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General discussion

Do you think it's fair just to pick on Apple?

Feb 6, 2012 9:22AM PST

To give you some context to this poll, read this blog here:
Would you boycott Apple?

Do you think it is fair for consumers just to pick on Apple for this?

- Yes. (Please explain.)
- No. (Please explain.)
- Don't care. (Why not?)

Discussion is locked

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No, it is not fair to exclusively pick on Apple
Feb 7, 2012 4:59AM PST
Other computer manufacturers buy products from Foxconn Technology. It is a Chinese company run with the full knowledge and support of the Chinese government. If you are upset by their business practices, let the US Trade Commission know. If you want to boycott Foxconn Technology's products, boycott all manufacturers who use their products. Don't just pick on Apple.

If you insist on boycotting Apple, please provide them with an alternate manufacturer for the component parts used in their products. If the price was fair, they'd switch.
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It's a start
Feb 7, 2012 4:59AM PST

It would be helpful to the USA if Apple and companies like them would manufacture their products here in the USA. Boycotting Apple woiuld be a good start and then we could move on to others like GE.

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Dont care anymore...
Feb 7, 2012 5:00AM PST

There was a time i think we could have done something but we are so far gone now that I dont think anything is possible to "save us" from all this overseas outsourcing. I'm 49 now but i remember when almost everything was either made in USA or made in Nippon(Japan) and then before I knew it everything was made in china. We have people telling me that we shouldnt buy from Walmart for those same "sweat shop" reasons but Kmart, target, Cosco and Sams club and other stores do the same. Even toys R US everythign is made in China when everyone is trying to avoid letting kids play with anything made in china.

I really(i know ill get mocked for this) think we've gotten to the point that if worse comes to worse(and i think it will if it hasnt already) we might as well pack up and move to china and join the work force there. If we can even be hired since educational levels are much higher than we have here. Sounds horrid to take such a stance but do you think protesting or NOT buying from these companies will make much of an impact? Okay we will avoid all these made in china products and go back to the Abacus. Oh wait! Thats made in china too!

And so is most of our foods. We are lost and have traded in our great american dream for cheap products out of corporate greed.

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Pick on Chinese government
Feb 7, 2012 5:02AM PST

The Chinese government should be setting/enforcing standards for worker safety and working conditions. Then all companies would have to follow them.

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Start with Apple
Feb 7, 2012 5:23AM PST

Them move on to other companies.

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No
Feb 7, 2012 5:34AM PST

I'll keep it short, I'm an enabler.

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Do you think it's fair?
Feb 7, 2012 5:47AM PST

Yes it is fair to 'pick' on Apple but not 'just' Apple. People will still want to have these marvels of technology in their hands but raising awareness of poor working conditions, starting with making one of the larger companies a Poster boy on the matter is the best way to effect change. It's pretty hard to stand up on stage boasting Pride in your products when everyone knows the conditions that they were made in. Trying to raise the issue by identifying an unrecognized low level company will get it swept under the rug in the blink of an eye.

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Compare Apples with Apples
Feb 7, 2012 5:51AM PST

I don't know about America, but in Australia if all I.T. and electronic gadgets that were made in China, decided to cease to work, our cars would stop, our commnication technology would collapse, our governments, (state and federal) would cease to be, We would lose all track of time. Bicycles would go up in price enormously. Horses and Sulkies would be worth $20,000 at least. People would communicate with each other instead of "twittering", "facebooking" and "blinging" and staring at pretty screens, either computer or TV. Bring it on!
Personally, I am happy with windows or compatable for computer, and after playing with Apple Phones, Pods and Pads, I come out 100% in favour of Samsung and Android.
Apple is scared because it managed to have Samsung pads banned from sale for over 6 months in Australia, but a court overruled the ban, and Samsung is now wooing the market!

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Apple regularly advertises an image of social responsibility
Feb 7, 2012 5:51AM PST

and it seems they area really just another greedy corporate giant with some rather large ego issues.

Yes, I do own an IPhone 4, I only keep it for the Unlimited data plan I currently have. Otherwise I would
have switched out by now. Lots of things it still can't do with some obvious limiations that seem to be built
in just to get you to buy the next version

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Go and boycott Apple, Smasung and all the rest, then go back
Feb 8, 2012 10:33AM PST

It is amazing to read all the rehetoric from all those self serving liberals at heart. Don't use any electronic gadgets and make the world a happier place. I mean no computers, no microwaves and and Oh by the way also cancel all your 3G or 4G phones turn off you heater or air conditioning even you lights. Don't forget to look at all the clothing you are wearing and what about the battery powered car. Park it also. Obama is just pissed at the late Steve Jobs for his comments on how inept President Obama has handled the economy. Which is really funny how a die hard liberal got vocal with the administration and some finally spoke the truth about the poor handling of the economy. When Apple new CEO caves in to the bad publicity I am sure Apple will make the required substantial donation to the Obama re election fund and all will be well and the press will publish nothing about this subject again.
I keep hearing we are not the Police of the world so why should we be concerned about where a item is built outside the US. If all these concerned citizens ae so worried about the pay rate in China they should do something about it and move to China to change the situation. Another big problem is that the US worker demand enormous pay and benifits and that is exactly why so many companies are going into bankruptcy trying to get out from under the enormous benifits and retirement packages that have been put upon them by unions.

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You Have to Start Somewhere
Feb 7, 2012 6:24AM PST

Starting with Apple will draw more attention to the problem then with any other company. And, they are one of the worst offenders: They push harder for quality and that squeezes the workers more. Also, Apple is such an example of greed: They use cheap labor and demand outrageous prices. This long after the development of the iPod you ought to get them for next to nothing. The concept is old (no R&D) the parts can be standardized and thus cheap to produce. The only thing that makes them cost what they do is Apple's mark-up and that only works becase of all the people who are willing to pay what they ask. Boycott! This country is now run by corporations. Let's take them down a peg!

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whipping boy
Feb 7, 2012 6:33AM PST

Yes, it is fair to beat on the 800 pound gorilla, especially if it raises awareness of the situation. And the chinese
factory workers either show up and produce or they replace you its like india, if you don't want the job under the
conditions its offered, then there are 100 million people waiting to take your place, no dearth of willing bodies in either
local. And I know of what I speak part of my job at Lucent went to shanghou the other part went to bangalore, I cost
more than they do. Inclosing, in case you had forgotten or were unaware they had to put fences around foxconn, as
the happy and contented workers were committing suicide off the cliffs.

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We're focused on the wrong aspect of this behavior
Feb 7, 2012 7:00AM PST

I care more about my neighbors here in the USA that have no job because American companies shipped them to China because due to inept political leadership in the White House and Senate that can't figure out how to encourage companies to keep jobs here. Instead we see them driving jobs away ( the pipeline from Canada for example ). The Chinese workers need to fend for themselves; We can't possibly solve China's problems given the communist dictators that run it.

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Not Apple's issue
Feb 7, 2012 7:00AM PST

No!

While I am certainly no fan of Apple, and in fact have never owned one of the products, this whole thing is just a bunch of hogwash. It's up to the Chinese workers, managers, corporate officials and government officials to monitor and make change to working conditions in their factories, just as we went through during our industrial revolution years ago. We cannot make policy changes in another country. We certainly CAN feel for and provide whatever assistance to the workers we feel we can render on an invididual or charitable organizational level, but that's about it.

Apple and the other US companies that have product made there are in business to MAKE MONEY, not make policy. If people don't like how our capitalist democratic society functions, maybe they should move to China, become a citizen there and work to rally public opinion to change the government and factory policies there.

Good luck with that!

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I Boycott apple EVERYDAY
Feb 7, 2012 7:05AM PST

I am not one of their fans or fanboys, never have been never will be.
I do not like ANY company that starts out with a we are better than you are and do not foreget it attitude and that goes for Google and a few others also.
apple produces nothing anyone else can not and does not.
As far as Chinese or Asian slave labor goes look at that commercial from the Michigan Senate canidate and see what dealing with China has gotten us.

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Would I boycott Apple?
Feb 7, 2012 7:17AM PST

I already do ...and have for years. Why? They're too outrageous on their prices amongst a whole plethora of other reasons [that belong in other types of forums].

BTW: this is not the first time Apple has been criticized for their labor practices.

In addition to which, Apple is NOT the only one using components made by Foxconn Technology. So maybe we should be boycotting those other companies buy from Foxcomm, as well. Wink

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YES
Feb 7, 2012 7:23AM PST

While other companies work with short margins and have to adjust prices to gain profit,Apple always overprices their products.So,their behavior has no justification.They are just greedy.

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What's the big deal?
Feb 7, 2012 7:28AM PST

I find it rather interesting how so many people can cry "that's not fair" when things like this happen to Apple. Yet, for the most part, if the same exact thing had happened to anybody else, for the most part, people would just be saying "oh well, who cares."

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absolutely
Feb 7, 2012 7:34AM PST

Even though I would never buy an Apple device (way over priced) I believe that those who do buy should stop. Apple shoud also bring the jobs back to the states.

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I vote yes, for 2 main reasons++
Feb 7, 2012 7:36AM PST

They are an industry leader, and as such, they should be a lot more equitable with the MASSIVE profit margin gained on the ills of employees driven to suicidal madness for the long shifts and minimal down time; yes even humans cry out for help too, and you'd think something like that would have been properly addressed. Sure, Foxconn is mostly to blame for it's policies, however, that is not to say that Apple has no say in the matter either; as a principal share holder in the fabrication of their own production line. It's not difficult to see how they are setting a poor example, and that the best way to reign in the arrogance of a corporation is a global boycott!

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No boycott
Feb 7, 2012 7:45AM PST

Being a gadget nut I had resisted the pull of an iphone for years, but when other manufactures kept releasing cheap plastic products I relented and took my bite of the Apple, and WOW ! Why hadn't I got one earlier! The build quality is excellent. Anyway I digress...
OK they may be made in China but what isn't nowadays? You complain that they are overpriced, you can bet your boots that if these goods were manufactured in Europe or USA these products would be over double what you pay now.
You people try to justify your hatred to Apple by saying that it uses Chinese Manufacturing plants with poor working conditions, show me a mass manufacturing factory that doesn't! Besides most of the factories are custom built to manufacture these parts so the are state of the art. Not some rusty shack that you imagine crammed full of chinese workers! You also try to justify your hatred by saying that the workers get paid poorly! Yes by our standards they do get paid poorly but remember that the cost of living in China is not as costly as it is here. ( You or I could live like kings in china on our western rates ).
If you are going to boycott Apple for these reasons then you had better boycott your Dell's, Sony's, Nike's... the list is endless!
So, ok you may not like Apple it is your choice,don't like it? don't buy it! Don't shove your hatred into my face it's just as bad as racism!

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Pick on Apply?
Feb 7, 2012 8:00AM PST

Its not only Apple.
I bought an HP desktop W7 and that was made in China also,but I didnt realise until many months after.
On the whole doesnt anybody manufacture in originating country and sell abroad anymore?Poor show I think on these companies and others who do this as its not quite the same quality when its outsourced to another country(not always).
I'm personally not a fan of Apples products,because of over pricing and might buy one if it was half the price,but then only might!

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Apple Boycott
Feb 7, 2012 8:30AM PST

I've been boycotting them for a while now, for entirely different reasons. I despise the "exclusivity" of their products. And last year after my ITunes account got hacked and they told me, and I quote, "We are aware of a security issue in our system" they refused to refund my account. Luckily Paypal reimbursed me. I closed my account with ITunes and have stopped using their products every since. No Iphones, no macs, no apple products in my house. Period. I like my Windows computer and cell phone having a Droid OS, thank you very much. The Apple can rot for all I care anymore.

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Do you think it's fair just to pick on Apple?
Feb 7, 2012 8:46AM PST

Don't care, I don't think most of the high tech companies use USA labor for there productions, why just single out Apple, which I don't support with my dollars.

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Boycott Apple?
Feb 7, 2012 8:50AM PST

Why Really? Most computers are made in china. The companies get cheap labor there. With the USA being the way it is right now (Needing the jobs) it would be fair to say leave it as it is or the cost of computers,tv's, phones or just about everything electronic will skyrocket if the USA decided to make these items.
As far as Apple goes " An Apple a day keeps Dell at bay" In other words shop the market to get what you want. It pays to get an informed opinion on who has they best widgit for the best Dollar value. That why i am a member of Cnet. You could not find a better place to get informed than here. And guess what.."its we the people" that provides this information to the not so informed people can make these decisions.

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Foxconn is the one to blame
Feb 7, 2012 9:36AM PST

I think Foxconn is the one to blame, not the user brands such as Dell, Apple etc.

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Disappointment
Feb 7, 2012 11:11AM PST

I was talking about this topic with a friend. I thought that if any company could have manufactured in the US and made a profit, it was Apple. It is one product line that has always been able to command a premium. This is one thing I am very disappointed with Apple. If there was another product close to the quality I am looking for and it was made in the US and was reasonably close in price. I would probably buy it over an Apple product. So far, I haven't seen it against any Apple products I have purchased.

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working
Feb 7, 2012 11:22AM PST

And as far as working conditions go for China. At present I am more concerned with my working conditions which is nonexistent.

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Apple is not the only one to blame.
Feb 7, 2012 11:31AM PST

MOST of the blame should go to the Federal Government. Aren't they the ones that gave tremendous tax breaks to AMERICAN companies that moved their factories overseas? Aren't they the ones that made it so we have to go in debt to buy American Products made in Foreign countries so that the American Companies can make BIGGER PROFITS?

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You have to start somewhere
Feb 7, 2012 12:47PM PST

It doesn't help to shrug and say "Everybody's doing it" when the question of Apple's exploitation of Chinese workers arises. We know about Apple from the excellent reporting we've seen recently, and we also know that while Apple has been making billions in profits its executives have been aware of the sorry conditions under which their beautiful products are made.

If we send Apple a message that we don't want to buy products that are made by people whose lives are wrecked making them there is the hope that Apple will actually insist that their contractors live up to the human rights part of their agreements, just as they do for the quality of the products. This won't be lost on Sony and others. In recent years consumers have improved the lives of farm animals; many of us won't buy eggs, or instance, from de-beaked chickens living in battery cages. So there are more cage-free chickens. We can help improve human conditions, too. I won't buy an iPad made by people whose hands are destroyed making it.