about equipment from china?

[Donn Buchfinck]

I know I might get flamed about this one, but I am still going to ask it.

While I was looking on the web, I come upon this link.

www.orientbee.com (http://www.orientbee.com)

and I sent them an email. I ordered a catalog and I was wondering if anyone has done business with this outfit before.

thank you,

[SilverFox]

I'd order from American producers, you know where it was made and probably have a lot fewer problems if you need to return it. Not to mention taxes, duties and postage.
IHMO "buy American from Americans".
I also don't believe in sending anymore of our money to purchase products that are copies of our products. I noticed in their ad the smokers were "American style" copied from our design.
But you do as you wish. This is just my opinion.

[magnet-man]

I have seen this site before. It is hard to not purchase products made in China. Where I used to work we were able to get certain types of products delivered from China for one third the price of US manufactured goods without delivery. Were the products as good as the US manufactured products? Well in our case they were. China produces all grades of product from shoddy to excellent.

In this case it would be interesting to see the pricing and freight. Please keep us updated. I won't flame you.

As for copying our style, imitation is the highest form of flattery. That is why we copied the British style of smoker. I would not be surprised if the major sellers of smokers are purchasing the metal core from the same distributor who is getting them from China. Does anyone know who is the actual manufacture of the stainless steel part of the smokers that Mann Lake and Dadant sell?

[wbee]

SilverFox said "I'd order from American producers, you know where it was made and probably have a lot fewer problems if you need to return it. Not to mention taxes, duties and postage."

Careful, just because the manufacturer is in the U.S. doesn't mean they aren't importing woodenware from other countries. I won't go into any further details, but I will say if you know your wood species, you'll be able to tell.......

On another note - Dadant's produce their own smokers at the same place they make extractors, SS tanks, etc.

[Michael Bush]

At least if I buy it from a US company, I know who to complain to and who to complain about. smile.gif

[jalal]

Atleast the photos they use have a very strange likeness to US companies.

I couldn't find how to get a catalog?

[Donn Buchfinck]

I recieved an email from them saying they would send a catalog, I sent them my address and now it is a wait and see thing.

I am interested because I am in Oakland california,
shipping would be to right here, and over water shipping is minimal compared to ground frieght in the usa.

At this time I have no need to purchace from them, but I am interested in the prices and what they have.
I will keep the board updated.

If you would like to try to get a catalog just email them at the address given on the site.

As to buying American, I don't mind paying for quality. Just as long as it is quality material.

And as to copying the designs, I'm a potter and let me say there are few new inventions to come up with, If left to thier own process, cultures have a way of solving problems the same way, it just matters to who get to the patent office first.
and if these designs are patented, well if you keep up on China issues you will have gotten the idea that China is a little lax on the whole patent issue.
I know I have digressed.
In the end I am just looking to not get flamed.

thanks.

[SilverFox]

wbee: I know what you mean on labeling (I've worked for Wal-Mart [talk about false labeling or mis-leading]) for the most part, I also realize that alot of what we have is copies of someone Else's design (take the toilet), what I was trying to say is that I prefer, and hope that more are the same way, to buy American every chance I can. Alot of the designs the Asian country's have we've given to them, Thank you NAFTA.
I'm not trying to flame any body this is just my feelings.

[dimis]

I chat with the guy a minute ago. He said he would mail me the price list but actually he has not, and he is not going to. He is not looking to sell small quantities (anything under 1,000 pieces). He is looking for some supplier to make bussiness with. I tried to get him to give me a price for a hive and he told me the price would be extorting if I would not buy 1000 pieces, plus the legal documentation for quarantine and customs!
So better make your own! Nice and cheap.

[jalal]

that's no good.

i was looking forward to some of the things you can't build good versions of but cost too much to buy.

i can only imagine how inexpensive a graftless system from china would be...oh my!

6.50 plus shipping and handling of 7.25

just a dream though, really.