[CR]Re: Brand (AND country) Loyalty (Tom Nyzio)

(Example: Framebuilders:Mario Confente)

From: <TNyzio@aol.com>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Brand (AND country) Loyalty (Tom Nyzio)
Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2002 11:14:14 EDT

Someone along the line said (sorry, I picked it up as part of another reply):

"Would people buy Harley-Davidsons if they were made in Taiwan? Or a Porsche/Audi/BMW if they were made in Taiwan? I doubt it. Brand loyalty is an unbeatable thing, but part of the "brand" itself is the country and culture that produces the object."

Brand (and reputation), maybe. Country, no. Just look at the success of the BMW Z3 convertible, built right down yonder outside Greenville, South Carolina by American (and SOUTHERN, to boot), auto workers. Who'd a thunk it? If they didn't put stickers on 'em, most of us couldn't tell where a lot of our "toys" are made, and most of us (once you got past the snobbery and posturing) wouldn't really care. As evidence, go to any Wal-Mart (or other major department or discount store) and see how many patriotic Americans are buying stuff that supports the communist Chinese economy. Heck, they even buy American flags made there.

Tom (with bikes from three different Continents) Nyzio Pawtucket, RI (but missing my buddies in South Carolina)