Poorly Made in China - Book Review Revisited
A revisit of Paul Midler's Poorly Made in China, filtered through a reviewer with 15-plus years of on-the-ground China sourcing experience, covering quality fade and classic price-hike tactics.
Steve Simonson
Show notes
This episode walks through a review of Paul Midler's Poorly Made in China, framed by a reviewer with over 15 years of firsthand China manufacturing experience who found the book eerily familiar.
It covers quality fade, the gradual drift where factories quietly cut corners on materials or specs over successive orders, along with the classic price-go-up tactic and a joint venture story where profits were skimmed off before ever reaching the foreign partner.
A useful listen for anyone sourcing from China who wants a clear-eyed view of the practices to watch for.