This book is filled with anecdotes and situations that have a very familiar ring to them. Anybody with some China experience will testify of the blind enthusiasm displayed by many. A must read for anybody doing business with China, and I would add that Paul Midler is a must hire for anybody doing business with China.
A must read for all consumers who care about what they are buying. Also advisable for any importers looking toward China and manufacturers thinking about moving offshore to the empire of the dragon. Be prepared to be slowly bled to death!
This book paints an excellent picture of what can happen when you engage with another culture without doing your homework first.
This book paints an excellent picture of what can happen when you engage with another culture without doing your homework first.
I don't think I will ever buy a product from China again - yea right. This book is about a man who works with importers and Chinese factories to get products produced and shipped to the United States. He does a great job at describing how the factory cuts corners to increase their profit margin and how quality control is not a concern in the Chinese factory.
An interesting account of the way business is run in China. The book certainly has its entertaining moments but I found it a little difficult to accept a few of his anecdotes at face value, especially regarding the power imbalance in the customer/manufacturer relationship. Overall, its definitely an enjoyable fast paced book and definitely readable.
Very good, interesting story of manufacturing in China. A quick read. The stories support some first-hand accounts that I have heard from my colleagues who have visited manufacturing sites there.
The book's only weakness was some poor editing, in that a couple of chapters had extensive re-hashing of already-presented details.
The book's only weakness was some poor editing, in that a couple of chapters had extensive re-hashing of already-presented details.
This account of a wholesale cosmetic company's factory representative's business life in Southeast China (Guangdong Province) during the 1990s and 2000s is accurate, amusing and informative. This is the other China Syndrome -- the manner in which cost and quality are balanced in the world's factory. Blessed with guts, eloquence and a business education, Paul Midler describes in fascinating detail what really goes on inside the buildings where our shampoo and hand creams are made. Or ... he would...more
Loved it especially where the author says what some factories do when, in the rare instance, where they try to make things right by giving their customers a "credit" to their next order. This is what happened to my father when he found out that his order of bamboo products was the WRONG SIZE!
Dec 13, 2011
Indah Threez Lestari
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
indonesian,
nonfiction
1295th - 2011
Baca ulang setelah punya edisi terjemahannya. Sebelumnya baca versi ebook (tahun ini juga sih, buku ke-442).
So, pahamilah bahwa budaya memalsu telah mengakar di Cina, dengan kualitas tinggi, kualitas rendah, dan di antara keduanya masih terdapat beberapa kualitas lain.
Baca ulang setelah punya edisi terjemahannya. Sebelumnya baca versi ebook (tahun ini juga sih, buku ke-442).
So, pahamilah bahwa budaya memalsu telah mengakar di Cina, dengan kualitas tinggi, kualitas rendah, dan di antara keduanya masih terdapat beberapa kualitas lain.
Great book for anyone manufacturing in China and any attorney representing companies that do. Explains mind-boggling Chinese behavior in the manufacturing sector and the historical reasons for it. Also explains why importers put up with it. Does not offer proven or potential solutions, though.
I loved this book because it was informative and the author actually had experience in the field! I think Mr. Midler wrote the book with a fair argument and didn't show bias. Whether you take the book to heart or not, I think every person who decides to do business in China should read this.
I expected this book to be driven by data but it turns out to be a very personal account. Rings true and gave me many 'ah-HA' moments. Sad. Woonder if location decisions in general would change if importer/manufacturer execs would use this as a reference.
This was very entertaining and somewhat shocking. I'm definitely staying away from any personal hygiene products that I notice are produced in China. I could care less about stuff like my iPhone as long it works... well except feeling slightly guilty about the number of suicides that took place while it was manufactured at Foxconn. For the most part this book just made me angry at the way the factory owners take advantage of their workers and how they take advantage of smaller American firms (or...more
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Nov 04, 2012 05:19pm