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K2 made in china?

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GayWolf420
Posts: 37403 - Karma: 120,362

so as i was going to the local shop to get my  Extremes mounted. i notices a sticker on the end tip of the ski saying " Made In China". is the ski industry seriously letting the chinese make our skis?

Oct 17 2009 3:53PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
My Anthems were made in China too.

Doesn't mean it's by some poor, under paid, under-qualified labourer.

There are a lot of skilled engineers and designers in China. You still get a quality product, but at a lower price. Win-win.
Oct 17 2009 3:55PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
They have been made in China for years. Lines are made there too. So are many other companies' skis. There is (was) a video on the K2 site touring the factory and facilities, it's every bit as modern and well-run as any other ski factory, in fact, I think it's a little ignorant to say we're "letting the chinese make our skis".
Oct 17 2009 3:56PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37403 - Karma: 120,362
your right, my bad. but everything else that is made in china is some what low quality and cheap
Oct 17 2009 3:57PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
Your sig is quite poignant aha.


But seriously, don't think quality is compromised because it's made in China. Most of your super expensive, super high quality electrical appliances will be made there too.

Line and K2 wouldn't have moved production if they thought it meant a reduced quality.
Oct 17 2009 4:00PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14491 - Karma: 10,630
Look at the tags on your outerwear, most likely made in China.  Orage is made in China.  I love my chronics, no problems and they were made in China
Oct 17 2009 4:07PM
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PC.
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 18
No, they would move them there if they could make more money. K2 is a HUGE business. They own Ride snowboards, K2 (obviously) boards and skis, Tecnica, Volkl, Marker, Line, and the list just goes on from there. Any business has the aim of making money, and if moving their factories to China reduced the costs of production at a little quality, so be it.

I only buy skis made in Austria/US for a reason. It's not because I hate the Chinese, but I trust the quality of established makers, not the skis being made next to ipods.
Oct 17 2009 4:10PM
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nickyp
Posts: 5673 - Karma: 215
Not forgetting Full Tilt, of course
Oct 17 2009 4:16PM
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JoshBishop
Posts: 464 - Karma: 748
Technine and Omatic, as well as many other snowboard and ski brands are pressed in China. In addition to hardgoods, a significant amount of outerwear and softgoods sold in the US are manufactured in China as well. Going beyond skiing and snowboarding, textiles, electronics, appliances, and multiple industries utilize Chinese factories to produce their goods.
Oct 17 2009 4:18PM
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Malczyk
Posts: 1435 - Karma: 1,895
FT's are produced in Italy. And everyone please don't forget that all these product manufactured (put together) in China. The are engineered, developed and tested in the USA (if that matters anyways) by lazy white men and women like you and me!
Oct 17 2009 5:12PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Oct 17 2009 5:29PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
most carbon fiber roadbikes come from china

voleurz is made in china

so are my nike SBs

most of my skis

my gloves

a few of my bikes

almost all my clothing

those are just some quality products that I can mention off the top of my head.
Oct 17 2009 5:36PM
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ski@jaypeak2
Posts: 2802 - Karma: 429
Thank you Freezed!  I hate when people say this shit.  I work in a shoe store and people constanly say things like, "Oh their made in China, thats why they fit small.  Chinese people have small feet"  Or "I dont want that chinese shit, they fall apart."  I usually reply with something to the effect of "Yeah i know, before you know it their gonna have Africans making shoes!  Can you belive that?! Africans making our shoes?!"  Its the same people that think $75 is too much but then they want it made in America?  Get serious we live in a global economy.
Oct 17 2009 5:49PM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
Very true. But that doesn't negate the fact that by importing our jobs to India and China, we're causing harm to American jobs and the American ecomony. That's not to say it's bad; quality isn't an issue, at least in terms of higher-end goods (skis, boots, iPods, etc.), but I think the job issue itself is. But that's off-topic.
Oct 17 2009 5:52PM
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ski@jaypeak2
Posts: 2802 - Karma: 429
No i agree with you on that topic.  If you look to the turn of the century and the industrial revolution there was factories all over the US.  I would love for more products to be produced in the US, but the problem is factory work has been deemed dangerous and simple minded.  I personally would much rather work in a shoe store then a shoe factory. 
Oct 17 2009 5:57PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
I feel this is rather related if you already knew that.
Click for larger image
Oct 17 2009 6:37PM
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JosephStalin
Posts: 1673 - Karma: 100
my full tilts are made in ITALY. nuff said
Oct 17 2009 7:08PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
If you want twins made in North America you can get On3ps and Moments and that's pretty much it. I'm probably forgetting someone. Oh right Surface Green Lifes are US made.
Oct 17 2009 7:11PM
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freezed
Posts: 12973 - Karma: 500
Crown skis are made in Vancouver
Oct 17 2009 7:18PM
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Hugh_Conway_jr
Posts: 746 - Karma: 467
its nice that there are so many small brands popping up. from guys pressing a few skis for their friends, to the small start up companies. It give everyone a choice. Just because its made in china doesn't automatically make it crap. It makes it cheaper to manufacture and increase the companies bottom line.

K2 has been made in china for a while now, people should do their research prior to making purchases. Consumers have a lot power, now if people could just read the fine print and put their money were their mouths are.  
Oct 17 2009 7:31PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37403 - Karma: 120,362

i know that.  but what i meant about low quality things. i mean toys and stuff like that. not ski gear and things

Oct 17 2009 8:56PM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
alert the press!!!

and it's the US's fault for creating some many insane taxes and fees for domestic factories, it isn't just to get cheaper wages.
Oct 17 2009 8:58PM
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RascalWaterMox
Posts: 1288 - Karma: 163
yes and line and soon to be many others...chinas not so bad... ??maybe??
Oct 17 2009 10:21PM
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pretzels
Posts: 416 - Karma: 43
I totally agree! FUCK taxes, emissions standards, health standards, labor laws, and environmental regulations. At least China has the balls to look past the small stuff and do it without all those crazy taxes and fees.
Oct 17 2009 10:27PM
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MEGAZORD
Posts: 4531 - Karma: -7
cheaper production rates in china = better quality.  Say k2 presses a ski and its not perfect.  K2 can afford to toss this one, where as a smaller company may sell this because they cannot afford to toss it in the concern of quality control.
Oct 17 2009 10:35PM
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zylstra
Posts: 3613 - Karma: 125
Buy US
Oct 17 2009 10:40PM
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Pinguu
Posts: 1581 - Karma: 49
K2 moved production in order to make more profit and use methods of building on their skis that the US does not allow anymore (glues).  I do not hate K2, and in fact I love Line as a brand, but it is disappointing to see these companies move from here and take away jobs, (not many but still),  and also for the sake of our environment.  In America there are a few more regulations and companies here care more about out sport and future generations enjoying it, than simply making bank.
I now buy Liberty.
Oct 18 2009 12:19AM
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mackcamp
Posts: 1207 - Karma: 263
FTW!!!
Dec 14 2009 6:35PM
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R.Fahey
Posts: 8602 - Karma: 539
which I think are now made in China.  The last couple pairs I got had the little gold, oval, Made in China sticker.
ON3P ftw.

Dec 14 2009 6:47PM
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R.Fahey
Posts: 8602 - Karma: 539
Not to take anything away from Liberty.  There skis are really durable.
Dec 14 2009 6:49PM
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DCepTiKoN402
Posts: 617 - Karma: 28
It's not so much a quality issue as a "how it's manufactured" issue in china. They build good shit for cheap but it's how they do it that's the issue.

Chinese factory's (for skis and snbs atleast) are the most environmentally unregulated factories in the world. They're allowed to use glues, laminates, and other materials that would NEVER be allowed anywhere else in the world due to environmental/workers health issues.

So companies pushing "green" but are manufactured in China think again.

Personally I stick with brands from the EU. Some of the highest environmentally regulated factories in the world with workers who have been hand building skis/snbs for generations. The only problem is people want cheap and if it's built in the EU it isn't cheap.
Dec 14 2009 7:11PM
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ifli
Posts: 449 - Karma: 21
china is not generally bad. besides, making skis is harder than making t-shirts. I doubt its made in a sweatshop and rather a workshop where they only make a few more a day then american shops
Dec 14 2009 7:14PM
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urbanjib
Posts: 1801 - Karma: 255
Yea dude fuck America right?

Other than the fact that companies in the US help create Jobs...
And that the Chinese are basically buying the world, and millions of US currency...
And the fact that if we ever go to war with China, then we are basically cut off...
Buy yea dude.... Fuck Labor Laws... I totally want some poor starve Chinese kid making my skis...
and emissions standards? Yea dude I hate the smell of fresh air... Cancer, lung problems, and pollution for LIFE!
Yea dude taxes suck too... I mean they only use them to build roads, bridges, and medicare. Really, who needs a road to drive to the mountain!?

Taxes, emissions, health standards, environmental regulations, and labor laws suck huh?

I would love to ski down a mountain of trash, and no trees!

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200707/r156404_565716.jpg
http://iaminformed.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/china-water.jpg

How about that polluted air!!!!
http://www.thelightisgreen.com/China%20pollution%20Beijing.jpg

I love it.

Keep shit in America my friends... everything will turn out better in the end...

Plus by supporting Chinese industries, we are just becoming more dependent on them. They are essentially taking over the world...

But yea, thats all small stuff huh?

I admit i do buy some things from China, such as clothes, and what not...

But I also highly support American Made items too
Dec 14 2009 7:18PM
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stuartmakowski
Posts: 18 - Karma: 10
Yes! Said it exactly.
Dec 14 2009 7:19PM
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schmies
Posts: 2032 - Karma: 511
Absolutely untrue dude. We construct our skis and snowboards out of the same materials and with the exact same constructions as we do here in Seattle when we make prototypes. We also take all appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of all the workers same as we do and same as we did here when we had full production. Why would we do any less? What sense would that make for a company of ANY size to endanger any of their skilled work force.

NOW, can I speak for all companies that do business outside of the US? Nope. I am only vouching for a facility I go and work in every year. If I felt we were doing something terrible to the people I work with over there, I wouldn't work at K2. I wouldn't feel good about it.
Schmies

Dec 14 2009 7:35PM
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urbanjib
Posts: 1801 - Karma: 255
Well thats good then...

Theres is still a problem with unfair working conditions and what not... and they could just set up a facility for you to view, and really have the main one somewhere else... Who Knows!?

Im not ripping on K2 whatsoever so dont get me wrong... It would just be nice, to open a factory in America
Dec 14 2009 7:43PM
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assface
Posts: 4319 - Karma: 2,031
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Dec 14 2009 7:46PM
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assface
Posts: 4319 - Karma: 2,031
praxis are made in truckee
Dec 14 2009 7:48PM
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urbanjib
Posts: 1801 - Karma: 255
Uh oh we have a spy here...

Just kidding man...

I understand what your saying, but you need to honestly just relax
Dec 14 2009 7:59PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
O REAAARRRY?


Seriously though, I quoted the wrong person.


If you just don't want chinese made shit, I'm pretty sure Ninthward is produced in a factory in like..Slovenia.
Dec 14 2009 8:02PM
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schmies
Posts: 2032 - Karma: 511
Set up a facility for me to view? I hope you are joking;)

Unfair working conditions are not in our manufacturing facility. The first time I went over there years ago all these workers were watching TV on their cell phones on break! It blew me away. We didn't have five channels of streaming TV! I would hang out and play basketball (which everybody loves there now) and I would show them Poor Boyz movies where guys were using the equipment that they were building. They were stoked to see it in action and see the stunts people are doing. I've made countless great friendships on my travels and it has opened my eyes to Asia.

Unfair working conditions exist in almost every country on earth. With a large percentage of manufactured goods coming from Asia, you can bet a lot of them exist there. You definitely hear many horror stories, but companies have a moral choice and we choose the high road.


Dec 14 2009 8:04PM
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urbanjib
Posts: 1801 - Karma: 255
Hey man, understand i am not ripping on K2 in any way possible

That is awesome that the workers over there are being treated right and all...

I have no problem with any of that, in fact its pretty awesome...

My father used to goto Asia also, and just would see the most terrible things while over there also.

I understand there are both good and bad over there, but what you must have realized is that not every company chooses the high road. Some are looking to get the most product, for the lowest amount of capital invested.

Thank you for explaining your experiences with K2's factories... they were helpful i believe
Dec 14 2009 8:09PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
Aren't you sponsored by Liberty?
Dec 14 2009 8:10PM
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TimmyP
Posts: 2086 - Karma: 128
not a very good analogy, one failure doesn't legitimize another.


Dec 14 2009 8:23PM
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.brian
Posts: 1710 - Karma: 233
he said ON3P ftw and go to his profile it says hes sponsored by ON3P
Dec 14 2009 8:30PM
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shredables
Posts: 647 - Karma: 19
All that matters is K2's rip, and you can shred on them just as well as any other ski. My race department head's were manufactured in austria and warehoused here.

what you are referring to has nothing to do with nuclear warfare, but primarily the outsourcing of domestic jobs to china/india/mexico. it costs less to have them make the product and ship it here for our consumption, hence americans are losing jobs. this is called globalization, you should have learned this in high school
Dec 14 2009 9:50PM
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Greg_o
Posts: 316 - Karma: 82
oh no, 'asian_allen' is mad.
Dec 14 2009 10:32PM
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B.Lyfe
Posts: 624 - Karma: 116
most of my subaru was made in japan but its still quality! lol. and gets me to the mtn with nice snows.

even american flags are made in china now a days. american cars are made in mexico, and german cars in america. So quality is quality, dont focus on region of production, just on the final product!

-B
Dec 14 2009 10:34PM
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