3 replies to this topic

[edwardh1]

What keeps Japan from getting into the laundry products biz? - washers dryers etc ?
Too big to ship value wise, compared to say VCR/Cd players?
Some other reason?

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

[user=27]edwardh1[/user] wrote:

What keeps Japan from getting into the laundry products biz?

Nuttin', they are getting into it.  I'm seeing more and more refrigerator evap and condenser motors from Panasonic.  Some of the electronics used are from Japan.  Panasonic is also getting into microwaves in a big way, as elucidated by the Iceman.  If there's money to be made, they'll make bigger steps into it. 

But major appliance manufacturers are sucking butt profit-wise lately.  Read about Maytag's and Whirlpool's profit woes.  In the free market, the profit motive is the prime mover-- white elephant's don't live long in the free market jungle.  If a Japanese, or any other company, thought it could make a return on investment by manufacturing major appliances, they'd do it in a fartbleep.

[edwardh1]

the whirlpool atricle was confusing in that they seemed to be saying costs had gone up but they were covering it by raising prices.

Lots of mini split air conditioners on caribbean Islands
Sanyo mitsubshi panasonic and some other japanese brands,

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

[user=27]edwardh1[/user] wrote:

the whirlpool atricle was confusing in that they seemed to be saying costs had gone up but they were covering it by raising prices.

 

That's ezzzacly what's happening.  The eroding dollar is making imported parts more expensive on top of added energy and steel costs.  They know they'll reach a choke point at which more people will opt to repair vs. replace == profit squeeze.