Any experience with Chinese Bumpers?

[Moparsncruisers]

Why not: For me, because supporting IP theft and the $4/hr labor needed to offer that bumper at that price actively erodes our economy and fuels the race to the bottom which I don't wish my children to live through.

But maybe that's just me.

We are 100% on the same page... glad I'm not alone! Haha

 

[OwnerCS]

Rust from a poor powder coat in a state that doesn't use salt on the roads is a non-starter.

 

[jzu001]

I’ve been to their manufacturing plant in China around 9 years ago in one of our plant tours as dealers. My buddy is one of the major export of their product in Southeast Asia. The form bending process and quality is 5 out of 10. The welds I would say is 3 out 10, definitely lots opportunities. Powder coat finish is 2 our of 10, so bad after a year of the vehicle with bumper parked / exposed outside, will fade 100% proven. Rust also comes up after a year. Best enticement for anyone is the price, 75% cheaper than your reputable brand. You be judge, at the end of the day it’s still your money. Just lower your expectations.

9 years ago is a long time re: manufacturing processes etc… safe to say China has surpassed us in a lot of facets in regards to a lot of the points you made. I’d probably add 5-6 points to each score.

 

[Live to Ski]

I don't understand how you guys could consider the notion of putting your wallet behind this stuff. I would expect the ethics of it all to dissuade anyone in this community from even considering it.

The wild card quality and zero support aside, you might as well be burning an American flag and raising the PRC flag, IMO.

And I'm not even a hardcore "Made in 'Merica' kind of person.

There's a very good reason USA-bumpers are nearly 10x the cost of this thing. And it's not greed.

I believe that all the quality collision tested airbag compatible bumpers come from Australia where testing is mandatory.

 

[ClassyJalopy]

Your points on the poor quality and IP theft are well taken.

It is an uncomfortable truth that a lot of Made in America products have a large percentage of parts made in China under the very conditions you mentioned. I am not defending them but I do want to understand if a Chinese product costs $500 shipped to my door, is it at least half as good as $1500 mass-produced, big-name bumper being sold for $1500? If yes then it is a deal, otherwise not so much.

I am not sure we can discuss the HR and political issues here otherwise there are other countries who are hell-bent on commiting all sorts of crimes against humanity and we are pretty comfortable in buying their products individually as well as take loans and give them money and weapons at the govt. level.

Handmade bumpers (or any other products for that matter) are boutique items and carry the price tag to justify that - I have zero qualms abt that and I don't think mass produced products should be compared to these items either.

I don't understand how you guys could consider the notion of putting your wallet behind this stuff. I would expect the ethics of it all to dissuade anyone in this community from even considering it.

The wild card quality and zero support aside, you might as well be burning an American flag and raising the PRC flag, IMO.

And I'm not even a hardcore "Made in 'Merica' kind of person.

There's a very good reason USA-bumpers are nearly 10x the cost of this thing. And it's not greed.

Why not: For me, because supporting IP theft and the $4/hr labor needed to offer that bumper at that price actively erodes our economy and fuels the race to the bottom which I don't wish my children to live through.

But maybe that's just me.

 

[plainjanefjc]

I assume the Ironman has a small discount over arb, just go that route for a fully vetted bumper.

 

[suprarx7nut]

9 years ago is a long time re: manufacturing processes etc… safe to say China has surpassed us in a lot of facets in regards to a lot of the points you made. I’d probably add 5-6 points to each score.

Even if the quality was even, there's a massive ethical issue at hand.

Your points on the poor quality and IP theft are well taken.

It is an uncomfortable truth that a lot of Made in America products have a large percentage of parts made in China under the very conditions you mentioned. I am not defending them but I do want to understand if a Chinese product costs $500 shipped to my door, is it at least half as good as $1500 mass-produced, big-name bumper being sold for $1500? If yes then it is a deal, otherwise not so much.

I am not sure we can discuss the HR and political issues here otherwise there are other countries who are hell-bent on commiting all sorts of crimes against humanity and we are pretty comfortable in buying their products individually as well as take loans and give them money and weapons at the govt. level.

Handmade bumpers (or any other products for that matter) are boutique items and carry the price tag to justify that - I have zero qualms abt that and I don't think mass produced products should be compared to these items either.

I can't shrug my shoulders quite as easily, I guess.

There's a lot of unethical labor arbitrage in the world. I avoid it when it's blatant. Hopefully I can encourage others to do the same - especially when there are an abundance of domestic suppliers making a similar or superior product. If you can, support your fellow American.

 

[medtro]

I don't understand how you guys could consider the notion of putting your wallet behind this stuff. I would expect the ethics of it all to dissuade anyone in this community from even considering it.

The wild card quality and zero support aside, you might as well be burning an American flag and raising the PRC flag, IMO.

And I'm not even a hardcore "Made in 'Merica' kind of person.

There's a very good reason USA-bumpers are nearly 10x the cost of this thing. And it's not greed.

Do you feel the same each time you launch your Techstream?

 

[medtro]

I tried and didn't find it.

May be this one?

Alibaba Bumpers

Listen, I know this is probably I’ll advised and for the record, I’m not seriously considering this. Yet. Does anyone have experience with these bumpers from Alibaba? They have fronts as well that look very similar to ARB.

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[jzu001]

Even if the quality was even, there's a massive ethical issue at hand.


I can't shrug my shoulders quite as easily, I guess.

There's a lot of unethical labor arbitrage in the world. I avoid it when it's blatant. Hopefully I can encourage others to do the same - especially when there are an abundance of domestic suppliers making a similar or superior product. If you can, support your fellow American.

I do support my fellow American. My clothes are all American made. I wear new balance. I work in a trade with my hands helping people. I volunteer my time. This notion of not supporting my fellow American because I don’t want to buy a 4k slee bumper is very silly. I don’t think a random dude in China is my enemy but you do you.

 

[plainjanefjc]

I do support my fellow American. My clothes are all American made. I wear new balance. I work in a trade with my hands helping people. I volunteer my time. This notion of not supporting my fellow American because I don’t want to buy a 4k slee bumper is very silly. I don’t think a random dude in China is my enemy but you do you.

That’s a vast oversimplification to say some random dude in China isn’t your enemy. You are correct but you and the guy building the bumper dont live in a vacuum, and the situation as whole is a direct result of a country that blatantly rips off and steals from the west-

 

[OwnerCS]

I look at it on a more personal level. I enjoy off-roading and attending events with the guys who make my bumpers and roof rack. Bumper designs have changed over the years and I've learned a lot about what I like. There is usually a personal connection with all major expense items on my truck from the wheels to the roof rack. This a big part of the reason I'm happy with the things that I have.

 

[ClassyJalopy]

Guys - can we keep this only about the product's quality relative to its price?

The ethical issues are important too, but this forum doesn't allow for open dicussion on those issues, nor is it the best place for it either

I am interested in finding out if someone in China is doing a good job of producing bumpers for a platform that was first introduced over a quarter of the century ago and is no longer the focus of new product development for most of the major players.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Guys - can we keep this only about the product's quality relative to its price?

The ethical issues are important too, but this forum doesn't allow for open dicussion on those issues, nor is it the best place for it either

I am interested in finding out if someone in China is doing a good job of producing bumpers for a platform that was first introduced over a quarter of the century ago and is no longer the focus of new product development for most of the major players.

Part of the trouble here in attempting a product based conversation is that this isn't really a product anyone can speak to. The brand barely exists. Alibaba publishes purchases. That bumper has sold twice. On planet Earth. Since the inception of the listing. The entire "company" has 3 reviews with a picture and none are of a bumper of any kind.

But hey, they can make you up to 2000 Bossland bumpers per month if you like. You know, for your 2015-2021 LC100.

And they'll deliver in 1-30. Days, weeks, months, or years. Unsure which unit of time, but definitely somewhere between 1 and 30.

I think you need to pin down a product made by a more established company before anyone can offer anything helpful other than commentary around the general practices that allow for such disparate pricing from what you would find in a country where worker's safety and compensation is within an order of magnitude of what you and I experience living in the USA.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Do you feel the same each time you launch your Techstream?

Not really, because Toyota doesn't offer a non-professional version of Techstream. You can purchase a "Professional Diagnostic" license for $1360/year, but that's not intended for individual consumers. There's no product available for you and I, at least not as far as the sole Techstream maker, Toyota, intends. I have purchased a couple short-term subscriptions in the past.

In this bumper case, there are numerous businesses set up to offer consumer-level products so I think it's a slightly different situation.