Apple report record profits

[Damien]

Originally Posted by danielf

Yet, people in the West rightly demand that the workers that produce these products are paid a living wage, and companies can't shut their eyes to that. Whether it's consumer electronics, clothing, hand knotted carpets or footballs, we have a right to demand that the workers producing them are not exploited. Decent conditions for workers in developing countries may increase the prices we need to pay for these products slightly, but it's not going to make a massive difference.

If people in the West demand it. However it's not currently having an impact on sales so the companies don't listen.

[Alan Fry]

Originally Posted by Damien

If people in the West demand it. However it's not currently having an impact on sales so the companies don't listen.

Beause nearly everyone make they products in China, WalMart is the biggest one

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by danielf

Yet, people in the West rightly demand that the workers that produce these products are paid a living wage, and companies can't shut their eyes to that. Whether it's consumer electronics, clothing, hand knotted carpets or footballs, we have a right to demand that the workers producing them are not exploited. Decent conditions for workers in developing countries may increase the prices we need to pay for these products slightly, but it's not going to make a massive difference.

If you believe the various new reports, Apple are currently spending a lot of money to ensure this happens.

I think it's come across that I am somehow defending Apple. I am not. I believe that if Apple (or any company) needs to outsource production to other countries, they do need to do what you suggest, daniel.

What does irritate me slightly is the fact that people seem to think it's only Apple that do this. It's not. Even in the IT world, you'll probably find that most manufacturers outsource production to China. IBM even went so far as to sell their PC manufacturing business to the Chinese.

Spread the net a litte further than the IT world, and you'll find that pretty much anything you wear has been manufactured in China, India or Vietnam, and I do include everything from low end supermarket brands and discount clothing chains to high end designer brands there.

Not saying it's right. Just saying that Apple are far from the only company to do it.

Originally Posted by Alan Fry

Remember Steve Jobs himself was relctant to outsorce production, onther reason they have production ther is becuase of the supply of managers there as well and I don't think Samsung wants to be given orders from their biggest rival

Not sure what you mean about "Managers". They outsource for the same reason other companies outsource. Because they can get people who are experienced in doing the job they want for less than they'd pay to a cleaner on minimum wage in the west. They also don't have to follow the rules on Worker's rights that the west has. Rights that were (in a lot of cases) instigated due to the actions of Unions.

As for Samsung manufacturing parts for Apple. I suspect they are quite happy with the arrangement. Yes, they are involved in multiple legal actions with Apple, but Samsung isn't one company. It's a group of companies. You'll probably find that the Semiconductor manufacturing plants and the display manufacturing plants are owned by a different company to Samsung Mobile. The companies that own those facilities are unlikely to want to lose a customer that generates 10s, if not 100s of millions of pounds of sales for them.

[Alan Fry]

Originally Posted by Stuart

As for Samsung manufacturing parts for Apple. I suspect they are quite happy with the arrangement. Yes, they are involved in multiple legal actions with Apple, but Samsung isn't one company. It's a group of companies. You'll probably find that the Semiconductor manufacturing plants and the display manufacturing plants are owned by a different company to Samsung Mobile. The companies that own those facilities are unlikely to want to lose a customer that generates 10s, if not 100s of millions of pounds of sales for them.

Samsung might be a group of companies, but all the electronic divisions (Mobile, TVs and Semiconductor etc) are all part of Samsung Eletronics (the worlds biggest eletronics company) which is the biggest company of the Samgsung Group (which is also the 2nd biggest biggest shipbuilder and one of the worlds largest construction companies)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Electronics

[Matt D]

I believe that Apple is actually Samsung's biggest customer, after Sony.

[Alan Fry]

Originally Posted by Matt D

I believe that Apple is actually Samsung's biggest customer, after Sony.

Yes Apple and Sony are both big customers (and rivals) of Samsung

[Maggy J]

Originally Posted by Stuart

If you believe the various new reports, Apple are currently spending a lot of money to ensure this happens.

I think it's come across that I am somehow defending Apple. I am not. I believe that if Apple (or any company) needs to outsource production to other countries, they do need to do what you suggest, daniel.

What does irritate me slightly is the fact that people seem to think it's only Apple that do this. It's not. Even in the IT world, you'll probably find that most manufacturers outsource production to China. IBM even went so far as to sell their PC manufacturing business to the Chinese.

Spread the net a litte further than the IT world, and you'll find that pretty much anything you wear has been manufactured in China, India or Vietnam, and I do include everything from low end supermarket brands and discount clothing chains to high end designer brands there.

Not saying it's right. Just saying that Apple are far from the only company to do it.


Not sure what you mean about "Managers". They outsource for the same reason other companies outsource. Because they can get people who are experienced in doing the job they want for less than they'd pay to a cleaner on minimum wage in the west. They also don't have to follow the rules on Worker's rights that the west has. Rights that were (in a lot of cases) instigated due to the actions of Unions.

As for Samsung manufacturing parts for Apple. I suspect they are quite happy with the arrangement. Yes, they are involved in multiple legal actions with Apple, but Samsung isn't one company. It's a group of companies. You'll probably find that the Semiconductor manufacturing plants and the display manufacturing plants are owned by a different company to Samsung Mobile. The companies that own those facilities are unlikely to want to lose a customer that generates 10s, if not 100s of millions of pounds of sales for them.

I know it's not only Apple I already agreed that it goes into every form of product.I am peeved at all that fail to ethically behave well when it comes to business.