wcfieldskx
Power User
Let's see how the reliability of these new units are firstAre you implying the AX8's that were assembled in the US are going to be worth more?
Let's see how the reliability of these new units are firstAre you implying the AX8's that were assembled in the US are going to be worth more?
I was just wondering how many people who have posted have a USA made Apple product.............just saying
Funny I have never heard of a American USA manufacture moving operations to China, Mexico, or any other country in order to improve quality. It is always over cutting cost. At best they hope to keep the quality but that eventually adds to cost. Haiti might be a good place for manufacturing since their labor would be real low right now.
Fractal is just following what all the other manufactures have felt forced to do, so they are not necessarily to blame. We have a manufacturing problem in the USA and it does not look like there is any relief coming. I have family members that lost jobs due production moves out of country so its a little more personal, along with living in a large military community we seem to be more sensitive towards these things.
I'd wager that the vast majority of the components used in Fractal products have always been made overseas. Since final QA/QC is still done here, I seriously doubt there will be any difference at all in the final products whatsoever. If there is, FAS will make it right. Asia dominates the electronics component industry and has for years. Lemons can sneak their way out of any factory, no matter where it is located. It happens. People make mistakes. The idea that something will be higher quality simply because the work is done in a particular part of the world is just ignorant. There are hard working, talented people everywhere, just like there are lazy, stupid people everywhere. Accountability and tight QC is what makes the difference.
Are you implying the AX8's that were assembled in the US are going to be worth more?
Lots of people care where a product is made and will pay more for it, it's that simple. If I was a betting man I'd put money on people listing it as MIA or buyers asking. Should be fun.
I'm sure that will be the case I just think it's funny how it all works out that way, but in retrospect it is the truth! the units that were assembled in the US had an additional cost so the claim does have merit. If that's the case then the MIA units should bring an extra $100 to those that care enough to pay for it.
I agree 100% here. USA was one thing that set them apart from Line 6 and others. I hate it when corporations outsource. The price drop is nice, but I have Never seen quality remain the same when moved to China. Korea yes, China no. Just look at the quality issue returns for other products made there What it will mean though is in time they will not run out if stock and their profits will increase.Price drops are great for sure, but I sure hate to see anything outsourced to another country! Sure doesn't help the US economy!
Actually . . . we vote with our bellies and out of Fear.So, I'm a little confused about this issue. Has Fractal already started producing gear overseas? There's still a "Made In USA" star at the bottom of the home page.
Besides the fiscal down-side of, yet another US company, switching to overseas manufacturing, I don't see any way that Fractal could maintain the impeccable build quality that we currently enjoy. This is not plastic widget, it's a VERY high-tech piece of gear.
On average, I'd estimate that 15 to 20 percent of the electronics I've purchased in the past 10 years has had some sort of defect. A company can spec what they want with an overseas manufacturer but without direct control of parts sourcing and a well trained, skilled work-force, there's going to be less consistent build quality. I see very few complaints in the Fractal community about defective units. Such a low failure rate is very rare now days, especially with cutting edge gear.
Some large companies like Fender and Taylor have been able to work around this (to a degree) by building their own factories outside of the US but I doubt that Fractal has the means to do this.
If Fractal starts having this fine equipment built in the same factory that also pumps out microwave ovens and the latest Line 6 product, customers may be able to save a few hundred bucks but quality will suffer. It's a slippery slope.
I had considered buying a Matrix. It certainly has some hardware advantages over the AX8. Two of the main reasons I went with Fractal...an intelligent and supportive forum (kudos to you all) and the fact that, at least final assembly and testing are done in the same house that designed it (I assumed).
Ultimately, the American consumer is to blame for the giant manufacturing exodus. We vote with our wallets!
My two cents.
That. And the far superior tones coming out of said Fractal productsI agree 100% here. USA was one thing that set them apart from Line 6 and others. I hate it when corporations outsource. The price drop is nice, but I have Never seen quality remain the same when moved to China. Korea yes, China no. Just look at the quality issue returns for other products made there What it will mean though is in time they will not run out if stock and their profits will increase.
I agree 100% here. USA was one thing that set them apart from Line 6 and others. I hate it when corporations outsource. The price drop is nice, but I have Never seen quality remain the same when moved to China. Korea yes, China no. Just look at the quality issue returns for other products made there What it will mean though is in time they will not run out if stock and their profits will increase.
It would of been better to discontinue the AX8 then keep it going with a lower price point to which ruins the value of the people that bought one to begin with, I dont see where the loyalty was to me, Fractal could of said, lets ship this over to china and lower cost, but to save the people that were with us from beginning lets change x.y.z so those people will have something different. There is nothing making mine worth 100.00 more at this time so I want my 100.00 back@CT76 ; you are certainly not holding back! I am cautious and curious about the resale value of my MIA AX; but really I'm just along for the ride. If a MIC version keeps the train rolling and product development keeps coming at a good pace; I am good with that. Of course; I didn't buy new so there is definitely THAT.
I figured going into this that shortly after, at least a year later there would be an ax2 or ax ultra, but to already lower my value in less than 2 months is bullshit^Not in the same boat as you at all, but totally get (and sympathize) where you are coming from. Buying and selling gear is always a crap shoot