On Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:09:16 -0400, "J. Clarke"
wrote:


"George Max" wrote in message


Sears as a major retailer and therefore major buyer of a manufacturers
output can and certainly does demand to meet a price point. You can
be certain that the manufacturer will use shortcuts to get there. If
that's fewer accessories in the box, fine. But when the shortcuts
involve something that compromises quality, like bushings instead of
ball bearings, pot metal instead of cast aluminum, etc., that's bad.

The trouble with that notion is that changing the design of mass-produced
products is a huge undertaking--the Sears contract would have to be a major
portion of Bosch's total sales for it to be worthwhile to retool to meet
their price. The Chinese, who seem to be doing just about anything to get
presence in the US market, are another story, but it's hard to imagine the
Chinese finding new corners to cut on their tool manufacture.


Grin

It is hard to image what new corners could be cut if you think of
making the most bottom of the barrel product possible. But that's not
what has to be done. If Craftsman/Sears were to use the illusion of
selling a tool that *looks* like a Bosch/PC/Milwaukee, then one only
need to make one just like it inside and out, except make the
appropriate substitutions.

I find it very easy to believe that a company may be willing to sell
themselves and build a few tens of thousands of units for Sears with
Sears's price point requirement. Bosch or Porter Cable would know
what to do to meet the cost requirement.